Signs Express (Crawley) helps Manor Royal get the modern sign treatment.

Visitors to the Manor Royal Business District would have noticed a few changes as they navigate the largest business area of the Gatwick Diamond.

The most recent improvement is new street name signage. Out goes the old, low-level sign with “industrial” on them and in comes more modern, high-level colour-coded signs. The signs were produced by Signs Express (Crawley) who successfully won the bid against three other sign companies in the area.

As part of the selection process each company was given the same specifications and asked to supply a sample. The council panel then selected their winning design based on ‘blind selection’ and in the end it was the signage specialist’s innovative design ideas which came out tops. No one knew who the designs were produced by.

It was felt that the old signs did not properly represent the way Manor Royal had changed since it was first named over 60 years ago, when tall chimneys puffing out smoke were commonplace. Now the type of business and manufacturing is cleaner and more hi-tech.

“Times change, businesses change and the image and reputation of Manor Royal need to keep pace with that.” Remarked Trevor Williams, Chair of the Manor Royal Business Group, “In the scheme of things it’s a small change but every change in the right direction is worthwhile and important.” As part of the UK and Ireland’s leading signs and graphics company, Signs Express (Crawley) provides a complete design, manufacture and installation service for all forms of signage including interior/exterior signs, vehicle graphics, exhibition and display products, window graphics and health and safety signage for businesses in Crawley and surrounding areas including East Grinstead and Horsham. Nigel Wood, owner of Signs Express (Crawley) said: “Working with the Manor Royal Business District again was exciting and a very successful project. When we received the initial brief we decided to not only supply a sample, but two alternatives as well. The new finger post signage is modern, visible and eye catching”.

As well as looking more attractive, the colour-coding also serves to aide navigation and emergency response. The Business District is now split into five zones as set out in its emergency response plan “Operation Diamond”.

The new lorry cab height signage should also help prevent street names being obscured by parked cars and vans and lorries looking to exit from junctions.

In April, Manor Royal based firms are being asked to vote to form a Business Improvement District (BID). If the outcome from the vote is “yes” Manor Royal can hope

to see many more improvements delivered in an attempt to improve trade, reduce costs, raise the profile and improve the infrastructure for Manor Royal.