Digital revolution for sign making trade

Aspecialist industry requires equally specialist training, and the company has taken steps to ensure that new talent is being developed. Few schools would think to suggest sign writing as a career, but Nik Hardy, owner and founder of signage business Hardy Signs, has brought Burton & South Derbyshire College into the fold.

“In 2016, we helped the local college form a sign makers academy, named after us. We supported them to spec out the industry machinery, and numerous apprentices have come to work for us after completing their course. With these specific skills, they were able to hit the ground running because they’d been trained on the same equipment.”

“It’s an investment in the future and helps with our corporate social responsibility – we’re looking out for the next generation. It’s quite a legacy to have, and we’re very proud of it.”

Hardy Signs is widely respected within the industry. Nik formed the company in 1993, having served what he describes as an eight-year apprenticeship in the trade (“I was still the teaboy at 23!”). Starting out with then state-of-the-art technology, they specialised in vinyl cut lettering. Nowadays, their products include high-definition large-format printing, vehicle wraps, and digital signage – these form key elements of rebranding work for clients nationwide.

They’ve come a long way thanks to their innovations in technology and training the next generation. It must be a sign they’re doing the right thing… With Generation Z already tech savvy, the apprenticeship scheme developed by Hardy Signs has been a proven success.

“The entire industry has changed. We only do a small amount of hand-crafted sign writing these days – technology allows us to achieve a similar result in a fraction of the time. Yet, 30 years ago, we didn’t have a single computer, which shows how the industry has completely evolved since we started.”

Hardy Signs will celebrate its 30th anniversary this August and continues to develop. While many business owners pursue long-term growth, Nik has a focused goal for the future.

“Certainly, we’ve got a long-term plan to double the size of the company; however, in the short-term, our goal is to continue providing a high-quality service to our clients whilst improving on our environmental impact and sustainability pledge.”

That makes long-term security more of a priority and ensures a strong platform for targeted growth in the coming years. It’s satisfyingly pragmatic, with Nik and his team taking big strides to plan for the future, whilst including short-term, tangible goals.

For more information on Hardy Signs’ apprenticeships and their product and services, simply visit hardysigns.co.uk or call 01283 569 102.