The Awards, organised by the British Sign and Graphics Association to celebrate the best in British sign making, are now in their third year and, according to David Catanach, Director of the BSGA, have already made a major impact in the industry.
“Our aim was to introduce an awards scheme for the industry that had real meaning and credibility,” he said. “The feedback from businesses that have been successful in the awards has been excellent. Winning a British Sign Industry Award has had a real effect on both customers and staff.”
The 2016 awards scheme is being supported by 3M as the principal sponsor. “3M have been with us from the start,” said David, “and their continuing support for both the BSGA and the awards has helped us to establish and develop the scheme.”
2016 has also seen the return of many of the sponsors of last year’s individual awards including Atlantic Tech (Wayfinding), Soyang Europe (Wide Format), Epson (Innovation), Blackburns Metals and Plastics (Architectural), William Smith (Commercial Vehicle Graphics), Trade Etching Direct (Craftsman Award) and Spandex, who will sponsor the new ‘Wrap of the Year’ award.
“We are also delighted to welcome Pyramid Displays, who will sponsor the ‘Small Signmaker of the Year’ and Metamark who will sponsor the ‘Interior Signage’ award, together with Roland DG, who supported the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in 2015 and this year will sponsor ‘The Young Sign Maker of the Year’, a much broader category designed to recognise the important contribution young people make to the sign industry in the UK.
“We also have the support of the sign industry’s two leading journals – Sign Directions Magazine and Sign Link,” added David. “Both are supporting the awards through editorials and their web sites. Sign Link will also bring their particular video expertise to the party and Sign Directions will publish a commemorative brochure featuring all this year’s awards winners.
“Our aim is to make the awards bigger and better than ever. The award categories represent virtually every aspect of sign making, from traditional hand crafted signs to huge, engineered monoliths that utilise the latest construction techniques and lighting technology. New generation signage, including wide format digital printing and vehicle wrapping, is covered in the awards and, because we recognise that many sign companies are small businesses, we also have the special Small Sign Maker of the Year Award.
“Last year we had over 320 entries across all categories,” said David. “This year we hope to top this number.”
Every sign business in the UK that has produced work that it is genuinely proud of is invited to enter. Entry is free and easy – simply visit the awards website at www.britishsignawards.org . Guidance is provided on the entry requirements and judging criteria for each award. All you have to do complete the online form and attach some images of your completed project.
“As they say, if you’re not in it, you can’t win it,” said David Catanach.
Entries can be submitted at any time from March 1st to the closing date of Friday, September 9th, 2016.
Winners will be unveiled at the Awards event to be held at East Midlands Conference Centre at Nottingham University on Thursday, November 3rd.