Lyreco UK, one of the country’s largest distributors of workplace products and services, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, recognition for a business that has made inclusive employment a central part of a century-old trading story.
The company is part of the global Lyreco Group, whose heritage stretches back to 1926, when it began life as a small family paper business in France. It has since grown into an international organisation operating across Europe and Asia, supplying businesses of every size with essential workplace solutions.
From office supplies to next-day logistics
Lyreco UK & Ireland today provides a comprehensive range of products and services spanning office supplies, facilities management, personal protective equipment and workplace essentials. The business pairs strong digital capabilities with a highly efficient logistics network, allowing it to deliver next-day services to customers across both the public and private sectors. According to the company’s website, the wider group is the European leader and the third largest distributor of workplace products in the world, and the UK and Ireland business completed more than 2.5 million deliveries to over 40,500 customers in 2024, drawing on a range of more than 60,000 products across 18 categories.
A leader in sustainability and social value
Lyreco reports that it is widely recognised within its sector for operational excellence, customer service and strong supplier partnerships, and that it has established itself as a leader in sustainability and social value, embedding responsible practices into sourcing, operations and customer solutions. This includes offering extensive ranges of environmentally responsible products, improving supply chain transparency and supporting customers in reducing their own environmental impact. The company’s published commitments include powering its 22 UK and Ireland sites entirely through renewable electricity.
Inclusion built into the business
The business is equally committed to social impact, it says, with a strong focus on inclusive employment practices, community engagement and ethical standards across its value chain. That focus sits at the heart of its shortlisting for The Inclusion Award, which celebrates organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to inclusivity and proved the commercial case for diversity, equity and inclusion.
Through continuous innovation, customer-centric services and a responsible approach to business, Lyreco reports that it has built a reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking partner, playing a key role in shaping more sustainable and efficient workplaces across the UK and Ireland.
Lyreco UK Ltd now joins fellow finalists from across the country ahead of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony, which takes place at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, where the winner of The Inclusion Award will be announced.
