This section of our website is intended to keep you up-to-date with events and developments as they happen here at Reeds in Penrith.



May 2010
Yet another successful environmental endorsement for Reeds this month as we are now certified to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) standard. Reeds underwent an external, independent audit to ensure that our procedures and management system conform to the high standards required by the PEFC Chain of Custody standard. Consequently, we are now able to offer our customers both PEFC and FSC stock with the option to have an on-product claim to demonstrate your own environmental awareness.


April 2010
To further boost our manpower and expertise in our busy bindery department Reeds have taken on Ross Taylor who brings with him 15 years of bindery experience in all aspects of finishing and bindery work. The appointment of Ross will help Reeds cope with our increasing workload in the bindery which will mean that we can turn jobs around even quicker for you.


March 2010
Reeds design team has been strengthened this month by the addition of Steven Haygarth. Steven has a degree in Fine Art from Leeds Met and brings his illustrative flair and design skills to further the range of Reeds design output.

March also saw Reeds successfully undergo the yearly external audit for FSC accreditation and as part of our ongoing committment to the environment we have completely changed our pressroom over to the environmentally friendly vegetable oil based inks.


February 2010
February sees the retirement of Ian Cowper, our guillotine operator. Ian has worked at Reeds for over 46 years and has seen many changes, not only at Reeds, but in the print industry itself.

Andy Jackson, managing director of Reeds said of Ian 'his loyalty, professionalism and friendly nature always made him a pleasure to work with'. The staff and management at Reeds wish Ian a long and happy retirement.

January 2010

Reeds have installed a 'Bokashi' food waste composter as part of our drive to minimise landfill waste. The composter will take all food waste except dairy products and the composted waste will be used by staff on their gardens.

Those of our customers who regularly pop into Reeds will have noticed our staff wearing their new uniform this month. Not only does this help us promote our corporate image but it also helps the staff by relieving themselves of having to provide their own clothes for work.


November 2009
October saw Reeds make a further investment in our Finishing Dept. with the addition of a small run ‘Soft bound or Perfect’ binding machine and also a ‘Hardback or Case’ binding machine. This will now enable us to produce limited copies of a more prestigious type of finished book.
Ask at our reception to see samples.

October 2009
October saw Reeds working on not one but two of Alfred Wainwright, the legendary fellwalker, related print jobs. Firstly, we were commissioned to design and print the very first calendar for the Wainwright Society. The A3 calendar is raising funds for Fix The Fells and is available to buy via the following link: www.wainwright.org.uk/calendar/index.html

Secondly, we have also designed and printed all of the promotional print material and 72pp catalogue for the prestigious 'Wainwrights In Colour' exhibition by northern artist Andy Beck. For more details visit www.theteesdalegallery.co.uk


September 2009
In early September an independent external auditor spent a day with us at Reeds checking that our Environmental Management System was still in line with the strict requirements of ISO14001 certification. We received a glowing bill of health from the auditor and our aim, as always, is to carry our environmental ethos above and beyond what is officially required from ISO14001.


August 2009
In late August, 14 of Reeds staff and management headed over to Whinlatter Forest nr Keswick to try their hands (and feet) on the aerial assault course at Go Ape. Despite a few nerves at the start of the course everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and some pushed themselves further than they thought they could. All in all, a good day out and one that wewould recommend again and again. Just a warning though you can get a bit dirty (see photo of Dene below) on the rope slides - or more specifically on the landing stage of the rope slides!




May 2009
The end of May saw Fiona Whelan take over her new role as Reeds Financial Administrator. Fiona joined Reeds in October last year and has already proved to be a very valuable addition to our new team.

Fiona replaces Gordon Rigg who left the company this month to enjoy more time with his family as well pursuing his interests of sailing and walking. Before Andy and Dene bought Reeds in 2006 Gordon was the owner of the company (being the great grandson of the company's founder George Reed) and he agreed to stay on to help the smooth transition to new management. The Directors and staff (past and present) wish Gordon all the best on his retirement and welcome Fiona to her new role.

February 2009
February saw Reeds Printers undergo an external audit by certification body Control Union to check our Forest Stewardship Council procedures and controls. We are very proud to announce that we passed with flying colours on the day and now have FSC accreditation - Cert no. CU-COC-811400.

This will allow our customers to request that FSC branding be included on their printed jobs which will demonstrate an unbroken chain of custody from forest to consumer, ensuring that the paper used has been produced from managed, sustainable sources. For more information on using FSC paper and board please contact us or click here to visit our FSC page

January 2009
January was a momentous month for joint Managing-Director Andy Jackson and his partner, Andrea, as they became very proud first-time parents of a beautiful baby girl.

Amy Jackson was born on Thursday 8th January 2009 and weighed in at 7lb 4oz and has already had her first visit to Reeds! I am sure that you will wish to join in the staff at Reeds in wishing Amy, Andrea and Andy all the very best.


December 2008
The Directors, Managers and staff at Reeds wish all of our customers a very Happy Christmas and New Year,

The festive Xmas lights in Penrith were in jeopardy this year due to a shortage of funding and resources. Local businesses stepped in to help secure the lights with Reeds supplying well over £1,000 worth of posters and flyers for the switch on ceremony and window dressing competition. Pictured, front row 2nd from left, is Andy Jackson, Managing Director of Reeds helping to promote the event.


November 2008
As part of Reeds Printers committment to the community, November saw us printing a BBC 'Children In Need' Calendar free of charge to help this worthy cause raise even more money - for more details click here.

Novemember 13th saw Reeds Managing Directors, Dene Marshall and Andy Jackson and Dik Stoddart (Environmental Manager) at The Shap Wells Hotel to receive Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards from Cumbria Business Environment Network for the work done over the past twelve months on environmental issues at our Southend Road printworks.

October 2008
We are delighted to announce that Reed's ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System has been independently audited this month and has passed with flying colours.

Reeds have two new members of staff to announce this month. Firstly, the pre-press team has been stengthened this month with the addition of John Metcalfe. John has worked in pre-press for over 21 years and joins our 5 strong team in the design department. Secondly, Fiona Whelan joins us as Accounts Administrator and is the long term replacement for Gordon Rigg. Fiona brings to Reeds over 13 years of accounts experience.

September 2008
As you will already have spotted September saw the release of Reeds new website. Designed so we can offer more information on ourselves and our
services it is also easier to navigate and clearer to read. Please let us
know what you think.

Duncan Gray has joined our very busy finishing department to replace Brian Pearson who has emigrated to Australia in search of some sunshine! Duncan has almost 25 years experience of the industry and is a welcome addittion to the team at Reeds.


August 2008
One of our graphic designers, Barry Marshall, was married on Saturday 2nd August to Elena. Best wishes from all at Reeds and, we are sure, also from Barry's customers go with him and Elena as they honeymoon in New York and St Lucia.

July 2008
This month saw the replacement of our old digital press and the installation of
a brand new Xerox machine. The new press is the latest model and offers us
more control over the finished job as well as the possibility of using
'variable data' so that customers can personalise their jobs in many ways.
For more information on the print opportunities offered by this press please
feel free to get in touch with us.


June 2008
Due to an ever increasing workload we have placed our bindery department
on a two shift sytem. This will allow us extra flexibility and help us to ensure
that your job gets to you on time.


May 2008
May has been a momentous month for Reeds! After almost 12 months of research, site visits, planning, implementaion of procedures and audits we have finally been awarded the coveted ISO14001:2004 certification. May also saw us achieve Gold Award status from CBEN after working our way through Bronze and then Silver in previous months. For more info on both ISO14001 and the Gold Award visit the Environmental page.

As part of our commitment to the environment and reducing chemical usage
where possible May also saw Reeds install a process-less platemaker in our
pre-press dept. which will reduce chemicals used by approx 1200 liters per year and also reduce the amount of chemicals which need to be re-cycled each month.


April 2008
Our congratulations to Ian Stephenson, from our bindery dept, and his wife Kath on the birth of their baby son, Finley Michael Stephenson who was born on the 17th, weighing in at 9lb 9oz.

This month saw us successfully upgrade our Bronze Award to Silver Award
status from Cumbria Environmental Business Network with, hopefully, Gold
Award status coming next month.


March 2008
Reeds have gained the Bronze Award from Cumbria Business Environment Network and, hopefully, the next two months will see us progress that further to attaining the Silver and then Gold Award - watch this space!


February 2008
Due to our ever increasing workload we have taken on another member of staff. Paul Jepson has joined the team in the Bindery Department. Paul's main role will be operating the folding machines.


January 2008
A Happy New Year from everyone at Reeds to all of our customers.

As part of Reeds continual investment in new technology we have recently taken delivery of a brand new automatic plate-maker. This will replace our old
equipment ensuring that our workflow is faster and smoother and enabling us therefore to ensure that your job is printed on-time and when you want it.


November 2007
Graham Stockdale joined the team at Reeds this month and coming from a recycling background will be a great help in keeping our waste segregation scheme running smoothly. Graham will also be out on the road delivering your
print orders so no doubt you will get to meet him in person over the next few months.


September 2007
As part of our ongoing commitment to help minimise the impact Reeds may have, either actual or potential, on the environment we have recently signed contracts with J&G Environmental to handle our waste. J&G are a leading waste management company who recently won Best Printing Industry Supplier in a national awards scheme sponsored by industry magazine Printing World.