CSR - Hardy Signs

One charity particularly close to our hearts is SARAC (Sexual Abuse Rape Advice Centre), who provide free, confidential support to survivors of sexual abuse and rape across Staffordshire and Derbyshire.

We’ve loved building our connection with SARAC over the years and supporting some of their fundraising initiatives along the way. Our marketing team member Blu is also a fully trained SARAC Ambassador, and having seen the incredible difference their work makes, we’re excited to keep helping them continue their life-changing support for survivors.

This September, our marketing team, Blu and Chloe, will be swapping their desks for the clouds – taking part in a 15,000ft skydive in support of much-needed funds for SARAC. With over 300 survivors reliant on the work of SARAC, were they not in place, many would be on the receiving end of NHS waiting lists of 18–24+ months.

Blu said:

“We’re both nervous but incredibly proud to be taking on this challenge for such an important cause. Knowing that every penny raised goes directly to helping survivors makes it all worthwhile.”

The team has set a fundraising target of £1,000, and every donation counts. SARAC has faced years of being underfunded and over-capacitated, meaning their vital services are stretched more than ever. With every £1 donated generating £16.71 in social value, even the smallest contribution can make an immediate, life-changing difference for survivors who urgently need support.

Support Blu and Chloe’s skydive and help SARAC be the lifeline that so many depend on: https://www.justgiving.com/page/hardy-signs-jump-for-sarac?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Now in its tenth year, this highly anticipated event raised over £54,500 in vital funds to support MAAC’s pre-hospital emergency care across the Midlands.

Over a Decade of Support

Hardy Signs has supported Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for more than ten years, providing a wide range of high-quality signage solutions for the organisation’s retail stores, promotional campaigns and fundraising events. Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to community wellbeing and the life-saving difference the charity makes every day.

Over the years, we’ve helped the charity raise its profile and strengthen its visibility through bespoke signage that enhances engagement and supports awareness of its mission. From impactful store fascia signs and interior graphics to event signage, we are proud to contribute to the charity’s continued success.

Signage That Made an Impact on the Day

For this year’s Golf Day, Hardy Signs supplied a full suite of signage that played a crucial role in ensuring the event ran smoothly and looked professional from start to finish. This included:

Post-and-panel signs for branding and directional guidance
Sponsor recognition boards placed throughout the course
Branded banners highlighting event partners and fundraising totals
Wayfinding signage to help guests navigate between key locations
Freestanding digital screen, displaying event information, sponsor logos and live updates throughout the day

The addition of the digital screen brought a sleek, modern touch to the event, reinforcing a professional and polished feel from arrival to finish. Positioned strategically at the clubhouse entrance, it helped keep guests informed in real time while showcasing the event’s supporters in a high-visibility, engaging format.

By providing all signage free of charge, we helped the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity save over £11,000 – funds that could instead be directed toward life-saving missions.

A Meaningful Day with Real Results

With over 21 corporate teams participating, the sold-out event offered a brilliant day of networking, friendly competition and fundraising. The £54,500 raised will fund 34 life-saving missions, including 16 air ambulance flights and 18 critical care car callouts across the Midlands.

Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, commented:
“Each year our Golf Day just gets better and better. We are grateful to our headline sponsor Hardy Signs and to everyone who attended and supported the event.”

We were proud to play a part in such a memorable day and to see our signage and digital display elevate the event’s overall experience and visual impact.

Let’s Make Your Next Event Stand Out

At Hardy Signs, we understand the power of signage in making an event successful. Whether you’re hosting a charity fundraiser, corporate day or community event, we can deliver clear, high-impact signage — from traditional panels to digital displays — that helps guests feel informed, welcomed and engaged.

Get in touch today to find out how Hardy Signs can support your next event with expert signage solutions tailored to your goals.

Hardy Signs was proud to sponsor the Innovator of the Year award at the Generation Next Summer Festival & Awards, held on 3 July 2025 at Electric Daisy in Derby. Organised by East Midlands Chamber’s Generation Next network, the event featured a festival-style evening of live music, street food and the celebration of outstanding young professionals from across the region.

Recognising Groundbreaking Achievement

The Innovator of the Year award, sponsored by Hardy Signs, celebrates young individuals aged 18–35 who are transforming their workplaces through creativity and forward-thinking solutions. This year’s winner, Jade from Structural Adhesives, stood out for her significant contributions to business growth and innovation within her company. We were delighted to support an award that aligns so closely with our values of originality, progress and future-focused thinking.

Signage That Shone Across the Festival

As well as sponsoring the award, Hardy Signs supplied a full suite of signage to elevate the event’s visual experience and reinforce Generation Next’s branding throughout the venue. Our signage solutions included:

Branded feather flags positioned at the entrance to welcome guests
A bold sponsor wall backdrop used for photos and recognition
Bespoke signage highlighting key event zones, sponsors and award areas
Freestanding award plaques handed to each of the night’s winners
These branding touchpoints helped to deliver a consistent and professional feel from start to finish, ensuring every guest, nominee and sponsor was properly represented.

Long-Standing Support for Generation Next

This is not our first time supporting Generation Next. Hardy Signs has worked with the Chamber’s young professionals network for several years, including producing eco-friendly awards for previous ceremonies and sponsoring categories such as the Innovation & Technology Award in 2024. Our ongoing involvement reflects a shared commitment to developing the next generation of industry leaders across the Midlands.

A Proud Moment for Hardy Signs

The 2025 Generation Next Summer Festival & Awards brought together some of the region’s brightest emerging talent, and we were proud to be part of it. By combining award sponsorship with impactful signage, we contributed to an event that not only looked the part but celebrated achievement in a way that felt truly special.

Let’s Elevate Your Next Event

If you’re planning a corporate awards night, community event or festival, Hardy Signs can help with custom signage that brings your vision to life. Get in touch today to learn more about how we can support your next event with professional, branded solutions.

At Hardy Signs, we’re passionate not just about delivering high-quality signage, but also about giving back to our local community and inspiring the next generation of professionals. That’s why we were thrilled to welcome Liam and Logan from Fountains High School for a 72-hour work experience placement at our Burton-on-Trent headquarters.

Fountains High School is a local SEN (Special Educational Needs) school that supports young people aged 11 to 19, focusing on practical life skills, personal development, and independence. Over the course of two weeks, Liam and Logan brought enthusiasm, creativity, and fresh perspectives into the Hardy Signs workspace, and we couldn’t be prouder of what they achieved.

Hands-On Learning, From Concept to Creation

During their time with us, the students experienced every stage of a real-world signage project. They developed a mock business, created a full business plan, and saw it through to the design and production of a custom sign, all within just 72 hours.

From brainstorming and graphic design to hands-on work in our production workshop, Liam and Logan gave it their all. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to get a feel for the signage industry, and we were genuinely impressed by their commitment, confidence, and creativity.

A Bright and Branded Future Ahead

What made this placement particularly special was seeing the students’ personal growth. As they navigated each task, their confidence grew, as did their teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. It’s moments like these that remind us of the importance of workplace experiences for young people of all abilities.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Fountains High School, the dedicated teachers who support these incredible students, and of course to Liam and Logan themselves for their brilliant work. We’d also like to thank the Hardy Signs team for making the experience so meaningful and inclusive.

Building Skills, Inspiring Futures

At Hardy Signs, we are committed to creating opportunities that go beyond business. Whether it’s supporting local schools, offering apprenticeships, or partnering with community organisations, we believe in investing in people.

This work experience placement is just one of the many ways we’re helping to build a brighter, more inclusive future. If you’re a school, college, or community organisation interested in work experience or educational partnerships, we’d love to hear from you.

Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) recently marked the 10-year anniversary of its educational and cultural partnership with Jeonju Kijeon College in South Korea. The milestone was celebrated in May 2025 with a three-day K-Culture Festival, bringing together students, staff and guests to honour a decade of global exchange.

We’re proud to have supported this partnership for many years, working closely with BSDC to enrich the student experience and strengthen international connections through industry-led learning.

A Decade of Cultural Exchange and Innovation

The collaboration between BSDC and Jeonju Kijeon College began in 2016 with a 16-week student visit to the UK, part of the Global Practical Training Programme. Since then, the relationship has grown to include regular exchange visits, virtual projects, cultural showcases and community-led learning. Activities have ranged from Korean cookery and traditional games to Taekwondo, dance, minhwa painting and academic lectures.

Throughout the partnership, both institutions have shared a commitment to developing cultural understanding, practical skills and personal growth — values we also hold closely at Hardy Signs.

Our Role Through the Sign and Print Academy

As part of our ongoing relationship with BSDC, we continue to support the Sign and Print Academy — a specialised facility at the college which gives students hands-on experience with professional sign making, printing and digital design equipment. The space is fitted with wide-format printers, digital cutters and industry-standard software, reflecting the real-life tools we use in our own headquarters.

Earlier this year, we welcomed a group of visiting students from Jeonju Kijeon College to our Burton-based premises. They were given a behind-the-scenes tour of our operations, including demonstrations of CNC routers, large-scale laser cutting and signage production. It was a fantastic opportunity to share industry insight with the next generation of creative professionals.

Marking the 10-Year Milestone

To celebrate a decade of collaboration, BSDC hosted a K-Culture Festival packed with performances, exhibitions and interactive events. Highlights included:

Korean street food prepared by visiting chefs
Minhwa painting and arts workshops
Live Taekwondo demonstrations
Traditional Korean games such as yutnori and gonggi
A cultural showcase attended by representatives from the Korean Embassy and the Korean Cultural Centre UK

This celebration reflected the values at the heart of the partnership — cultural appreciation, mutual respect and shared learning.

Proud to Be Part of Something Meaningful

We’re incredibly proud to have supported this international collaboration over the last 10 years. Our involvement with BSDC and its international programmes reflects our belief in using business as a force for good — opening up educational opportunities and championing global connections.

Whether through practical training, signage support or creative learning environments, we look forward to seeing how this partnership continues to grow and inspire.

If you’re an education provider looking to enhance your student offering through industry-backed facilities or international partnerships, contact us today to find out how we can support your goals.

For many years, Staffordshire has been recognised for its rich history, filled with national gems, alluring countryside and successful market towns making it a place that bridges the North West and Midlands. Staffordshire is nationally acclaimed for leading the way for UK Manufacturing and industries alike.

In 2020 Hardy Signs Ltd were crowned as manufacturers of the year. Award was judged by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Michelin Tyres.

Home to the National Football Centre, National Brewery Centre and National Memorial Arboretum, are all but a few of Staffordshire’s finest. Names that Hardy Signs have had the pleasure of supplying.

As a big supporter of their local community, Hardy Signs are proud to be an ambassador for the Staffordshire organisation. Nik Hardy, a fellow ambassador and Founder of Hardy Signs states: ‘’We Are Staffordshire help put our great county on the map to showcase all that Staffordshire has to offer, by offering opportunities to help people know all that there is, in and around where they live, work and visit.’’ We are Staffordshire provide a crucial service to the success of the Staffordshire story. Hardy Signs’ Business Development Manager Daniel Valles recently attended one of the exclusive events hosted at Denstone Hall Farm Shop which featured representatives and speakers from various organisations such as Denstone Hall Farm Shop & Café, Love Cheese Live, Enjoy Staffordshire, Feasted and Nelsons Gin Distillery to discuss the thriving culinary scene across Staffordshire and offered samples of some of Staffordshire’s finest produce.

As an Ambassador, Hardy Signs are able to keep up to date with the latest news and development of our county, by attending events with fantastic networking opportunities and having access to exclusive training and business development events.

If you’d like to become part of this growing network, and benefit from all that they have to offer, you can find out more about the free of charge Ambassador Network Membership here.About the company: Hardy Signs is a professional and digital signage company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke signage products to a wide range of business sectors in the United Kingdom. The company has been awarded the manufacturer of the year in 2019 and 2020.

Our managing director Nik Hardy chaired the Further Education event ”Building success Together” hosted by Stoke and Staffordshire Careers Hub and The Careers & Enterprise Company.

The audience included College principals and senior leaders; Enterprise advisors who are volunteers from businesses helping to link the world of education and business; careers leaders from colleges who are driving this important work forward in their colleges, and Enterprise Coordinators and wider Careers and Enterprise colleagues who are responsible for creating and supporting the infrastructure to drive collaboration and best practice.

The event was created by the teams from 6 LEP areas who work collectively to support the development of the FE community of practice in their local areas. The high-level strategy around the policy context was aimed at strengthening the work of FE Colleges with Career Hubs, as well as hearing about the emerging practice that is helping to build the FE community of practice nationally and locally.Become an Enterprise AdviserConnect with Nik HardyNik Hardy’s own path began with a workplace apprenticeship scheme. It was this platform that gave Nik the tools to build a successful business that now operates nationwide and employs 28 people.

This path has guaranteed that, from day one, Nik has been passionate about ensuring young people are given the best opportunities to progress into work and training.

Nik and Hardy Signs have for many years champions the development of apprenticeships within our sector and beyond.

In 2016, the Hardy Signs ‘Sign and Print Academy’ was opened at Burton & South Derbyshire College. Here, the sign makers of the future can learn the skills it takes to succeed in the trade. Hardy Signs itself now employs several full-time staff who have completed their apprenticeship through the academy. Nik has spent 3 years as President of Burton Chambers of Commerce and is also currently an Enterprise Advisor for Burton and South Derbyshire College.About the company: Hardy Signs is a professional and digital signage company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke signage products to a wide range of business sectors in the United Kingdom.

We are pleased to again be involved with what is the YMCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. We are hoping that this year’s event will see an even bigger turnout than last, raising vital funds for the charity.

We will be raising funds and awareness with the local businesses and community for homelessness. We would encourage everyone to kindly donate to this cause.

Last year, we managed to raise a total of £1,985! This year we are hoping to beat that and raise £2,000.

This year we will be raising money by climbing Snowdon in Wales as a team on October 9th. We will make sure to share pictures and videos throughout the day so you can see how far we walk. The route we are taking will take between 5-7 hours altogether but depending on the weather conditions, this may take longer. This is a 14.5km walk there and back and the ascent is 3,199 feet!

How would you feel right now if you didn’t have a home to go back to this evening?

Thankfully we have never been in this situation, but we know we would be feeling frightened, lost and anxious

YMCA Burton regularly talks to rough sleepers who do this day after day and they admire their strength at times. Asking for support can be one of the hardest things to do, particularly if you are struggling with mental health. Your generous donation to this cause will contribute to the following:

£10 could buy an electricity top up token for up to a week for someone moving into their accommodation who has no money
£12 will buy a replacement birth certificate for someone who has no formal identification documents.
£20 will provide a move in/move out bedding kit (Quilt/pillows/Covers)
£25 will provide a hot meal for 10 residents at our Reconnect centre
£75 will help a resident in need to have 3 counselling sessions
£100 Move out pack – Essential for residents who are moving out & into their own tenancy
£300 could provide mediation sessions for a family in crisis

We would like to thank you in advance for your kind donations!

About the company: Hardy Signs is a professional and digital signage company that designs, manufactures and installs bespoke signage products to a wide range of business sectors in the United Kingdom.