While it is certainly beneficial to make operational and procedural changes that reduce carbon emissions, the real key factor in creating effective change comes from members of staff within your business.

By utilising the resources available on the School’s website, we were able to develop a comprehensive training plan for our internal teams. These online resources were invaluable in conducting  various training sessions, including an Overview of ESG/CSR, Sustainability as a Sales Tool, Social Value training, and The Challenges of Sustainable Construction.

As a result of this training, the staff here at Stocksigns Ltd are now more engaged with the company’s sustainability and social value initiatives.

Industrial Signage, such as directional signs that are used to direct us or to warn signs alerting us of potential hazards, are crucial to many different industries. It might be difficult to understand industrial signage because there are so many variations in how it is used and applied. However, it is the underappreciated hero of modern industries.

But do not be alarmed; we have pulled together a comprehensive guide aimed at professionals, business owners, and enthusiasts who want to understand industrial signage thoroughly. This guide explores the important topics related to industrial signage, including materials, installation, regulatory compliance, design principles, and emerging trends.

It might feel as though the words ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’ get used synonymously and are often confused. But in fact, they both have very different meanings and both have their impact on health and safety in the workplace. Here we explain the difference between them so you can safely manage all the hazards and risks in your workplace.

While they don’t mean the same thing, they are very closely related and you can’t have one without the other. Without a hazard, there is no risk. But they are different, and understanding the differences is an important part of risk assessment. So let’s look at what makes hazards and risks different.

5S methodology played a big role at Stocksigns, these are to Sort (Seiri), Set in Order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardize (Seiketsu), and Sustain (Shitsuke)  Here at Stocksigns our operational focus is on efficiency, accuracy and high-quality signage. This all plays a crucial role in providing the Exceptional Personal Service we’re proud of, so that’s why we flipped it all upside down!

Working with our consultant, Paul Henry, we overhauled our Operations department to create a leaner manufacturing process. A big part of this was implementing the 5S Methodology.

Stocksigns prides itself on exceptional personal service, so implementing 5S has helped for the first time to ensure we continue to deliver high-quality products.  Over the past 60 years, we have had many methodology techniques but we feel like 5S Methodology was the right fit for Stocksigns, not only has this helped us keep consistent levels of quality and lead times, which keeps the customer happy, it has also helped with overall happiness in the workplace as everything runs a lot smoother with less internal issues.

Some steps such as getting rid of the old stock may feel like they make the process longer, but they drastically help reduce mistakes. So the whole Stocksigns team needs to keep educating and reminding themselves as to why we do some of the things we do, so people aren’t tempted to try and take shortcuts.

Each department around the business had different benefits to this for example, In operations as started by Dave these were ‘Pure and simple, with a profit margin and happy customers’ whereas in Sales Josh said that their biggest benefit was “giving the team even more confidence whilst making the promise to our customers, that we get it “right first time”. It is a lot easier to sell something that you well and truly believe in. No one in the world is perfect, and we don’t claim to be, but we are pretty damn good at what we do.” As well as getting rid of so much stock that was being held, some for 10 years. We couldn’t afford to make many mistakes. So, we plan to get it right the first time, every time so that we can focus our resources on the next project/customer that is in need. 5S has helped streamline everything, keeping both employees and customers happy. – The project was well worth it.

Every innovation, every progressive step must be a step towards a better future. That step could be towards lowering our carbon footprint, creating a better place to work or helping to provide a better future. By taking this approach, we will nurture a great place to work, allowing us to reach our full potential and ultimately share in the company’s success.

The goal – Net Zero by 2030

A couple of years back we set ourselves a goal, a goal for both Stocksigns and Messagemaker Displays completely Net Zero by 2030. As such, we have been tracking our carbon footprint for over four years now. During this time we have achieved Carbon Neutrality through offsetting and reducing our carbon emissions and we are well on the path to achieving our goal of being Net Zero.

What we did in 2023 to help achieve this

The implementation of an end-to-end signage recycling scheme

It’s estimated that the construction industry generates around 62% of the UK’s waste and 32% of all waste that’s sent to landfill. As both a manufacturer and supplier, we are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment. As such, we have come up with a solution that overcomes sending redundant construction signs to landfill.

Our temporary construction signage is manufactured at our Surrey HQ using strong, weather-resistant, PVC-free Correx® corrugated polypropylene sheets.

Replacing old equipment for new, more efficient models

Back in 2010 we brought a first-generation SwissQprint Impala, the 15^th one in the UK to be precise. This machine printed reliably for us for over 12 years, but we eventually decided it was time for an upgrade.

And so, after months of researching the market, we approached swissQprint again – and brought ourselves a new printer. Our new Impala 4 printer (the 100^th SwissQprint printer in the UK) is four times faster than our previous printer whilst using one-tenth of the energy to do so.

Introduce renewable technology and power across our business

In August last year we installed solar panels on the roof of our building. These solar panels produce around 65,662 KWh, substantially contributing to about a third of our daily electrical consumption and saving 15.30 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

Since their installation 7 months ago, our solar panels have now generated approximately 15,839 KWh or 15.8 MWh of power.

That is the equivalent of running 113 LED lights 24/7 for a whole year, or running 19 refrigerators for the same amount of time.

Reducing our Energy Usage

Over the past four years, we have been committed to measuring and reducing our electricity requirements as a business.

Overall, our energy usage for January and February this year dropped about 34.5% in comparison to the same period in 2023.

What we’re doing in 2024

New Cutting Machinery – Arrived March 2024

Supply Chain Sustainability School – Achieve Gold

The importance of people and Social value

We believe that if you take care of your staff, your staff will take care of your customers. Stocksigns invests in training and well-being initiatives to help keep our staff happy, healthy and motivated. Our staff benefit from health checks and team walks, we also introduced a cycle-to-work scheme and put mental health support in place.

For professional development, we offer bespoke training and coaching to allow individuals to reach their full potential – with quarterly recognition awards for our best-performing employees.

Outside work, Stocksigns staff take part in regular volunteering and charity events, including our annual mountain climb for The Children’s Trust.

Volunteering at Surrey Docks Farm

Surrey Docks Farm is a working city farm and charity that enables the community to learn about farming, food production, and the natural environment. They deliver a range of accredited training projects for adult students with learning disabilities and get involved with community projects.

In February 2023, the Stocksigns team helped out for a day, mucking out the goats, sweeping the goat and sheep yards, grooming and mucking out the donkeys, digging, and then finally wheeling & spreading woodchips on the wildlife garden paths.

Litter Picking in our local area

Sometimes the biggest difference can come from the smallest of actions. In both the summer and winter of 2023, members of the Stocksigns team took part in collecting litter from around the local area around our premises.

The team enjoyed getting out and about whilst doing our bit for the local community, collecting about 20 rubbish bags each time.

Some of our most notable finds in these litter picks include many leftover maccies wrappers, a multi coloured children’s toy and even an entire scooter that was abandoned in the bushes!

The Children’s Trust Donation Station

Over the past few months we have had a donation station from The Children’s Trust in our office.

This offers a great way for the Stocksigns team to de-clutter their homes and get rid of any unwanted items.

In the last collection the team managed to gather over 19 bags worth of donations and goodies.

These donations have been rounded up and will be sold to help raise more funding in one of their charity shops.

The Children’s Trust gardening

The beautiful grounds surrounding the Children’s Trust play an important role in providing spaces for children and their families, to relax and reflect.

Their gardens offer a space for fresh air, play, sensory development and are a vital part of The Children’s Trust life.

The trust has 24 acres of woodland and gardens, so keeping them maintained is quite a task.

Back in October, our team took part in an effort to help maintain the grounds, dealing with some troublesome weeds that were taking over a part of the garden.

Every year the team at Stockigns/Messagemaker Displays, along with some of our customers & suppliers take on an epic challenge in the aid of raising money for our local charity – The Children’s Trust. Last year we scaled Poland’s highest mountain and raised an amazing £15,000.

We are back again with another challenge for 2024, this year we will be taking on ‘The Home of the Gods’ Mt. Olympus! A massive 9500ft mountain in Greece.

Our chosen charity is again The Children’s Trust. The UK’s leading charity for children with injury. Based in Tadworth (local to our HQ) the Trust runs a range of specialist care, education and therapy services for children and young people from across the UK and the UK’s largest rehabilitation centre for children with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Top Stocksigns Trustpilot Reviews of 2023

Sustainability is central to all we do at Stocksigns.

We’re continually working to reduce our carbon emissions, setting ambitious targets which have since helped us to reach net neutral status.

However, there’s more to be done. This journey towards sustainability isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about continual improvement and a commitment to safeguarding the environment for future generations.

Sustainable Signage Products

We have a substantial range of sustainable signage made from durable and recyclable materials, including aluminium composite and stainless steel. Our corrugated plastic signage is made from polypropylene instead of PVC and can be recycled through our Correx® Recycling Scheme, minimising waste and environmental impact.

The Road to Net Zero by 2030

At Stocksigns, we’re on a clear path to achieving Net Zero 2030 and have taken significant steps to make this goal a reality. Our measures include reducing our vehicle fleet, adopting renewable energy resources and training our staff to minimise waste production. As part of our green initiatives, we have recently installed solar panels on our roof that are estimated to produce around 65,662 kWh, saving 15.30 tonnes of CO² emissions annually. This will substantially contribute to about a third of our daily electrical consumption. We have also sought to install energy-efficient technologies throughout of production process, for example our Impala 4 printer which is four times faster than our previous printer but uses one tenth of the energy to do so.

Supply Chain Sustainability School

We recognise that sustainability is a collective journey and that our supply chain and customers have the same goals. We’re ISO 14001 accredited and a member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS), which focuses on the three core pillars of environmental, social and economic sustainability. The SCSS has been invaluable and has helped us develop new ideas and strategies to become more eco-friendly and action-orientated within our supply chain.

Monitoring our Progress

Strategies are only worthwhile if you monitor and review your progress, which is why we have been working with an environmental consultancy for the past four years to calculate our carbon footprint, establish targets and evaluate our carbon emissions. Our annual assessments help us gain valuable insights into our environmental impact and pinpoint any causes of increased emissions.

For example, our most recent 2022 Carbon Management Report showed that most of our activities have had a drop in carbon emissions, apart from two areas. Our electricity consumption increased by 14% last year. However, considering the electricity we purchase comes from renewable sources, our emissions are zero. Our business travel was also a significant contributor to our carbon footprint last year. Again, after looking into the rise further, we identified that this was because we resumed our overseas charity hikes in 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Future of Stocksigns and Sustainability

Our net zero journey is about our commitment to driving positive environmental change. Through carbon reduction efforts, sustainable signage, a data-driven approach and a clear roadmap to Net Zero 2030, we’re ensuring that our environmental promises are not just words but a measurable reality.

Following five years of consultation, in 2022 a new fire safety legislation was introduced in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy. Amongst the new regulations were rules on wayfinding signage, which came into force in January 2023. If you are planning a new project or are involved in the retrofit of an existing building, it is crucial that you understand these requirements and ensure that any wayfinding signage is implemented correctly.

Background

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, a series of inquiries were launched to establish the cause of the fire, the building materials responsible for its rapid spread and why the rescue services struggled to save trapped residents.

Amongst other conclusions, Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 noted that the 24 storey block of flats had only one staircase with sporadic signage to indicate floor and flat numbers. This combined with poor visibility and sign design made it difficult for the emergency services to judge which floor they were on or to find the flat they were being directed to as quickly as possible. Another factor contributing to the tragic event was the result of refurbishment work in the tower. Wayfinding signage had not been updated and, as a result, some of the signs were incorrect, misleading the firefighters further.

As a result of the inquiry and its findings, the report recommended mandatory wayfinding signage should be introduced in specific circumstances.

What has changed?

The inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.27) that all existing high-rise buildings – those with a roof height over 11 metres – be fitted with clear wayfinding signage that can be read in all conditions. These recommendations generated The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, Regulation 8, which legally mandates that all existing high-rise multiple occupancy buildings be equipped with wayfinding signage on the landings of all protected stairways, and every protected corridor or lobby that a firefighting lift opens into. This signage should also clearly identify each floor and the flat numbers found on that floor.

This comes into force alongside existing legislation, which already requires all new-build high-rise residential buildings to have the aforementioned wayfinding signage. However, it is advised that ‘responsible persons’ may wish to consider installing signage in all types of buildings – high-rise or otherwise – in order to protect residents.

In addition to specifying which buildings require signage, Regulation 8 of The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 also states that all signage should conform to paragraphs 15.14 – 15.16 of Approved Document B Volume 1. This document specifies the location, size, shape, visibility and height from the floor of any wayfinding signage in a building and should always be consulted when planning a project.

How we can help

Through careful consultation with a dedicated account manager, we can help our customers understand and implement the relevant regulation wayfinding signage. Furthermore, by managing and producing all our quality signs in house, we are able to tailor each product to the needs and preferences of the customer – producing the ideal custom signage for your next project.

In addition to this, because our catalogue of fire safety signage is compliant with IS07010, our customers can rest assured that our in-house experts can deliver all the necessary signage to satisfying The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

By Melissa Barker – Stocksigns Ltd Group Marketing Assistant and Resident Beagle Mum

Let’s face it, we all need road signs to help direct us from A to B.

Guiding you along the way, they keep you on track and make you aware of the dangers ahead. But some signs, they just know how to make your journey so much better. Some weird, others funny, they compel you to stop in your tracks and have a good laugh.

But in true British fashion, there are instances where we come across some utterly bizarre road signs and meanings that put a smile on our faces behind the wheel.

Prepare to be amazed by the collection of sign pictures that I have taken when I am out and about! Signs that I find amusing and baffling around Cornwall, Surrey, and Kent. You will have to let me know if you find any odd signs on your everyday commute. But don’t take your eyes off the road for too long.

Otter crossing spotted in Cornwall!

But sadly, I didn’t spot any otters whilst I was there. Maybe next time.

Why did the hedgehog cross the road?

To get to the other side obviously!

All the ducks are swimming in the water according to Lemon Jelly as they once sang about it in the late 90s, apparently, they are not. They are crossing roads, I guess to prove they are no chickens!

As cool as it looks, you mustn’t try to pull off motorbike stunts over cars whilst wearing jazzy outfits. Best to leave that to professional stunt performers.

I’m pretty sure that the Stegosaurus became extinct 150 million years ago in what is now Utah, so I’m not quite sure how they ended up in present day UK!

Although, upon closer inspection it does seem to be another one of those otter crossing signs – someone has just drawn on it.

Why did the Archaeopteryx catch the worm? Because it was an early bird!

Throughout Kent, there are hundreds of road signs that have a sticker of a black cat peering around in the corners. The mysterious black cat has been popping up on road signs along major routes and rural lanes. Yet despite the fact that cats appear everywhere and are very common no one seems to know the answers.

Black cats can have various superstitions surrounding them, with some suggesting they bring bad luck, others good luck. Whatever the reason, it’s still fun to spot them.

Here’s one that we spotted on our annual charity mountain hike in Slovakia this year.

I’m not quite sure who would attempt to climb the highest mountain in Poland in high-heels – but whoever they are they’re not allowed to do it anymore!

My ankles hurt just thinking about it.

View our range of CE Certified UK Road Traffic Signs

Here we catch up with our Marketing Executive Kelly Spear to find out about her background, her current role and also her extensive pet collection.

How did you get into marketing and what first led you to Stocksigns?

My career began in 2017 when I joined a global technology provider and distributor Westcon-Comstor as a Marketing Apprentice. Since then, I’ve worked for a number of large B2B companies including Sivantos Group and, most recently, Restore Record Management, working my way up from Marketing Assistant roles and progressing to Marketing Executive. Last year I secured my job here at Stocksigns. The team have been incredibly welcoming and I’ve enjoyed getting up to speed with both the Stocksigns and Messagemaker brands ever since.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love animals and have quite the menagerie at home. I have tarantulas in just about every size, shape and colour (including one so pink that it would fit right into the set of Barbie), scorpions, a centipede, various colonies of isopod species, 3 leopard geckos, 3 crested geckos, a leachianus giant gecko, a dwarf monitor lizard and a box full of fruit beetles – who needs to go to the zoo when there’s one at home!

I spent some time studying Animal Care at Brinsbury College before my apprenticeship and I also used to volunteer at a local falconry centre. I would love to one day get involved with various animal conservation programmes and have been looking into working with sharks off the coasts of South Africa.

Aside from animals, I enjoy gaming and can often be found on my PC (or Nintendo Switch during work breaks) playing Warhammer 40,000 games, various survival crafting titles, and the occasional bit of Stardew Valley or Minecraft. I’m also admittedly a bit of a Star Wars nerd – I even have my own Mandalorian cosplay – and am planning to go to the next Star Wars Celebration in Japan in 2025. Finally, I also love creating artwork, and at one time considered a career as a digital illustrator and animator. As such, my notepads are always covered in doodles – mostly of dragons.

What do you like about working at Stocksigns and what do you hope to achieve?

One of my favourite things about Stocksigns is how close and supportive we are as a team. In a smaller company, you feel more integral and more appreciated, while milestones are more highly celebrated as everyone feels so invested in the company, its progress and development. It makes for a really positive environment.

In terms of what I would like to achieve, I’m determined that we will soon reach Gold status at the Supply Chain Sustainability School and also hit Net Zero by 2030, if not sooner. Personally, I’m working on building my confidence and skillset to include all areas of marketing and have found covering for Daniella in some areas to have been a real confidence boost.

Reducing accidents in the workplace is extremely important in all industries, including manufacturing, heavy industry, on construction sites but also important in office-based environments too.

Safety signage is an essential tool in ensuring compliance with specific legislation. Safety signs help create a safe working environment, offering guidance to those in the workplace or workplace area, whether they are members of staff or the general public. This helps protect people and property when unexpected occurrences arise by warning of potential hazards and reminding workers of safety measures and protocols that must be followed.

Aside from providing essential information to ensure safety, modern safety signs are more visually appealing and easier to understand and follow.

The first step towards understanding which signage is required is to undertake a risk assessment. Identifying potential hazards and risks posed to people working or visiting your site is paramount. According to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, employers are required to use adequate safety signage where there is a significant risk to health and safety.

Safety signs and symbols are important safety communication tools, indicating various hazards that are present in plant sites or workplaces. Effective signage warns workers to watch out for hazards by giving required information and safety instructions, increasing safety awareness.

Each work area might require different workplace health and safety signs and symbols. This is because each work area can have a plethora of different hazards. A risk assessment of each activity or designated area will help identify hazards. Appropriate actions for ensuring safety can then be drawn up and selecting the appropriate safety signs can then be selected. Where possible safety signs are shown to be changed (at least their location) to keep the safety message fresh and to avoid “sign blindness”.

Safety signs and symbols consist of messages, words and pictorial symbols with a variety of sizes, shapes and colours. All the shapes and colours are standardised. Each shape has a different meaning, and each colour reflects a specific meaning.

Once the relevant signage is in place, there is a legal duty for companies to maintain safety signs and ensure that employees receive correct instructions and training on what the safety signs mean and the measures that must be followed.

A quick guide to safety symbols

Click the images to view the signs in our webshop

This year our team have endeavoured to climb the highest mountain in Poland, Mount Rysy and take a trek through Paradise Valley for local charity – The Children’s Trust

Stocksigns Marketing Assistant, Melissa Barker, gives the scoop on how it went down:

Now I have had the chance to take stock & reflect on what’s been an unforgettable few days in Slovakia, the graft, the slog, the self-doubt. The team struggling, and you want to give up but know you shouldn’t. You Finally approach the summit, eyes widen, heart races. You find those final steps, raise your hand in victory touch the summit stone… Then it’s all downhill from there!

Day 1 Paradise Valley

No snakes just ladders and lots of them! We walked just over 13 and a half miles with an elevation game of 2999ft. This was the warm-up of exceedingly strenuous valleys, gullies, and ravines. It includes 75m ladder climbs, waterfalls, and some jaw-dropping scenery. For this challenge, A person who is sure-footed, unlikely to slip or stumble, and has a good head for heights is the ideal candidate!

I am pleased to say that even with a wobbly ladder here and there and no safety equipment, the team took it all in their stride and got on with it.

It was a peak experience!

Although our legs really hurt after this hike. But that’s fine, who KNEES ’em?

Day 2 Mount Rysy climb

A 13hr, 14 miles & 1,400m ascent of Poland’s highest mountain from the Slovakian side of the High Tatras. It was a very early start for the crew again on Sunday. We had no idea how long this would actually take. Day two was so tough. As one, we tackled valleys, a series of rails, cables, and bridges steep rocky switchbacks, scorching midday heat & some lethal snowy sections to reach the 2500m summit.

No one was prepared for the steep slippery snow section, we had quite a few falls and lots of snow ploughing on the way down. There were so many technical sections. If you are not one for heights then this would have not been for you! walking next to the rock’s face, a tad scary.

Simply a monumental effort from everyone involved. The scenery was out of this world.

After the poorly knees, the crew put in a ton of leg work today. Actions peak louder than words.

Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory! We have definitely put in the legwork!

Safety signage plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe working environment within industrial spaces.

The role of signage is to provide important information and instructions to workers and visitors, helping them to avoid potential hazards and accidents.

Within industrial spaces, there are a plethora of risks to a person’s safety. From production line machinery and manufacturing equipment to forklifts, working at height and the occasional stray wire or packaging that poses a trip hazard.

In addition to improving safety, effective signage also ensures compliance with relevant regulations and standards. It is important to regularly review and update signage to ensure that it remains effective and relevant to the changing needs of the workplace. Overall, safety signage should be considered a key component of any safety program in industrial spaces.

Signs play an essential part in highlighting the dangers to avoid injury to staff and visitors. Stocksigns has a wide range of standard signs which are crucial to either highlight dangers with machinery or instruct what PPE needs to be worn.

Safety Signage and the Dangers of Quarries

By their very nature, quarries can be dangerous places to work in and visit. Heavy plant and machinery, mining and moving materials back and forth, cliff faces, unstable edges and sudden drops, as well as the risk of falling debris.

Though not all hazards within a quarry environment are potentially fatal, plenty of other risks can severely impact people’s lives – such as hand-arm vibration, manual handling issues and respiratory issues from dust.

Effective signage is key to highlighting and preventing all manner of accidents at quarry and aggregate sites. Traffic management signs within and around the site can help reduce the number of vehicle-orientated accidents. Mandatory signage instruct workers to wear the correct PPE on site and clearly mark pedestrian walkways.

Trespassing signage should be used as part of perimeter maintenance around the site, dissuading the general public from entering a quarry. Amongst other hazards, it is not unheard of for members of the general public to enter (often disused) quarries and decide to take a dip in the icy cold, deep waters. Despite advertising campaigns, unwitting individuals put themselves and risk of cold water shock and tragically in 2018, 8 males between the ages of 13-31 lost their lives within disused quarry lakes in the UK.

Stocksigns can supply signage for quarries that comply with Quarry Regulations 1999 and conforms to British Standards BS5499. This range includes electrical warning signs, machinery safety notices and water safety signs for quarries and aggregate sites.

Back in 2010, in our transition from silk screen to digital printing, we brought a first-generation swissQprint Impala. This machine, which was the 15th swissQprint machine to be placed in the UK, has served us for around 12 years – and has only broken down 3 times in this timeframe. Many years of printing later, we decided it was time for an upgrade.

Reliability and sustainability were the two key factors in our decision-making, with print quality being a no-brainer!

And so, after months of researching the market, we approached swissQprint again – and brought ourselves a new printer.

The new fourth-generation Impala is three times faster than our old one and much more sustainable. The Impala 4 prints the same volume of media whilst using just 10% of the energy of the old one, thanks to its UV curing capabilities and reduced power consumption requirements. Sustainability was a key factor in our decision-making, with the reductions in emissions and electricity savings of this new printer being a key stepping stone in our goal to reach Net Zero by 2030.

This new Impala 4 printer marks the 100th machine in the UK.

SwissQprint Impala 4 Installation Video

Stocksigns Ltd has implemented a new Quarterly Volunteering Programme for 2023, and to kick off, a small team from different departments had a mucky Friday out-of-office helping out at Surrey Docks Farm. Corporate social responsibility is something we feel very strongly about and we know the value and importance of giving back to the community.

Who are Surrey Docks Farm?

Surrey Docks Farm is a working city farm and charity that enables the whole community to learn about farming, food production, and the natural environment. They deliver a range of accredited training projects for adult students with learning disabilities and get involved with community projects. They are also particularly reliant on donations to help them stay open so volunteering is essential for them to keep going strong.

So what did we do?

We were welcomed by the lovely Gemma who gave us a tour of the farm where we learned all about the charity and the community projects that they run. There was also a young group of pupils from their Forest School on the day. The Forest School is a long-term program that teaches through play, exploration, and healthy risk-taking solving real-life problems, and building self-belief and resilience through hands-on experiences. More of their workshops can be found here

Our guide and supervisor for the day Gemma, pointed out that they have large rainwater tanks, around the site which the farm uses to harvest rainwater from the building roofs which they use to flush the toilets for most of the year.

 Time to get to work

We worked hard in the morning on animal care duties: mucking out the goats, sweeping the goat’s yard (two minutes later it needed doing again!) grooming and mucking out the donkeys, sweeping the sheep’s yard, and taking the younger goats for a walk!

We all had time for a goat selfie or two!

The fun part was taking it in turn, to work on biochar processing to add to their compost production, by the end of the day some of us had great techniques.

It’s all about giving back

Surrey Docks Farm is an exceptional cause that educates and helps their local community whilst being sustainable at the same time. Volunteering not only comes with a touch of team-building and cute goats, but this day of hard work is vital for the farm to keep operating and keep doing the great work that they do.

Stocksigns’ Quarterly Volunteering Programme has been set up as part of their overall CSR business initiatives. Alongside offsetting carbon emissions, lowering our carbon footprint, and climbing a mountain every year for fundraising, volunteering will now mean we can directly support local communities and charities.

Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the busy Stocksigns team. 

What is UKCA/CE Certification?

UKCA/CE marking is a self-certification scheme, meaning that when a product is UKCA/CE marked, the manufacturer has verified compliance with the essential health and safety requirements as indicated in the applicable European product directives and regulations.

Every permanent Road Traffic sign which is installed on a public highway must be UKCA/CE Certified.

Stocksigns is a member of ARTSM (Association for road traffic safety and management), as such all of our UKCA/CE signs meet the EN 12899-1-2007 standard.

You can read the GOV guidance on UKCA Marking here.

Why choose Stocksigns for your UKCA Traffic and Car Park Signage Requirements?

• 2-3 working days lead time.
• Dedicated Account Manager
• Made by a fully accredited and Certified Manufacturer
• Long-lasting, high-quality signs
• Every type of CE sign is available from warning road traffic signs and directional traffic to speed limit signs.

EV Charging Point Signs

With an estimated 715,000* zero-emission Battery Electric Vehicles currently on the UK’s roads and plenty more on the way, it is becoming increasingly important to install new charging points across the country. Highlight the charging points on your premises with our EV charging point signage.

*Estimated number of EVs according to the RAC

Case Study: Supplying traffic signs in Gloucestershire with Knights Brown

As part of Gloucestershire County Council’s £150 million scheme to improve its highways, Knights Brown installed a series of designated crossing points, widened the junction, and raised the level of the surrounding roads. Stocksigns provided a number of mounting directions, speed limit and give way signs that helped to improve motorist and pedestrian safety.

LED Traffic and Car Park Signs from Messagemaker Displays

Our sister company, Messagemaker Displays has developed a range of high visibility vehicle activated LED signage solutions which are suitable for highway or site safety use – helping you meet road safety targets and enforce speed limits. The team also design and make a wide range of standard and bespoke LED text and numeric displays for use in car parks or close distance traffic management applications.

How do Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signs work?

Photoluminescence occurs when a material absorbs photons (light energy), stores and then emits them back when the light source is removed i.e. in the dark, creating a noticeable lighting effect. Our Photoluminescent safety signs are designed to absorb photons from ambient light and then re-emit them in darkened conditions.

For your signs to be effective they will require initial activation from a good light source – this can be either natural or artificial.

Why choose Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signage?

In the event of an emergency, photoluminescent signage is the optimal solution. Visibility can be greatly reduced in a power cut or fire, with traditional electrical exit signs being susceptible to a loss of electricity and potential damage from structural shock and falling debris. Photoluminescent signs do not require electricity and are highly visible even in total darkness, making them perfect for providing your customers, visitors and staff with the essential information that they might need in an emergency.

Optimise your site’s safety with our range of Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signs

Cost Savings

With an internal lifespan of up to 25 years, these signs can also help you save money by not using electricity. Photoluminescent Fire Safety Signs are also cost-effective as they do not require maintenance – bypassing the need for costly regular testing regimes that are associated with ensuring the correct functionality of electrical signs.

Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Being lit 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, traditional electrical signs are environmentally unfriendly due to their never-ending demand for electricity. Reducing your number of electrical fire exit signs and opting for their photoluminescent counterparts is a cost-effective way to reduce your carbon footprint.

In addition to performing as a construction site perimeter, hoarding can be an incredibly useful tool for developers. It can function as a platform to display eye-catching advertising or critical safety messages. Alternatively, it can be used to help a building site blend into its surrounding environment. In this blog, we explore these possibilities further and look at how Stocksigns can work with developers to create the perfect hoarding.  

Legal requirements

Since the publication of the Construction Regulations 2015, a building site is legally required to feature a protective boundary to ensure the safety of the general public. There are no set limits to the height, but most sites opt for hoarding of at least two metres in height to provide an adequate level of coverage. In urban environments or where there is an increased likelihood that a child may attempt to gain access, a higher fence may be needed.

Messaging opportunities

Given hoarding is a necessity, it makes sense to utilise the opportunity it also provides to display messaging or imagery. For example, health and safety signage is often printed on hoarding, to alert those who enter the vicinity or are nearby of potential site hazards. This can also keep costs down as developers will not need to buy additional safety signage. Alternatively, hoarding can be used to advertise the development itself, the companies involved or even an investor’s business.

On the other hand, the space could be used to highlight the steps the developer is taking to lower environmental impact or how the site is contributing positively to the local community. In this way, the hoarding can act as a cost-effective alternative to a billboard.

Our hoarding offering

Unfortunately, many developers do not maximise their hoarding and settle for plain panels or temporary fencing. Whilst this may be cheaper in the short run, developers that choose this option forfeit a fantastic messaging opportunity.

Here at Stocksigns, we can provide a full, bespoke and cost-effective hoarding service for either small independent construction sites or larger commercial projects. Our team can help to produce artwork or make any supplied artwork print ready to bring the design to life.

What’s more, we are committed to sustainable practices. When a customer approaches us and gives us the specification information such as the intended life span, length and height, we can offer hoarding that is completely recyclable. This could be ideal for developers looking to improve the environmental credentials of their projects or are registered with the CCS.

Stocksigns can also provide banners that are used to cover scaffolding. This provides a lower budget opportunity to brand a site or to advertise. Rather than being thrown away, these banners can be taken down, transported between sites and re-used.

Ultimately, hoarding presents developers with a great opportunity to communicate with the public, increase their own environmental credibility and improve the aesthetic impact of their construction site. Get in touch to maximise the potential of the hoarding on your next project.

Is your high-rise building compliant with the recent legislation update?

Introduction

Do you know of the latest regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Fire Safety Order) update? Part of the update is a need for essential, life-saving signage in high-rise buildings.

Being one of the UK’s leading safety sign manufacturers we have been helping our customers improve the safety of their buildings through general safety signs, floor identification and wayfinding signs for years. However, now there is a deadline!

From the 23^rd of January, there are a number of legal requirements for high-rise blocks of flats, in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.

A lot of buildings have had their signage put in, but if you haven’t gotten around to it, don’t panic! We are here to help.

Wayfinding Signage Requirement

Part of the regulations is the installation of Wayfinding signage. In a nutshell, you need:

– Signs that are visible in low light or smoky conditions
– Identified flat and floor numbers
– Signs located in stairwells and common areas
– Signs must be in a Sans Serif font (so it’s easy to read)
– The design must be highly contrasting so it is easily legible

When firefighters reach the landing of any stairway, there should be signage that clearly indicates to them the floor number on which they are located and the flat numbers on that floor.

Stocksigns Solution: High-quality, compliant signs, including Floor Markers, Wayfinding and Flat Floor Directory for lobby areas.

When firefighters use a lift designed for their use to reach floors, the same signage should be clearly visible to them when the lift doors open.

Stocksigns solution: We’re up to date on the legislation and will have recommended signs for you.

The signs must be visible both in normal conditions and in low lighting or smoky conditions.

Stocksigns Solution: Have you thought of using Photoluminescent signage? A popular choice with Stocksigns’ customers in the event of low light conditions. If you need us to design the sign, they will be high contrast and easy to read.

A Quick Outline of the Regulation Requirements

We have outlined the basics and provided links to official legislation for the full information and official guidance to help you comply with the latest update to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (Fire Safety Order).

External Wall systems

• Provide information about the design and materials of the external wall system
• Inform Fire and Rescue Service of any material changes
• Provide info related to the level of risk and mitigating steps taken

Lifts and Key Fighting Equipment

• Monthly checks on the operation of lifts which will be used by firefights and evacuation lifts
• Check key pieces of all other firefighting equipment
• Report defects to lifts and equipment
• Faults to be fixed within 24hrs

Information Boxes

• Install and maintain a secure information box in the building
• The box must contain the name and contact details of who is responsible for the building
• Must also contain hard copies of the building floor plans

Wayfinding Signage Requirement

• Must be visible in low light or smoky conditions
• Identified flat and floor numbers
• Located in stairwells and common areas

Building Plans

• Must include locations of key firefighting equipment
• Provide electronic copies
• Place hard copies in a secure info box on site

All requirements in the update

GOOD PEOPLE AND GOOD VALUES – IS A GOOD SIGN

Here at Stocksigns and Messagemaker Displays – our corporate social responsibility is something we feel very strongly about.  With the end of the year almost upon us, it’s an ideal time to reflect on the achievements we’re proud of and look towards the new year with a clear focus on our aims. Here, Danny Adamson, Managing Director, shares more.

I have always felt that a good business is one that is both ethical and accountable to itself, with people that are respected and valued for their contributions. For me, the aim has always been to create a workplace that’s just a great place to be. That’s the foundation of the culture here and I really feel that our staff value this too.

We also want to run a successful business in a sustainable manner; in a way that limits our impact on the environment and sees us genuinely give back to the communities around us.

I appreciate a lot of organisations might say something similar when asked, but I like to think that here, when we say we’re going to do something – we do it. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved this year and we manage our CSR approach daily through the following:

• I’m delighted to announce we will be heading to Slovakia to climb Mount Rysy and to undertake two hiking routes through Paradise Park for charity
• We will also be implementing a quarterly staff volunteering scheme
• The launch of a completely PVC free range of signage by 2024
• The implementation of an end-to-end signage recycling scheme
• We will make the switch to electric and hybrid vehicles for our fleet
• Finally – we want to introduce renewable technology and power across our business

We’ll be keeping our customers and followers up to date on our progress in the coming months. As ever, there will be challenges, and a huge amount of work being done behind the scenes to make this all happen. However, I know that with such a passionate and committed team here, we can achieve it.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is becoming an integral part of business strategy across the world. Sustainability is a key focus for both businesses and individuals alike – we only have one planet after all.

Here at Stocksigns, we are dedicated to keeping our planet alive whilst creating a sustainable supply chain for our customers.

By applying a positive & innovative approach we will overcome problems and embrace new and exciting opportunities together. In taking this approach, we will nurture a great place to work, allowing us to reach our full potential and ultimately share in the company’s success.

Charity

We know the value of giving back to the community. Every year the team takes part in fundraising events. These include challenging hikes and climbs and sleeping rough to raise funds for the homeless.

Here are some of the charities that we support: