Signmaker Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Signmaker

Hours

40 per week
Starting salary

£12,000 + per year

The work

Signmakers design, make and install signs for a variety of uses, including traffic signs, signs for business premises, indoor and outdoor exhibition displays, shop window signs, and designs for vehicle bodies and tarpaulins.

They use a range of materials, including vinyl, Perspex, plastic, metal and glass (used for illuminated or electronic signs).

Your work as a signmaker would vary depending on your employer, but could include:

designing signs or working to a pre-prepared design
measuring and calculating letter size
preparing surfaces
making glass fibre letters from moulds
using digital technology such as microprocessors to produce lettering
cutting out and building plastics into letters, logos and 3D shapes
applying paint backgrounds by brush, spray or roller
hand-painting lettering (in traditional signmaking)
attaching lettering to backgrounds (if assembling a moulded sign)
bending glass into shape and fitting basic electrical wiring (if producing an illuminated or animated sign)
installing signs on site.

You would also deal with paperwork, such as contracts or planning applications.

Hours

You would normally work 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You may work evenings and weekends for some jobs.

You would be based in a workshop or studio, but may also work on site, which can involve being outdoors, sometimes at heights and in all weather conditions. You may have to do some lifting when installing signs.

Income

Signmaker salaries can start at around £12,000 a year.
Experienced signmakers can earn between £17,000 and £30,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

There are no set qualifications for becoming a signmaker, although you may have an advantage if you have GCSEs or similar qualifications in subjects such as design and technology or art.

You will need normal colour vision.

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about Apprenticeships, visit the Apprenticeships website.

Apprenticeships

Training and development

Once you start work, you will usually receive on-the-job training. You may be able to work towards NVQ Levels 2 and 3 in Signmaking.

You will need to gain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Green Card (Sign Installer – Illuminated or Sign Installer – Non-illuminated) safety passport. This involves having an NVQ or equivalent and passing a health and safety assessment. See the CSCS website for details.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme

You will also need to gain accreditation for working at heights from either the Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (PASMA) or the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF). See the PASMA and IPAF websites for details.

Skills and knowledge

good practical skills
accuracy and attention to detail
maths skills, for measurements and calculations
computer skills
an understanding of the technology used to produce signs
awareness of health and safety
the ability to keep up to date with new skills and techniques
good spelling and grammar
creative flair where the job involves design
knowledge of lettering styles and fonts.

More information

International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) (Opens new window)
Head Office
Bridge End Business Village
Crooklands
Cumbria
LA7 7NU
Tel: 01539 566084
www.ipaf.org

Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association (Opens new window)
www.pasma.co.uk

British Sign and Graphics Association (Opens new window)
5 Orton Enterprise Centre
Bakewell Road
Orton Southgate
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE2 6XU
Tel: 01733 230033
www.bsga.co.uk

Cogent (Opens new window)
Unit 5, Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Tel: 01925 515200
www.cogent-ssc.com

Opportunities

You will find opportunities to work as a signmaker in firms of sign manufacturers or signmakers. You could also be self-employed, either independently or as part of a franchise.

In medium- and large-sized companies, if you are experienced and suitably qualified, you may be able to progress to a supervisory or management position.

You could specialise in different areas within the industry, working as an estimator, process planner or quality technician.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The polymer industry is part of the broader science‐based sector represented by Cogent Sector Skills Council, which also includes chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and pharmaceuticals industries. Most goods used by people in their homes, at work and in their everyday activities are products derived from the chemical, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymer industries. The combined industries represent nearly half a million people in the UK and are of huge economic and strategic importance to the UK.

The polymer industry comprises four discrete processing areas: plastics processing; rubber processing; polymer composites processing; and sign making. The industry is considered to be dynamic, as it is subject to opportunities arising from technological change, development of new materials and processing technology. Additionally, the development of new products and changes respond to consumer requirements.

The industry requires innovators, technologists, designers and highly‐skilled processing technicians to remain at the forefront of developments and changes in the world demand for more versatile, lightweight, low‐cost and energy‐saving products and applications.

Key facts:

The industry is very sensitive to commodity and energy prices, and waste policy.
Total employment in the polymers industry has decreased since 1998.
64% of research and development in the industry is funded by the industry itself.
There has been an overall increase in research and development spending since 1998.
Skills gaps exist at higher levels and people are needed with good knowledge of competitive business techniques.
New technologies have enabled the industry to remain competitive, despite the growing competition from foreign markets.
The number of polymer enterprises has declined in the last 10 years.
The UK is one of the top five plastics processing countries in the European Union.
The UK rubber industry is dominated by a small number of large firms, whereas plastics is characterised by small to medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in niche markets.

Jobs in the industry are divided into:

Plastics – lab assistant, product manager, quality control inspector, tool maker, R&D manager, process technician, polymer technician, plant facilities manager
Sign making – paint sprayer, sign maker/writer, estimator, graphic designer, vinyl applicator, project planner, contract manager, site surveyor.

National and regional data

Across Great Britain, there are an estimated 179,200 people working in polymers manufacturing and processing. The largest number of employees is located in:

North West
East Midlands
West Midlands
East of England
South East

There are significant clusters of polymer businesses in North Yorkshire, the Humberside, the Isle of Wight, Central Scotland, and around Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Businesses are spread across the North West and West Midlands regions.