ESP Turns 10: A Decade of Schools, Relationships and Community

Ten years ago, local schools came together with a simple idea.

What if there were a supply service designed by schools, for schools? One that understood the realities of school life, valued relationships, and put education before profit.

​That idea became ESP.
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This July, we celebrate our 10th anniversary as a Community Interest Company, supporting schools, teachers, teaching assistants, nursery practitioners and support staff across Devon.

​While much has changed in education over the last decade, the reason ESP was created remains just as relevant today as it was in 2016.

Schools need people they can trust. They need reliable support from people who understand their setting, their pupils and the challenges they face. And they need partners who genuinely care about helping them succeed.

Over the last 10 years, we have had the privilege of working alongside schools through periods of growth, change and challenge. We have supported teachers taking their first steps into the profession, experienced practitioners returning to the classroom, and schools navigating increasingly complex staffing pressures.

We've seen a lot of change over the last 10 years. Recruitment has become more challenging in many areas. Schools are often working harder than ever to secure the staff they need. Teaching assistants and support staff are playing an increasingly important role in helping schools meet the needs of their pupils. At the same time, many educators are looking for greater flexibility and balance alongside their careers.

But some things haven't changed. Schools still value trusted relationships, and they still want people who understand how their school works. They still want supply staff who can walk into a classroom, quickly become part of the team, and provide continuity for pupils.

Over the years, we have learnt that successful supply is about far more than simply filling a vacancy. It is about understanding the unique needs of each school, getting to know the people we work with, and taking the time to find the right fit.

Most importantly, it is about recognising that education is built on people.
Many of the schools we work with today have been part of our journey for years. We have built long-standing relationships with school leaders, teachers and support staff across Devon, and those relationships remain at the heart of everything we do.

As ESP has grown, maintaining that personal approach has remained incredibly important. This year, we introduced a key contact model, ensuring every school and every member of our supply team has a dedicated point of contact within our office.
It is a simple idea, but one that reflects what we have always believed. People deserve to feel known, supported and valued.

Whether that means helping a school find the right person at short notice, supporting someone returning to work after a break, or simply being there at the end of the phone when needed, the personal side of what we do matters.

Being a Community Interest Company has always been a central part of who we are.
From the very beginning, ESP was created to serve the education community. Rather than focusing on private profit, our focus has always been on supporting schools, educators and the children and young people they work with every day.

Ten years later, that commitment remains unchanged. None of this would have been possible without the schools, teachers, teaching assistants, nursery practitioners and support staff who have been part of the journey.
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Thank you for the trust you have placed in us over the last 10 years. We are proud to have supported local schools over the last decade and look forward to continuing that support for many years to come.