6 Issue 257 - February / March 2025 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine 80% of FASTSIGNS 2024 awards go to women Franchised signage company FASTSIGNS UK recently marked the end of the year with its annual convention and awards ceremony with franchisees, employees, and industry professionals from across its network attending. The event, hosted at The Belfry Hotel in Nottingham, featured a series of workshops and collaborative sessions, ending with an awards ceremony in which a total of 22 awards were presented. This year 80% of the awards presented were won by women, more than any previous year. According to the company, the prevalence of women winning awards demonstrated “the increasing diversity within the network and the capabilities of women across a range of disciplines in signage”. The Employee of the Year Award was presented to Isobel Martin, customer service representative at FASTSIGNS Crawley. According to the company, Martin was recognised for demonstrating exceptional project management and client partnership skills with customers including London Gatwick Airport and the Steer Automative Group. Speaking of her win, Martin said: “I am absolutely honoured to receive the Employee of the Year Award. “This award holds special meaning to me as a woman in the industry and I take great pride in the talented individuals who make up our network across the UK. I hope it inspires more women to step into this field and thrive within it.” Newcomer of the Year was presented to Rosie Lees of FASTSIGNS St Albans, who joined the company in Spring of 2024 as a visual communications consultant. Lees is said to have secured the highest level of sales at the St Albans branch. The Rising Star of the Year Award was given to Ches Munro of FASTSIGNS Tunbridge Wells. Munro was reportedly recognised for her innovative thinking and her creative approach to driving sales. Commenting on the awards, John Davies, managing director at FASTSIGNS UK, says: “Although women represent almost half of the labour force in the UK, they account for just 26% of all workers in the manufacturing sector. It is therefore particularly gratifying to see the leadership and achievements of women within our network celebrated by claiming a significant share of this year’s awards. “Congratulations to all the winners and a sincere thank you to everyone who has helped make 2024 a truly remarkable year.” The FASTSIGNS UK franchise network currently comprises of 23 centres, currently all based in England but with plans to expand to other UK countries. The company saw significant growth in 2024. In the first half of the year, FASTSIGNS opened two new centres in Tunbridge Wells and North Leicester respectively. In the same period, the company made five new appointments within its franchises and two internal promotions within its Staffordshire headquarters. Pictured: the female winners of the 2024 FASTSIGNS Awards at the event By Jonathan Pert Outsmart, the trade body for the outof-home (OOH) advertising industry, has reported that UK spending in OOH for 2024 has reached £1bn, an increase of 12% compared to the same period last year. OOH revenue for the third quarter of 2024 was reportedly up by 4.4% for a total of £361m. Digital out-ofhome (DOOH) revenue was a major factor behind the increase, accounting for over two thirds of total spend (67%). According to Outsmart, overall UK DOOH revenue increased by 7.7% from last year. Previous studies from Outsmart and PwC have revealed that DOOH revenue as a percentage of overall OOH revenue has more than doubled, increasing from 32% in 2015 to 65% in 2023. The figures, collated by professional services network, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), highlight a strong growth in the overall OOH industry, reflecting news of major expansion among major UK OOH and DOOH companies. A detailed breakdown of UK OOH revenue figures, and research can be found on the Outsmart website. OOH advertising spending reaches £1bn Wide-format printing manufacturer FaberExposize UK has donated sustainable materials to a charity event in Leeds to raise money for refugees. The Fashion Loves Comedy fundraising event, which combines fashion and comedy to raise money for good causes, took place on December 5th, 2024 at Left Bank Leeds. The comedy night was in aid of Choose Love, a charity dedicated to providing help to refugees worldwide. Ethical fashion designer and Fashion Loves Comedy event organiser, Bo Carter, approached Leeds-based FaberExposize UK for materials that aligned with the event’s commitment to sustainability. FaberExposize’s recycled fabrics were chosen to decorate the catwalk at the event, as well as being repurposed into event decorations. The company was reportedly delighted to donate recycled fabrics for the evening, and were particularly interested in “showcasing how repurposed materials can contribute to innovative and impactful design”. FaberExposize UK donates to fashion event Recycled fabrics donated by FaberExposize Recent campaigns highlighted by Outsmart include Ocean Outdoor UK being appointed as the official DOOH partner for the Woman’s Rugby World Cup 2025 By Jonathan Pert
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