Meet the Team: Shaun, Sales Account Manager at Stocksigns

Say hello to Shaun – another of our fantastic Sales Account Managers here at Stocksigns! He’s dedicated to giving our customers the very best service, whether that’s turning around quotes quickly, finding the right solution, or making sure every order is spot on.

Life at Stocksigns

Shaun’s days are all about delivering top-notch personal service. From guiding new customers through their first orders to making sure long-term clients keep coming back, he takes pride in building strong relationships.

Career Journey

Shaun’s path into sales started in hospitality at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club, before moving into sales-focused roles during and after university

Fun Facts About Shaun

When he’s not at work, you’ll probably find Shaun with his headphones on – whether he’s out walking, tackling chores, or just relaxing. Music fuels his downtime and keeps him inspired.

Meet the Team: George, Graduate Sales Account Manager

Meet George – one of the newest faces in our Sales team at Stocksigns! Fresh from university, George joined us through our graduate scheme and is also gaining valuable experience as part of the Pareto apprenticeships programme. He’s already making his mark with customers and showing his competitive edge in the world of sales

Life at Stocksigns 

As a Sales Account Manager, George spends his days juggling emails, sending quotes, chatting with customers on the phone, and reaching out to new businesses. Organisation is key and he’s mastered the art of Post-it notes, call schedules, and colour-coded emails to keep on top of it all.

Career Journey 

After finishing university, George knew sales was the route he wanted to take – especially in B2B, which suited his skills and interests. Stocksigns was the perfect match, offering him the chance to learn, grow, and be part of a supportive team.

Meet the Team: Laura, Sales Account Manager at Stocksigns

Say hello to Laura- our brilliant Sales Account Manager here at Stocksigns! She’s the friendly voice at the end of the phone, the problem-solver for our customers, and someone who knows a thing or two about keeping projects running smoothly.

Life at Stocksigns

Laura spends her days looking after customer accounts, developing new business, and working with the wider team to make sure we’re always improving our offerings. No two days are ever the same for her. One moment she’s quoting and booking orders, the next she’s on a site visit or chatting with customers about upcoming projects.

Career Journey

Laura didn’t set out to work in sales  in fact, she started her career in PA and admin roles after college. But during lockdown she was thrown off her tracks, a referral brought her to Stocksigns, and it turned out to be the perfect fit. Her role calls on her social skills and her knack for organisation, and she’s embraced the challenge head-on.

Fun Facts About Laura

Here are some Fun facts about Laura:

When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her curled up with a good book, watching a gritty crime drama, or rewatching Only Fools and Horses. To unwind, she loves nothing more than a podcast-fuelled walk through the Kent countryside.

 A Marathon and a Mountain – Conquering Mount Perdido

This year, the Stocksigns and Messagemaker Displays team and friends, set their sights on an incredible challenge climbing the legendary “The Lost Mountain,” better known as Mount Perdido. Standing at an impressive 11,000 ft in the Pyrenees, this was no small adventure!

Climbing for a Cause

This year’s climb was again in aid of The Children’s Trust, Stocksigns and Messagemaker Displays’ nominated charity partner. The UK charity provides vital rehabilitation, care, education, and therapy for children with brain injury or neurodisability.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we are proud to announce that together we raised £26,653.57 for this fantastic cause. This will go a long way in supporting the Trust’s life-changing work.

Day One – The Journey Begins

Friday 4th July

Our challenge began in the early hours, meeting at Gatwick Airport at 4:00am. Some of us were seasoned adventurers, others brand new to the team – but all ready for the mountain ahead. After checking in and making it through security, a hearty Wetherspoons breakfast was the perfect way to fuel up before boarding our flight to Barcelona.

From there, we picked up three trusty minibuses and began our long drive towards Torla-Ordesa. A quick lunch stop split the group between tapas and fast food before we continued our winding journey through the Pyrenees. That evening, we settled into our hostel, enjoyed a team beer, and received our Lost Mountain T-shirts, crampons, and a briefing from our leader, Captain Cload.

Day Two – Into the Ordesa Valley

Saturday 5th July

An early breakfast set us up for our first trek into the stunning Ordesa Valley. Towering cliffs, dense forests, and cascading waterfalls surrounded us as we made our way through this breathtaking landscape. A lunch stops by a waterfall gave some the chance to dip their toes in the icy water, while others stretched and recharged for the climb ahead.

The afternoon brought one of the most challenging parts of the trek – a steep, rocky ascent towards our overnight refuge. The notorious vereda de las flores section had us clinging to chains and steel poles on a cliff face, testing both nerve and balance.

Reaching the refuge was a moment of relief and celebration – hiking boots off, crocs on, and a well-earned pint of Estrella in hand. With no Wi-Fi, a few used the payphone to check in with loved ones before we settled in for an early night.

Day Three – The Summit Attempt

Sunday 6th July

We woke at 5:00am, ready for what we’d all been waiting for the summit push. Initially,

conditions had looked too dangerous to attempt, but the weather had turned in our favour. At 6:00am we began the climb, layering up as the wind and cold intensified.

At 3,000m, by a frozen lake, Captain Cload gave us a choice: turn back or push on. For some, the decision was to enjoy a slower descent and soak up the scenery. For others – ten of us in total – the call to summit was irresistible.

Using crampons for the icier stretches, we powered on to the very top. The view from the summit was nothing short of spectacular jagged peaks, endless skies, and the overwhelming satisfaction of standing on the roof of the Pyrenees.

After regrouping at the refuge for lunch, we began the long descent back to the minibuses and our base in Torla-Ordesa. That evening, showers, warm clothes, and a celebratory drink marked the perfect end to an unforgettable journey.

A huge thank you

To everyone who donated, and to our amazing partners D2D Associates Limited, Tenzing Search, Murphy Group, Innova Solutions, and Clearview Intelligence for joining us on this epic adventure.

Environmental Signs for Construction Sites: New Sustainable Range from Stocksigns

Site safety just got a lot Greener!!

In a move that reflects the growing emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility in construction, that’s why we has unveiled a new range of environmental signs tailored specifically for the construction industry.

Building a Greener Future, One Sign at a Time

The construction sector is undergoing a major transformation. Once defined by high emissions and heavy resource use, the industry is now placing sustainability and site safety at the heart of every project.

From large infrastructure builds to local housing developments, companies are adopting greener practices—and clear, effective signage is playing a key role in supporting that shift on-site.

At Stocksigns, we believe signage does more than communicate. It strengthens site safety, supports environmental compliance, empowers teams, and fosters a culture of responsibility. Our new range of environmental signs is designed to do exactly that—protect the planet while keeping your site informed, safe, and sustainable.

What our range included?

Our latest signs have been developed to support the most common—and critical—areas of on-site sustainability:

Waste Segregation & Recycling: Clearly marked signs for general waste, hazardous materials, and recyclables help ensure proper disposal and reduce contamination.

Energy Conservation: Reminders such as “Switch Off When Not In Use” or “Close Windows When Air Conditioning is On” help sites cut down on unnecessary energy use.

Water Protection: Signs highlighting “Hazardous to the Aquatic Environment” or drainage safety protocols prevent pollution and protect local ecosystems.

Air & Noise Pollution: Signs like “No Idling Zone – Please Turn Off Your Engine” reinforce anti-pollution measures and compliance with emissions guidelines.

Biodiversity & Wildlife Protection: From “Tree Protection Area – Keep Out” to “Caution: Newts / Badgers / Bats – No Entry”, our signs make it clear where wildlife needs to be left undisturbed.

Invasive Species & Habitat Safety: With warnings for Japanese Knotweed and designated Wildlife Areas, we help keep sites informed and ecologically responsible.

These signs are just a snapshot of the full collection—many of which feature in our latest designs like “Hedgehog Highway – Please Keep This Hole Open!” and “Recycle Only – No Trash”. They’re practical, visible, and purpose-built for real-world sites.

Designed to Withstand Tough Conditions

Construction environments are demanding. That’s why all our products are printed on durable, weather-resistant materials. Whether mounted on hoarding, fencing, or temporary correx, these signs are made to last through rain, dust, and heavy machinery.

Custom Signage for Your Site

We know every construction site is different. That’s why we offer custom signage options, including your branding, site-specific instructions, and any additional safety or environmental messaging needed to meet your policies or planning conditions.

Building Responsibly Starts Here

As sustainability becomes a cornerstone of modern construction, effective signage is no longer optional—it’s vital. The new environmental signs reflect the industry’s evolving priorities and our continued commitment to helping businesses build smart, stay compliant, and protect the planet.

Stocksigns New Modern Slavery Signage Leads the Way in Construction

In the UK construction industry, where projects are fast-paced, workforces are transient, and supply chains are complex, a silent crisis often goes unnoticed: modern slavery.

That’s why Stocksigns is proud to launch a new range of Modern Slavery Awareness Signs, specially designed for construction sites. These signs are more than just words on a wall they’re a frontline tool to help spot and stop exploitation.

What Is Modern Slavery, and Why Should Construction Care?

Modern slavery includes forced labour, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. It’s estimated that over 122,000 people are trapped in modern slavery in the UK, many in industries like construction where informal recruitment, language barriers, and subcontracting make abuse easier to hide.

Shockingly, labour exploitation in construction is on the rise. In 2022, the UK Modern Slavery Helpline saw a 53% increase in construction-related reports. That’s why awareness and early detection are key and signage can help.

How Can Signage Make a Difference?

Think of modern slavery warning signs like fire safety signs: they don’t solve the problem alone, but they alert, educate, and empower people to act.

Stocksigns new signage range is:

• Clear and simple, with easy-to-read language.
• Multilingual, helping reach non-English speaking workers.
• Strategically designed to prompt vigilance, offer reporting guidance, and point people to help lines like the Modern Slavery Helpline (08000 121 700).
• Customisable, so sites can include their own contact points or policies.

By placing these signs in worker areas, site entrances, welfare cabins and offices, employers show that they take safeguarding seriously and might just save someone from exploitation.

What the Experts Say:

According to the Stronger Together Toolkit for Tackling Modern Slavery in Construction, construction sites are especially high-risk due to:

• Use of agency and migrant labour
• Low oversight over subcontractors
• False credentials and unlicensed recruitment practices
• Workers living in overcrowded, unsafe housing, often provided by exploiters

The Toolkit recommends raising awareness among all staff and making it easy to report concerns. That’s exactly what these new signs do.

A Small Step That Sparks Bigger Change

Modern slavery thrives in silence. But with every sign placed, that silence is broken. Whether it helps someone recognise their situation or encourages a bystander to speak up, signage is a simple but powerful part of the solution.

At Stocksigns, we believe that everyone deserves fair, safe, and respectful work. By equipping construction sites with the right signage, we’re helping the industry take a stand and urging others to do the same.

The construction industry is one of the most physically demanding sectors, often taking a toll on the mental health of workers. Long hours, job insecurity, and the physical demands of work can contribute to high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.

We mustn’t just focus on physical safety but also mental well-being. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Lucy Rayner Foundation to launch our new Mental Health Signage Range. We’re taking a step toward raising awareness, offering support, and creating a safer, healthier environment for workers. Supporting Mental Health- One sign at a time!

The Lucy Rayner Foundation: A Commitment to Mental Health

The Lucy Rayner Foundation is a UK-based charity that supports individuals affected by mental health issues, with a particular focus on young people. It was founded in memory of Lucy Rayner, who tragically took her own life in 2012 after struggling with mental health challenges. The foundation’s mission is to raise awareness, provide resources, and offer support to help prevent suicide and improve mental health outcomes for those in need.

Why Mental Health Awareness in Construction Matters?

The construction industry is vulnerable to mental health challenges. Workers often deal with high-stress levels, physical exhaustion, and a lack of job security.

It’s estimated that 14,000 workers in the UK construction industry suffer from anxiety, work-related stress, or depression (HSE)—whether that’s a new issue or something that’s been long-standing. When we look at the statistics, the numbers are staggering:

Our Mental Health Signage Range: A Step Forward

Here at Stocksigns, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, especially in high-risk industries like construction. That’s why we’ve created a Mental Health Signage Range that aims to increase awareness, offer support, and encourage workers to prioritize their mental well-being. This new range includes:

• Mental Health First-Aider Signs: These signs provide clear direction for workers on who to turn to when they need help. Just like physical first aiders are for injuries, a mental health first-aiders can provide immediate support and can help direct you to support.

• Posters with Resources: These posters display important information, including who to talk to, how to spot the signs of mental health struggles, and where to access further help. These can be displayed around the site or even in the toilets.

• General Reminders: Simple messages like “It’s okay not to be okay” or “Are you feeling Low?” to help reduce the stigma around mental health and encourage workers to speak out about their struggles.

Mental Health and Productivity Go Hand In Hand

By introducing these signs to construction sites, we aim to create a workplace culture that promotes mental health awareness and fosters a supportive environment. Encouraging workers to speak openly about mental health can break down the barriers of silence and stigma, ultimately leading to improved mental well-being and safety.

A healthy mind is just as essential as a healthy body. When workers feel supported and understood, they are more likely to be engaged, productive, and, most importantly, safe. Creating a culture where mental health is openly discussed and prioritised helps prevent burnout and mental health crises before they escalate.

Reminder: Don’t Suffer In Silence

At Stocksigns, we are committed to supporting the mental health of workers across industries. The introduction of our new Mental Health Signage Range is one small but meaningful step towards improving the mental wellbeing of construction workers and promoting a culture of openness and support. If you’re struggling, reach out. Don’t suffer in silence.

Together, we can make a difference—one sign at a time.

Here at Stocksigns, we value giving back to the community. Every year, the team participates in volunteering and fundraising events. For the past four years, we’ve been raising money and volunteering for The Children’s Trust, the UK’s leading charity for children with injuries.

Based in Tadworth, the Trust provides rehabilitation and a range of specialist care, education, and therapy for children and young people to make the best recovery after a serious illness or accident.

Now, we are donating 5% of all online orders to The Children’s Trust, so keep reading to see how those donations go to an amazing cause:

What do we do?

Our Annual Charity Climb:

Each year, the Stocksigns team embarks on an exciting mountaineering challenge alongside our customers and suppliers to raise money for charity. Our charity climbs for the Children’s Trust started in 2021 and walked the Jurassic Coast. Over two days the team hiked 50 miles and climbed a total of 9,000ft. To add to the challenge the team also camped, they woke up both mornings to heavy rain.

In 2024, we took on a climb that was a whole other level, ascending to the highest mountain in Greece. Mount Olympus is a 9,500ft peak in Greece, known as ‘The Home of the Gods. Last year, we raised an incredible £17,036 for The Children’s Trust.

Our Quarterly Volunteering:

We also volunteer in Quarterly gardening at the Children’s Trust Headquarters in Tadworth.

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

The gardens offer a space for fresh air, play, and sensory development and are a vital part of The Children’s Trust’s life. The 24 acres of woodland and gardens can become difficult to maintain, that’s where we come in.

The Stocksigns team isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty and help by clearing out weeds on the grounds.

A visit from The Children’s Trust:

We had a visit from Yasmeen, whose daughter Shakeerah was diagnosed with a tumour at the age of 1, followed by 2 isolated years in the hospital. The difficult journey led them to The Children’s Trust which got Shakeerah walking again

They gave Shakeerah a childhood again. Shakeerah, the staff, and her parents are true inspirations and just one of the many families whose lives get put back on track thanks to the incredible charity

Read Shakeerah’s story here.

How can you help?

When you buy online, between January and June 2025, we will donate 5% of your order to The Children’s Trust. The team will also be embarking on a challenging hike in July 2025 in the Pyrenees, so keep an eye out for the donation link!

Take a sneak peak at some of the topics in this ESG Report

What did we do in 2024?

As we look into the festive season and approach the end of 2024, we thought we’d take a moment to reflect on this year, and a roller coaster of a year we’ve had! From upgrading our machinery to climbing Mt Olympus. 2024 has been quite the year for Stocksigns! Let’s look back on the year with us!

Since upgrading our printer to the Impala 4 last year, we have continued to replace our old equipment with new, more energy-efficient models. In March 204 we replaced our existing cutter with the Zund Cutter installed into our Digital Studio. In July we upgraded our HP 800 Latex Printer. A High-quality roll feed printer capable of printing 100 metres of high-quality imagery.

It’s not just our digital design studio that has benefited from new shiny machinery, we have been installing more energy-efficient technologies throughout our business, reducing energy costs whilst maintaining, if not improving, both our quality and output. This year our energy usage for Quarter 1 2024 had dropped around 40% in comparison to Quarter 1 2023.

Sustainability sits at the heart of everything that we do! Every progressive step must be a step towards lowering our carbon footprint and making a positive impact on the environment. Upgrading our equipment is helping us get one step closer to our goal of becoming Net Zero by 2030!

Stocksigns vision is To be a great place to work where we deliver our customers an exceptional personal service. We always love hearing what our customers think of our exceptional personal service and this year have become part of Ecologi.

So, for every Trustpilot Review good or bad, we pay for a tree to be planted as part of Ecologi’s reforestation projects.

Some of our customers even shared their experiences with us in the form of a case study!

Johnson Controls (JCI)

Boards and Banners

Stocksigns was contacted by Johnsons Controls (JCI) to provide a large number of noticeboards and banners to promote JCI Green credentials and create sustainable signs for the company.

General Maintenance

Fire Wayfinding

Stocksigns provided new Wayfinding signage to General Maintenance, a property maintenance company, for a London apartment complex

Murphy

Construction

Stocksigns has renewed its contract with Murphy, one of the UK’S leading civil engineering and construction companies to supply site signage.

A key pillar of Stocksigns is our CSR policy, which demonstrates our commitment to sustainable practices and helping to reduce our carbon emissions. In September we achieved Gold with the Supply Chain Sustainability School.

By utilizing the school’s resources available on its website, we were able to develop a training plan for the team.

Our Managing Director Danny Adamson Said: “Achieving gold level membership from the SCSS has been a crucial step. Introducing operational and procedural changes are all very well, but we also need employee awareness and engagement to have a real, lasting impact. The resources available through the SCSS have really helped us to educate and train employees across our teams”

Here at Stocksigns, we understand the value of giving back. In 2024 we took  part in quarterly volunteering, an internal bake-off, creating signage.

Signage for The Lucy Rayner Foundations Gala Dinner

Gardening at The Children’s Trust 

Macmillan’s Bake-Off

By far our biggest challenge this year was climbing a 9500ft mountain for our charity partner The Children’s Trust. At the end of June Stocksigns and some of our friends climbed Mt Olympus otherwise known as ‘The Home of Gods’ in Greece!

This was a 2-day trek where the team headed to the summit and back down again. The team stayed overnight at 8,800ft in a mountain hut and took on the summit on day 2.

The final ascent to the summit is was where it got really tricky, we had to use harnesses and helmets to take on the Class III YSD graded ascent to the top.

Every Year the Trust supports thousands of children and their families across the UK, providing rehabilitation as well as a range of specialist care, education, and therapy for children and young people to make the best recovery after a serious illness or accident.

We are so pleased and proud to share with you that our climb up Olympus has raised over £17,000. Thank you all that donating!

So we’ve been busy! This year has been an adventure, focused on innovation and progression. We wonder what next year will bring? We can’t wait to share our journey with you next year.

So all that’s left to say is merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From the Stocksigns Team

“Achieving gold level membership from the SCSS has been a crucial step. Introducing operational and procedural changes are all very well, but we also need employee awareness and engagement to have a real, lasting impact. The resources available through the SCSS have really helped us to educate and train employees across our teams.” – Danny Adamson, Managing Director

We’ve been Summit-ting to greatness!

This year the Stocksigns Team and friends at D2D Associates Limited, Tenzing Search, Seymour Civil Engineering and Clearview Intelligence climbed ‘The Home of the Gods’ Mt. Olympus! A massive 9500ft mountain in Greece for a The Children’s Trust!

Let’s hear from Dave Cload, The Captain of our climb! Who tells us what happened as the team climbed to the top? 

Friday 21^st June

We started our Greek Odyssey on a dark Friday morning in our car park at Stocksigns. For some, a meeting time of 4.15 am was as much of a challenge as climbing a huge mountain! We met a few new faces (and a few old ones) and got all our kit together ready to start our journey.

Security & airport checks completed we all grabbed some well-needed breakfast and headed to the gate for departure. We managed a quick group photo in our gate room before boarding the plane.

After all passengers were boarded we were advised of a technical issue with the aircrafts back up radio system. Without it functioning, we were going nowhere.

After an hour we were given an update and advised that a technician was on board and trying to remedy the situation.

Another hour along and we were advised that the plane was not fixable and that they would have to perform (in their technical jargon) what they call ‘a plane change’.

Luckily we grasped the concept and within half an hour we sat on another plane waiting for the luggage to be loaded. 3 hours late, but still taking off!

We landed 3.5 hours later in Thessaloniki, collected three minivans, and drove just over an hour to the seaside town of Olympic Beach, nestled in the shadow of the mighty Mt Olympus.

We had enough time to grab some dinner, breakfast supplies for the next day and get our kit ready for the off. The next day we were climbing the might Mt Olympus, steeped in myth and legend.

Saturday 22^nd June

Another early start and with some trepidation, we tucked into a continental breakfast ready for the off.

Another early start and with some trepidation, we tucked into a continental breakfast ready for the off. We donned our boots and our branded charity shirts, then set off to the mountain. On route we had to make a quick detour to mountaineering guides who would help us on the final ascent to the summit. We collected harnesses and helmets, signed some disclaimers, then set off to the start point.

When organising an ascent of the highest mountain in Greece, we didn’t really think about the possibility of a heatwave. At sea level it was 37c. I don’t think anyone would have made it if we had started there. Luckily, the mountain is so high that the trek’s start point is 1130m above sea level (3710ft).

It was still a very, very tough start. There was no air movement in the lush green forest that rings Olympus. We immediately started to drip with sweat!

We plodded on for around three hours, stopping very regularly for water breaks. For this first stretch we were all quite quiet, just trying to keep going through the beautiful woodland. We stopped for 45 minutes at a mountain refuge and fuelled up and took on supplies before heading to the second part of the day hike.

At this point we had climbed 815m in elevation, comparable to the size of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike. Ahead of us was a much longer stint taking us up to 2600m.

The paths started getting narrower and would go up as well as down in sections. The higher we went, the better the views got.

We finished day one by following a spine of Olympus up along to the Muses Plateau, home to some 150 Balkan chamois goat-antelope and many climbers. The plateau is a huge grass tundra under the gaze of the mountain Summi, which is called Mýtikas (translates to ‘the nose’).

Sunday 23^rd June

We had a beautiful sunrise over the Aegean Sea that illuminated the summit with an orange glow.

We donned our climbing harnesses and helmets and made the hour-long hike round a huge depression, directly under the summit.

After much slipping and sliding on loose scree we made it to the start of the summit ascent, a near vertical gulley with plentiful ledges hand holds it was very steep, but not technically a climb. In fact it is classified as a YDS Class 3 grade scramble, in sections if you fall the chances of survival is minimal.

Luckily this is where our team of professional mountain guides came in. We were belayed up in groups of 4, so although it looked very dangerous, it was about as safe as we could possibly make it.

The scramble took around an hour as we made it to the very summit of Mt Olympus, a mighty 2,917m, or 9,572ft high. The views were amazing, we had a 360 panoramic view around the mountain. On one side the mountain sloped off into the Aegean Sea, on the other huge vertical drops that looked out over mainland Greece.

We had made it to the Home of the Gods! After precariously making our way back down the gulley, we circled back to the overnight refuge, collected our belongings and started the epic walk back. The last hour was absolute agony.  Everything Hurt! Everyone was in a massive state of relief when the vans and the starting point came into view.

Later that evening, once showered and changed it finally felt real. We’d climbed Olympus

This charity for this years climb is The Children’s Trust. Every Year the Trust support thousands of children and their families across the UK. Based in Tadworth, the Trust provides rehabilitation as well as a range of specialist care, education and therapy for children and young people to make the best recovery after a serious illness or accident.

Thank you to our friends from D2D Associates Limited, Tenzing Search, Seymour Civil Engineering and Clearview Intelligence for joining us on our ascent up Olympus for this amazing charity.

We are so proud to share that we raise £17,488.00 for The Children’s Trust.

Thank you for all your support and donations, this phenomenal amount of money will go a long way in helping this brilliant charity.

Why Industrial Signage Matters?

Investing in Industrial Signage is a proactive way to create a safer work environment helping to reduce accidents in the workplace. All industries are extremely important whether manufacturing, heavy industry, on construction sites, or even in office-based environments. It’s a reminder to employees to always be cautious.

Safety:

The most important reason for having sufficient safety signs on site is safety. All workplaces legally require risk assessments, and if a safety sign would help reduce the risk, then a sign must be installed.

Causes of injury are commonly categorised by;

• Slips, trips and falls on the same level
• Handling, lifting or carrying
• Struck by moving object
• Falls from height
• Act of Violence

Signage can often reduce the risk by simply making staff and visitors aware of the hazards in the working environment. For example signage can indicate un-even floor surface or indicate weight loads of heavy goods. By highlighting these, staff and visitors can act accordingly to avoid injury.

The bar chart illustrates the most common types of non-fatal injuries reported under RIDDOR in 2022/23. The most frequent accidents involve slips, trips, or falls according to RIDDOR 2022/23, 60,645 employees reported a non-fatal injury. RIDDOR mandates the reporting of non-fatal injuries to ensure accurate data collection. The current rate of self-reported non-fatal injuries is similar to pre-pandemic levels, with 1,750 injuries per 100,000 workers, indicating a general downward trend.

Compliance

In the realm of workplace safety, understanding and adhering to key legal requirements is crucial.

Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996:

The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 mandate that safety signs must be installed and maintained in workplaces where they can reduce risk, following a thorough risk assessment. It’s important to recognise that while these signs are essential for warning of risks and thus reducing them, they are not a substitute for actual risk control measures.

BE EN ISO 7010

Additionally, signage must align with the BE EN ISO 7010 standard, which specifies the colours and icons to be used. This standardisation ensures that signage maintains a consistent design, making it easily understood in any application. However, the regulations do permit small differences in pictograms, provided these variations do not affect clarity or cause confusion. Compliance with these standards ensures a safer and more comprehensible environment for all employees.

Efficiency

Types of Industrial Signage

There are different types of industrial signage, the most common types of industrial signage, include safety signage, emergency signage, and informational signage which are always found around your site or workplace.

Safety Signage:

Safety signage notifies people of possible dangers such as chemical storage facilities, high-voltage places, and slippery floors. These areas or situations are often there to identify low-risk places of circumstance that require prudence as well as declaring danger that could cause serious harm or even death. These signs are typically red and white.

Informational Signage:

Informational signage indicates what must be done, such as putting on a safety harness or protective equipment (PPE). It specifies any behaviours that are forbidden such as entering or smoking. It provides specific information about the facility, such as operating instructions, operational hours, and emergency contact details.

Emergency Signs:

Emergency signs are there to enable quick action in the event of a fire, including signs for fire exits, extinguishers, and fire alarms. They mark the location of first aid stations and emergency medical equipment and display escape routes and assembly points for evacuation.

Regulation Standards

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has established statutory requirements that industrial signs in the UK must follow including:

• Must communicate clear safety-related information and risk.
• How the signs are used of safety signs and signals in public and workplace settings.

This outlines the Health and Safety Regulations of 1966.

The 2002 Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations are laws demanding that hazardous materials are to be handled and stored safely. These regulations mandate the installation of suitable signage to alert workers of the potential risk that is associated with these materials.

British Norms (BN) are to guarantee consistency, efficiency, and compliance with safety and quality standards. This includes several standard guidelines that provide recommendations and requirements for various aspects of industrial signage.

Conclusion

Industrial signage is essential yet often overlooked in maintaining safety and efficiency across various industries.

Industrial signage serves to direct, warn of hazards, and provide crucial information, contributing to a safer work environment. Regulations like the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and standards such as BE EN ISO 7010 ensure signage is consistently designed and easily understood, mitigating risks effectively.

Compliance with standards set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the 2002 Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations ensures stringent safety protocols, safeguarding workers and fostering trust.

In summary, investing in high-quality industrial signage enhances workplace safety, ensures legal compliance, and promotes efficiency. By implementing these principles, businesses can create safer, more productive environments for their employees.

So what’s the difference between a hazard and a risk?

What is a Hazard?

A hazard is something that does not directly cause harm but has the potential to cause harm or loss. A hazard generally increases the effect of danger and has the potential to cause an accident. This could be in the form of a  a substance, machinery, activity, method of work, or process. Hazards are found in nearly every workplace, home, and environment.

How to identify a hazard?

• Collect existing information about workplace hazards.
• Inspect the workplace for safety and health hazards.
• Inspect and identify health-related hazards.
• Conduct incident investigations to identify the hazard.
• Identify hazards associated with emergency situations.

What is a Hazard in the Workplace?

Depending on your workplace, these could include;

• Biological – Viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc., that can cause harm. For example; mould, dust, blood, other bodily fluids, vermin, and other parasites.

• Chemical – Will depend on the properties of the chemicals used and how they are stored on the premises. It includes both health and physical hazards, such as skin irritation, carcinogenicity, flammability, and radiation.

• Ergonomic – Physical factors that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. For example: lighting, equipment layout, manual handling process and workstation layout.

• Physical – Environmental factors that can cause harm when anyone comes into contact with. This includes heights, vibration, radiation, and pressure.

• Psychosocial – This is an occupational hazards which can have an adverse effect on an individual’s mental health or well-being. This includes hazards such as stress, bullying, and workplace violence.

 DID YOU KNOW?
The statistics of workplace accidents and dangers are shocking! The Health and Safety Executive reports that 1.6 million working people are suffering from a work-related illness or injury.

What is a risk?

A risk is a chance that somebody could be harmed by the hazard. A risk calculates how likely it is that someone will be hurt, and how severe an injury would be. A risk will be given a rating, for example, high, medium or low taking into account these two factors; the possible severity of injury and the likelihood of the harm occurring.

Risk is the probability of harm that hazards could cause if not checked and precautions put in place. In the case of a person, it is the possibility of them being injured or receiving an adverse health effect due to the hazards.

The severity of harm could range from minor short-term harm to major life-changing injuries or death. The likelihood of harm occurring from the hazard could range from very unlikely to highly likely.

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to determine the hazards, measure the risks and install controls to protect your workforce.

When you consider the degree of risk that a hazard poses to your employees or yourself, you must bear in mind the following factors that can influence risk:

• The frequency of exposure.
• The route of exposure.
• How severe the injury or adverse health effect of exposure is.

The risk is the chances of quantifiable loss, damage, injury, liability, or any other negative outcome resulting from internal or external hazards. Through some preventable action, you can minimise risk. To minimise the risk, you need to know the types of risks and what events can cause them.

What is a risk in the workplace?

A risk in a workplace could include.

Slips and Trips

This could be spillages making the floors wet, poorly fitted floors loose tiles, poorly fitted carpets that could have the potential to trip you up, or even loose cables from computers.

Hazardous Substances

If not stored correctly they could get knocked over, or even explode.

Working at Height

One of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities. Must check ground conditions, and see if the surfaces are fragile. Make sure the job has been properly planned.

Sprains, Strains, and Pains

 Could be caused by a slip or a trip from poorly fitting floors or even a wet floor. Bad-fitting shoes can contribute to your risk of a sprain.

The Key differences between risks and hazards.

Hazard identifies a source that can cause harm, danger, or loss, whereas a risk describes the probability of harm occurring as a result of that identified hazard. Hazards are related to physical objects, situations, or settings that can cause harm or damage. A risk relates to an action that is a result of a hazard.

Conclusion

So you should now know what a hazard is (something with the potential to cause harm) and what risk is (the chance that somebody could be harmed by the hazard).

Activities may have many hazards, but the level of risk can be reduced by good management and controls. Where you can eliminate hazards, you can remove the risk.

It is impossible, and you are not expected to eliminate all the risks in your workplace, but putting in place safety procedures, improving the work environment and staying on top of hazard and risks will help maintain a safe and secure workplace.

What is the 5S Methodology Process? 

The 5S Manufacturing methodology is a Japanese philosophy to help create a workplace best suited to visual control and lean production. As well as helping to develop a better quality of life and creating better mental and physical health.

What are the 5S Pillars?

It starts with Sort (Seiri) which means to organize where we separate tools, parts, and instructions for what is needed and eliminate what’s not wanted. At Stocksigns we had to get rid of a lot of stock that hadn’t been used in 10 years and was just simply laying around.

The second step is to set in order otherwise known as Seiton, which is to arrange neatly being able then to identify tools and parts for a much easier use. In shorter terms to organise what remains.

Step three is to shine  (Seiso) which means cleanliness or shine. This is to conduct clean-up in the work area.  At Stocksigns everyone in manufacturing got involved in painting, cleaning, re-organising, implementing new processes, throwing out processes, and product range refinement.

Then we look at standardising (Seiketsu) where the first 3 tasks are all maintained daily for the workplace’s perfect conditions and have regular cleaning and maintenance.

Finally, to Sustain(Shitsuke) when following the first 4S will help be sustainable. As Paul Henry said, it’s all about sustainability and making sure the process stays sustainable otherwise there is no point doing it in the first place.

The 5S project has been followed by Stocksigns and has been able to keep that process sustainable. We invested in new machinery such as a brand new Zund Cutter and SwissQprint Impala, which helped develop areas of the factory to ensure a smoother workflow. The steps we have taken will set us up for the next decade at least, but that’s not to say we are finished improving and tweaking our processes. Stocksigns actively encourage suggestions or questions from everyone within the business, one person alone can’t oversee everything. It is a collective effort to keep the 5S sustainable within our workplace.

Here at Stocksigns, sustainability sits at the heart of everything we do

Olympus Hike 2024

Reducing carbon emissions

Our approach to sustainability starts with measuring, setting targets and reducing our carbon emissions. We’ve already achieved net neutral status thanks to a combination of reduction efforts and carbon offsetting measures.

These include supporting clean cookstoves in Kenya and establishing wind farms in India to promote sustainable energy. We’re working towards a green future globally by supporting initiatives and adopting frameworks such as REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries).

Wild animal road signs are used to advise oncoming drivers of the presence of wild animals which could create a potential hazard on your route.

What does your role entail?

My role is incredibly varied, which I really love. I cover everything from organising marketing campaigns and materials, to drafting and uploading blogs, updating and maintaining the website, creating email campaigns, helping with social media content and reporting on campaign results to the sales team. There’s always something different to do – I think the only constant is the amount of tea I drink every day!

Although most of my work has a digital focus, Daniella, our Marketing and Graphics Manager has been on maternity leave so I have been looking after a few other marketing areas, including managing the flow of content from our external PR agency.

You also have an important role to play in terms of sustainability at Stocksigns, tell us about that?

When I first interviewed with Daniella and Danny, our MD, I mentioned my interest in sustainability – both the environmental and social aspects. While I personally do my best to recycle and live sustainably, I feel that big corporations need to take more accountability as there’s only so much the average consumer can do or afford.

Having heard me speak passionately on the subject and agreeing, Danny encouraged me to sign up to the Supply Chain Sustainability School on behalf of the company.

The Supply Chain Sustainability School is a free-to-join learning environment that aspires to upskill those working within the built environment sector. So far, we have reached Silver status as a result of our continued engagement with the school, and using the knowledge I’ve gained, I’ve been running internal CSR training sessions, covering topics such as the importance of ESG/CSR and the circular economy.

I also regularly share insight from the school with the wider company at our monthly meetings, and I look forward to telling them all about the School’s Net Zero Summit that I am attending in September.

Safety Signs are crucial in any work environment. The primary importance of displaying them is to prevent injury and ensure staff and visitors are aware of the possible dangers and hazards in certain situations and/or environments. Whether you require permanent signage to notify people of prohibitions, warnings, and mandatory requirements or for locating and identifying emergency escape routes and first-aid facilities – there is a Stocksigns solution for you!

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

The Stocksigns team was joined by friends from Balfour Beatty, Gatwick Airport, VVB Engineering, Mason Street Furniture, Tennants UK, and more. We are proud to share with you that over £15,000 has been raised for the Children’s Trust.

We are so pleased and proud to share with you that we raised over £15,000 for the Children’s Trust in Tadworth. Thank you all for your support and donations, this fantastic amount of money, and will go a long way in helping this fantastic charity.