ESP Group Sets Sights on £20m and 500+ Staff Following First Year for New CEO
ESP Group, one of Scotland’s leading customer experience, technology and fulfilment specialists, is targeting turnover of £20 million and a workforce of more than 500 people in 2026, following a year of major contract wins, strong financial performance and strategic expansion.
The growth plans follow the first year for CEO Ashley Meston, who was appointed in February 2025 after almost two decades with the business.
ESP closed 2025 with a hat-trick of major contract wins, including a place on the Crown Commercial Transport Technology Framework, being appointed as one of only a few suppliers to provide Oyster cards for Transport for London, and a new customer contact centre contract with Chiltern Railways and Grand Central.
The Group also secured contracts to support NHS National Services Scotland and to supply around 140,000 sustainable RFID key cards annually to Caledonian Sleeper.
These wins capped a year of strong financial performance. For the year ending 31 July 2025, ESP Group posted pre-tax profits of £2.7 million, with turnover reaching £17.4 million – a 30% increase on the previous year.
With further opportunities in the pipeline, the business is now targeting £20 million in turnover in 2026 and plans to grow its workforce from around 420 colleagues to more than 500 – the highest staffing level in its history.
Ashley Meston said:
“We are projecting £20 million in turnover by next year, and there are two or three opportunities in the pipeline that we expect to hear about early in the new calendar year.
“With that, we would be looking to expand the team to more than 500 members, which would be the highest our staff levels have ever been.”
A Year of Major Milestones
Throughout 2025, ESP Group delivered growth through strategic expansion, increased sector presence, investment in people and diversification into new markets.
In April, ESP began delivering essential contact centre capacity for NHS National Services Scotland under a contract running until 2027, supporting vaccination programmes, appointment booking, targeted testing pathways and seasonal surge requirements.
In July, the Group expanded into hospitality-tech for the first time, supplying sustainable RFID key cards to Caledonian Sleeper – demonstrating how its secure card expertise can be applied beyond transport.
In October, ESP was named Employer of the Year at the Courier Business Awards, recognising its commitment to colleague development, workplace culture and emerging talent.
In November, the business secured its hat-trick of major transport-sector contract wins, strengthening its position as a trusted partner to public-sector and mobility organisations.
ESP also strengthened its operational resilience with the launch of a new print bureau in Arbroath, enhancing fulfilment capacity and in-house production agility.
People, Technology and the Future
While investing in digital tools and AI-enabled services, ESP says people remain at the heart of its customer experience model.
Ashley added:
“At the end of the day, people just want someone to sort their problem out as quickly as possible. They want their call or email answered quickly, a sensible response and ownership of their issue.
“We’ve learned from some of the early adopters of AI and automation. We deliver into some vulnerable populations where a purely technology solution just isn’t going to work.
“Where I see AI adding real value is as an enabler – for example, helping gather information before someone speaks to an adviser, so the customer gets help faster.”
Community and Culture
ESP continues to invest in apprenticeships across finance, HR, learning and development and technology, alongside long-term career development for colleagues across the Group.
The business has also strengthened its community partnerships, including its Principal Partnership with Arbroath FC, support for families through initiatives such as Cosy Coats, and raising more than £3,600 for the Arbroath FC Community Trust through MacTuff Pretty Muddy.
Looking Ahead
As the UK transport landscape evolves and operators prepare for the future under Great British Railways, ESP says it is well placed to support customers with trusted, customer-first solutions across the entire passenger journey.
Ashley said:
“Ending 2025 with three major contract wins was an incredible way to conclude my first year as CEO. From public health to hospitality-tech to transport, this has been a year of meaningful progress across every part of the Group.
“Our people, our partnerships and our purpose give us huge momentum heading into 2026.”
A short video featuring CEO Ashley Meston reflecting on the year is available to watch here:
https://the-espgroup.com/2026/01/08/esp-group-highlights-2025/