FASTSIGNS UK has witnessed a productive first six months of the year with a number of high-growth developments.

Headquartered in Staffordshire, the signage specialist, which is made up of a network of centres around the country, has kicked-off the first half of the year with the opening of two new centres, the welcoming of five new appointments and two internal promotions, helping to secure its position as the UK’s largest signage franchise.

Marking the beginning of a series of franchise updates, the much-anticipated opening of FASTSIGNS Tunbridge Wells in March saw the network tap into Kent’s bustling business community for the first time.

With a background in hospitality, Nik Mather, managing director of the centre, has been spearheading operations offering businesses in the local area signage, graphic design, installations and project management.

Meanwhile, the brand also expanded its presence in the East Midlands with the opening of its second Leicestershire-based franchise, FASTSIGNS Leicester North. Yaser Khan took on the role of managing director, bringing a wealth of experience working as a brand designer at well-known hospitality brands.

Together, the Leicester North and Tunbridge Wells centres now bring FASTSIGNS’ franchise network up to 23 centres across the UK, meaning businesses in various sectors from education to healthcare, can access high-quality signage solutions, unrestricted by location.

As well as internal promotions for the likes of Rebecca Perks, who moves from executive assistant to operations manager and newly-promoted senior business consultant, Emily Healthcote, each based at the company’s West Midlands HQ, there have been various new appointments across the network.

FASTSIGNS Crawley, led by co-owner Melanie Martinez, recently announced the new appointments of 23-year old sign maker, Athena Kolyos, and Michele Hendry, as office manager, bolstering the company’s growing female-led team.

FASTSIGNS Portsmouth has also appointed a new internal sales lead, Liam McCutcheon, who is working on the company’s high-calibre accounts, including the University of Portsmouth, while also driving forward new business leads.

Earlier this year, FASTSIGNS Sheffield welcomed local entrepreneur, Martin Slater, to the centre as its new managing director. While Anil Shani officially took the reins at FASTSIGNS Milton Keynes as owner.

Discussing this period of development, John Davies, managing director of FASTSIGNS UK, said:

“The continued growth over the last year is a testament to our dedication in supporting franchises as they continue to deliver high-quality services while evolving to the changing needs of the market.

“In today's visual world, signage is critical to a brand’s reputation and quality signage can be the difference between a good job and a great job. It's not just about creating impact, it's about communicating values, messages and identity. Signage can attract new customers, create a memorable experience, and set a business apart from its key competitors.

“As we continue to expand our centres and teams, we remain focused on creating a culture of collaboration, built on expertise, which is why we invest heavily in training and development for all of our team members. We’re excited about the future and look forward to further growth and success in the coming months.”