Our service offering

ESPO is one of the country’s largest public sector owned professional buying organisations (PBO), specialising in providing a wide range of goods and services to the public sector for over 40 years. We offer a comprehensive, one-stop shop solution of over 28,000 catalogue products, 100 frameworks and bespoke procurement services, all with free support and advice available from our expert teams. 

Being 100% owned by the public sector means that any surplus we make after recovering our costs is returned to the public purse.

Deliveries:

We understand the importance of delivering goods quickly and efficiently. Our goal is to make every interaction as easy as possible for you. ESPO provide dedicated delivery days, to make it easy for you to know when your order will be delivered. 

Products stored in our warehouse (identified by their black, numerical codes) will be delivered on your next nominated delivery day and normally within 5 working days. 

We deliver across the whole of the UK to registered business addresses. If you require home delivery you can register for an account with our partner site, Eduzone.

• ESPO provide free UK mainland delivery on all orders over £15.00 (ex. VAT). A minimum order charge of £5.95 (Ex. VAT) applies to stock orders under £15.00. 
• If you need your order urgently, we offer a next day delivery service. Next day deliveries have an additional charge starting from as little as £6.00. 
• Order for next day delivery must be placed by 12pm. 
• Delivery times for direct items (products that come direct from our suppliers) vary and are listed in our catalogue and on our webite. You can identify deirect items from their codes, listed in blue and starting with A, X or N. 

Delivery Updates:

When you place an order, we will send an order acknowledgment to confirm it. If any product is unavailable at the time of ordering, this will be noted in the acknowledgment. Despite our best efforts to deliver on time and in full, domestic and global supply chain disruptions may affect some products. Products not available for immediate dispatch will be sent with your next order once they become available. 

Sign up for order acknowledgements to stay informed about your delivery and any delays due to stock availability. Email registration@espo.org to register. 

Orders Direct from Suppliers (A, X, N Codes):

We offer a wide range of products that are delivered directly from our suppliers. These items are identified by their blue codes beginning with A, N, or X. These items have individual lead times and return conditions, shown throughout the ESPO catalogue and website. They will be delivered to the nearest undercover location.  

Ordering Direct Delivery Items:

Many items are bespoke and made to order, particularly furniture items. See our handy video that tells you everything you need to know about ordering  

Furniture Orders:  

Furniture items are mostly made to order. Order early to avoid delays, which mainly occur between March to September. For Autumn term deliveries, we strongly advise that you place your order by May, to reduce the chance of delays. 
Please check the following before placing your order: 

Colour, Sizes, and Finishes:

Check details carefully before ordering. Changes or cancellations may incur costs. 

Colour Reproduction:

Printed catalogue colours may not be exact. Colour samples are available on request, please contact Customer Services. 
 
Delivery Timescales:

Delivery is normally between 1 and 6 weeks, depending on the product and time of year. Up to date delivery times for each product can be found through the product search on the website 
 
Taking Delivery of your Direct Delivery Item

Check products immediately upon receipt. Report damages or shortages to the Driver in writing. 
 
School Holidays:

Suppliers can deliver during holidays if contact details are provided. You must be available to receive the order. 
 
 Returns, Replacements, and Discrepancies:

You can request a return or report a shortage within five working days via the online returns form on our website or by calling Customer Services. Collections may be chargeable for items delivered directly from our supplier. Please refer to ESPO’s Terms and Conditions of Supply or additional information.  

Need to speak to us?

Our dedicated and friendly Customer Experience team is here to support you. We aim to resolve your enquiries on the first contact, responding to emails within 48 hours and answering calls promptly. Our team are available to help from Monday to Friday from 08:00 - 16:30 (excluding bank holidays). 

Email ordering: orders@espo.org

Queries: 0116 265 7901   |   support:@espo.org

Visit our Contact us page for other useful contact numbers.  

Procurement support for framework solutions: 

We have lots of fantastic support available for our framework solutions.

Expert procurement teams:
Our Procurement teams provide support and guidance on accessing our framework solutions. Contact details for specific frameworks are available on each framework page, allowing you to speak directly with a team member via email or phone. Our staff have extensive category knowledge and experience, assisting with everything from template documents to specifications.

Customer Relationship Managers: 
For larger or more complex needs, our dedicated Customer Relationship Managers offer specialised support from initial enquiry to the final solution. 

Data Security:

All staff adhere to ESPO’s “Information Security and Acceptable Use Policy” and complete annual “Data Protection and Information Security” training. Our IT department ensures data security against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or damage using appropriate technical and organisational measures.

Please refer to ESPO’s Terms and Conditions of Supply for more details.