FASTSIGNS UK marked the close of another successful year with its highly anticipated annual convention and awards ceremony, bringing together franchisees, employees and industry professionals from across the network.

For the first time, 80% of this year’s awards were won by women, highlighting the increasing diversity within the network and the capabilities of women across a range of disciplines in signage.

The event, hosted at The Belfry Hotel in Nottingham, featured a full day of workshops and collaborative sessions, ending with an illustrious awards ceremony, which saw a total of 22 awards presented.

Kicking off the ceremony, one of this year’s most highly regarded awards, the ‘Employee of the Year Award’, was presented to Isobel Martin of FASTSIGNS Crawley. Excelling in sales, Isobel was also recognised for demonstrating exceptional project management and client partnership skills, with customers like London Gatwick Airport and the Steer Automative Group.

The achievement reflects not only Isobel’s exceptional capabilities but also FASTSIGNS Crawley’s ongoing commitment to fostering female leadership in signage and manufacturing, thanks to co-owner, Melanie Martinez.

The success for women across the network continued throughout the evening, with the ‘Rising Star of the Year Award’ going to Ches Munro of FASTSIGNS Tunbridge Wells, recognised for her innovative thinking and creative approach to driving sales.

After joining the network in Spring 2024, Rosie Lees, of FASTSIGNS St Albans, also earned the ‘Newcomer of the Year Award’ after securing the highest level of sales. Meanwhile, the ‘Sales Professional with the Highest Overall Revenue’ recognition was awarded to Neena Patel from FASTSIGNS Hammersmith, for her outstanding sales performance and exceptional client engagement.

One of the most prestigious awards presented during the evening was ‘Franchisee of the Year’, which went to Simon and Friederike Slee from FASTSIGNS Hammersmith. While the ‘Project of the Year Award’ was won by FASTSIGNS Manchester for its work to launch a one-of-a-kind fire safety training facility with local business, UAP.

Commenting on the annual convention, John Davies, Managing Director at FASTSIGNS UK, said:

“2024 has been a remarkable year for FASTSIGNS UK. Our network has continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and excellence in service delivery, all amidst a dynamic business environment.

“Although women represent almost half of the labour force in the UK, they account for just 26% of all workers in the manufacturing sector, so it’s particularly gratifying to see the leadership and achievements of women within our network, who have claimed a significant share of this year’s awards.

“Congratulations to all the winners and a sincere thank you to everyone who has helped make 2024 a truly remarkable year.”

On winning Employee of the Year, Isobel Martin, key account manager at FASTSIGNS Crawley, said:

“I am absolutely honoured to receive the Employee of the Year Award. This journey has been incredible, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such an amazing team. Having Melanie as an inspiring leader has been transformative and being in a position to foster growth, particularly with the new female hires we have made, like Athena, has been a privilege.

“This award holds special meaning to me as a woman in the industry and I take great pride in the talented individuals who make up our network across the UK. I hope it inspires more women to step into this field and thrive within it.”