The inaugural British Sign Awards, organised by the BSGA （British Sign and Graphics Association）， has received tremendous support from the sign industry.

“Our aim is launching the awards was to create a showcase for the skills and creativity of the UK sign industry and provide awards that would have real prestige and value for the winners,” said David Catanach, BSGA Director.  “The whole industry seems to have bought into the idea and as a result we will be presenting awards in no less than 14 different categories plus, of course, the award for the Sign of the Year.

“The scope of the awards is due to the support we have received from sponsors, who now include many of the industry’s leading names including 3M,  Metamark, Vink, Soyang, William Smith, Nationwide Platforms, Complete CNC and Epson.

“We are also delighted that Trade Etching Direct has come forward to enable us to re-introduce the Craftsman Award and that Signs Express has agreed to sponsor the Sign Product of the Year.”

The awards are open to all UK-based sign businesses （membership of the BSGA is not a requirement） and will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts.  Entry is free and full details of the award categories and how to enter can be found on the awards website at www.britishsignawards.org Closing date for entries is September 1st.

The winners will be presented with their awards at a gala event to be held in the Holte Suite at Aston Villa Football Club on Thursday, October 26th.   Host for the event will be Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan MBE, rated as the country’s leading, and funniest, after-dinner speaker.

“The event has been organised as a luncheon in order to keep costs down and make it accessible to as many people in the industry as possible,” said David Catanach.   “We already have nearly 300 people coming but hope that many more will take the opportunity to attend what promises to be one of the major events in this year’s industry calendar.”