In readiness for 2008, we have launched our new website.  Re-designed in-house by our Design Manager, Jonathan Hughes, we hope it will be an interesting reference point for our new and existing customers alike. If you would like to get in touch, please go to our contact page.  In the meantime, add the site to your ‘favourites’ and keep checking back for updates.

We recently assisted in completing the re-brand of the Portman Building Society to the Nationwide Building Society brand.  The projected included the special treatment of several heritage sites, which we undertook through detailed communication with local planners.

We are currently undertaking the re-brand of several NOKIA stores to Mobile Phones Direct.  This is developing our expertise in the retail communications sector yet further, as we already undertake work for NOKIA, and are the sole supplier of signage to Phones 4u.

Following a six month design and development programme led by our Design Manager, Jonathan Hughes, Northampton Signs have recently won the tender to provide an external wayfinding system to St. Andrew's Hospital. As the UK's leading independent provider of specialist mental health care, their estate is continually evolving in terms of new facilities. We have specified a flexible, modular system which can be adapted over the coming years to suit the development and expansion of the site.

Natalie Snell, Project Manager.

To view the Eden Shopping centre website click here.

In conjunction with the opening of the new Grand Arcade in Cambridge, we have recently completed a very successful design, manufacture and installation programme for these stores.

We have recently extended our digital print department to accommodate a new HP8000 solvent printer. Housed in newly built, filter controlled room, this exciting new piece of equipment allows us to print on a much wider array of roll medium, such as class 'O' fire retardant materials. This is particularly useful as we undertake a lot of airport projects for clients such as The Restaurant Group and SSP, where class 'O' materials are a mandatory requirement for wallpapers and printed graphics. Richard Dazeley, Northampton Signs Print Manager comments: "Working alongside our existing HP inkjet printers, the new solvent printer greatly increases our quality and output capacity."

Many of our manufacturing based staff have recently completed the NVQ L2 Sign Making Course. As well as aiding personal development, the skills gained from the course will help our staff improve the quality of our products yet further.

Natalie Snell, Arcadia Project Manager comments:

"Thank you all for your time and commitment to complete BR / DP High Wycombe. The store looks fantastic and the Brands have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for a great new store."

Following our recent installation of a comprehensive wayfinding system at the Northampton site, we are now undertaking a similar project at St. Andrew's Healthcare's site in Essex.

Several members from Northampton Signs were involved in a one day event at Daytona Kart track in Milton Keynes.

It was all in need of a fund raising event for Great Ormond Street Hospital, to help the charity reach their yearly £50 million target. This keeps the hospital at the forefront of worldwide pediatric medicine.

A total of 30 companies were taking part in this event. Northampton Signs was given the task to design and manufacture the pit boards for each participating team, this was to display their encouraging messages for their fellow team mates!

Before the race commenced all participations attended a race briefing to highlight the safety of racing and the track itself.

A total of £20,000 was raised on the day from sponsors and an auction was held after the race. Auctioned items included a Lanzarote Apartment, Morgan sports car for the weekend and a signed Lewis Hamilton T-shirt.

Berrywood Hospital will provide fully integrated, modern hospital facilities for adults and older people with mental health problems.

The 35 million pound new hospital will see the end of old-fashioned dormitory wards and a big emphasis on patient facilities. When complete, the new complex will provide 135 beds in single en-suite rooms, along with group therapy rooms, an academic library and other facilities, all set in landscaped gardens.

It will have many innovative features, including curved internal walls and conservatories at the end of bedroom clusters, making the most of natural light and ventilation.

Northampton Signs was selected to consult, design, manufacture and install the way-finding system for this new facility.  Working closely with Balfour Beatty and the NHS, as well as using previous experience on Healthcare projects, our Design and Sales team devised a modular signage system that would meet the stringent requirements for this type of project.

The signage elements were designed to avoid ligature points and be tamper resistant.   They also needed to harmonise the with domestic environment theme that forms major part of the project’s internal look and feel.  Here, Coastal themed visuals ‘softened’ the signage as well as forming part of the visual way-finding system.  Large format, digitally printed artwork was applied to walls in core areas to emphasise the coastal theme.  As part of our remit, Northampton Signs also provided the emergency escape route signs, fire action signs and room/area identification discs.

Following design sign-off, the project was closely managed on site by our Project Management and Installation Teams to ensure the tight deadlines were successfully met.  Both the client, Balfour Beatty, and the NHS were very happy with the productive involvement, which ensured this element of the overall project ran smoothly.  We are looking forward to more projects with both as and when required.

Paul Nesbitt | Senior Project Manager, Balfour Beatty Construction

“Northampton Signs provided all of the signs for Phase 1 of this large project.  I was particularly impressed with the quality and detail of the package, which came about as a result of detailed planning and consultation with their staff.  I feel we were given excellent service and look forward to working with them through Phase 2, and on future projects.”