The news has not exactly been cheerful lately. Every day seems to bring another warning about the economy slowing down. But talk to people across the sign trade and you hear something very different.
Over the past six to eight weeks, there has been a clear increase in companies looking to recruit. A recent straw poll asked a simple question: why are businesses hiring right now? Nearly two thirds said it was because of increased workload. Others said they were replacing staff who had retired or moved on, while some simply needed more capacity to keep up.
That picture is starting to feel familiar across the industry. Finishing teams are expanding. Production departments are adding extra shifts. Installers are booked weeks in advance. And many firms are still using freelance installers just to keep jobs moving. In short, the trade does not feel quiet.
Craig Brown, Chairman of the BSGA, says the feedback has been encouraging. “There’s a really positive vibe coming through the responses. We’re seeing a good cross-section of the industry and the common theme is that people are busy,” he says.
What is interesting is not just the number of companies hiring, but the reason behind it. This does not feel like a short-term spike. Several people said new projects are landing now after a tougher period last year. Others pointed to brands rolling out more work again, particularly where companies want to refresh stores or improve their visibility.
One contributor summed it up well. “We’ve taken on three new team members in production so we can increase our capacity. It’s been really difficult to squeeze jobs in, so the extra shift will help us keep lead times short for existing customers while taking on new ones,” she says.
Recruitment specialists in the sector are seeing the same trend. Instead of rushing to fill gaps, many firms are taking more time to find the right people. That suggests confidence is returning. Businesses do not hire carefully if they think the work will disappear in a few months.
Another point raised in the discussion is that the sign industry often acts as an early indicator of what is happening more broadly. When small businesses open, they need signage. When brands invest in new locations, they need graphics. When companies refresh their look, the work usually comes to the trade first.
That may explain why the mood in the industry feels more positive than the national headlines suggest. There are still challenges, particularly around finding skilled staff, but the level of activity being reported does not match the idea of a sector in decline.
The real question now is whether this momentum continues. If more projects keep landing and companies continue to recruit, the next few months could be stronger than many expected.
If your business is currently hiring, it would be useful to hear what is driving it. Is it increased volume, new types of work, or simply the need to replace staff who have moved on? The more feedback the trade shares, the clearer the picture becomes.