Shaw & Sons Limited

Shaway House, 21 Bourne Park,

Bourne Road, Crayford,

Kent DA1 4BZ

ABOUT SHAW & SONS

History of Shaw’s

1750 – Henry Shaw set up as a printer in the city of London after travelling from Nairn in Scotland.

In the early days the business concentrated on printing and binding, and later became involved in publishing legal forms and books

1930’s - Shaw’s remained a family business and moved the printing and binding operations from the city to a new factory in Sydenham. The Editorial department and office staff remained at the original Fetter Lane building during this period.

1960’s – Fetter Lane complex of premises was sold for redevelopment and the whole operation was transferred to Sydenham.

1970’s – The business transferred out of private ownership to become part of the Tridant Printing Group who were principally local newspaper publishers and general printers.

1979, through acquisition, Shaw’s became part of the Extel Group PLC by way of its subsidiary, the Burrups Group.

1988 – The St Ives Group acquired the Excel group and Shaw & Sons was handed over to the Gordon press – a private company. During this period, as part of a process of rationalisation, the printing and stationery parts of the business were moved to Gordon Press’s premises at Croydon. Premises at Crayford in Kent, were acquired to accommodate the publishing operation.

1997 – Through a management buy-out the company changed hands again.

2001 – The sale of the Gordon Press, put the business in the hands of its current owners and the whole operation was moved to the offices in Crayford, where it remains today.

2010 – The sale of Shaw’s book publishing interests to Sweet & Maxwell, together with the transfer of Forms on Disk to IRIS Software Group enabled the company to concentrate on its traditional core businesses, namely paper legal and local government forms, specialist stationery and services for these professions and civic ceremonial products. Shaw’s are now the country’s leading suppliers of election materials and this part of the business is set to expand further.

Shaw’s Today

Through its history, Shaw’s core markets have been the legal and local government sectors. Today, this is still true and, for the former, we supply a wide range of paper forms, specialist legal stationery, general office stationery and printing services. For local government, the same products and services are offered, plus a specialist binding service for registers and minutes, and a fine selection of bespoke civic ceremonial items.

In fact, the civic ceremonial department supplies a variety of items not only to local authorities but also city livery companies and professional institutions. These include civic insignia, illuminated addresses, honorary freedom scrolls, distinguished visitor books, heraldic plaques and various certificates.

Election supplies has become the biggest of Shaw & Sons’ departments and we supply virtually everything (except ballot papers) that is required for equipping polling stations and counts for elections of all types throughout England and Wales, with a selection of products for Scotland, Northern Ireland and overseas as well.

Another of Shaw’s interests is the publication of the Probation Bulletin, a fortnightly recruitment newsletter for the probation service and related organisations and this is now one of the most successful and cost-effective advertising vehicles around.

Thus Shaw & Sons continues to present a quite diverse, although largely inter-related, range of activities. A common feature of them all is the high standard of customer service and expertise that is the result of over 260 years’ experience.

Registered in England, No. 176653. VAT Number: 701 5761 59.

[ABOUT SHAW & SONS] [PROFESSIONAL FORMS] [PUBLIC AUTHORITIES]

[FORMS ON DISK] [BOOKS] [PROBATION BULLETIN] [STATIONERY]

[CIVIC AND CEREMONIAL] [ELECTORAL SERVICES] [PRINTING]

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