This month, Hardy Signs marks 29 years in business — a milestone that reflects nearly three decades of growth, investment, and long-term partnerships across the UK and beyond.
Founded in 1993 by Nik Hardy, the business has grown from a small operation serving local customers in Burton-on-Trent into a nationally recognised signage supplier working across a wide range of sectors. Today, Hardy Signs supports organisations with the design, manufacture, and installation of bespoke signage solutions, including branded environments and digital signage, as well as wayfinding, health and safety, and large-scale rollout projects.
For our team, this anniversary is not just about longevity. It is about the relationships, projects, and progress that have shaped Hardy Signs into the business it is today.
From Local Beginnings to National Delivery
Hardy Signs began in a home garage before moving into its first rented unit in 1995. In the early years, much of the company’s work focused on hand-painted signs and vehicle graphics, particularly for breweries and pubs in and around Burton-on-Trent.
As the business grew, so did the scale and complexity of the work. Over time, Hardy Signs expanded into larger premises, broadened its service offering, and began working with regional, national, and international organisations across multiple industries.
That growth eventually led to the move to Hardy Place in 2011, which remains the company’s headquarters today and the base for its design, manufacturing, and project delivery operations.
Supporting Organisations Across the UK
Now in its 29th year, Hardy Signs has delivered more than 1,200,000 signs for customers across the UK and beyond.
Recent projects have included work for a broad mix of organisations, including major commercial brands, public sector bodies, and national events. During this period, the company has supplied signage for hundreds of businesses and organisations, including work connected to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, alongside projects for well-known names such as Amazon UK, Alstom, Bet365, Holland & Barrett, and We Buy Any Car.
This breadth of experience is one of the reasons Hardy Signs continues to work across multiple sectors, helping clients who need a signage partner that can combine design quality, practical delivery, and dependable project support.
Investing in Growth, People and Capability
A major part of the Hardy Signs story has been continuous investment — not only in equipment and facilities, but in people and long-term capability.
Over the years, the company has invested heavily in machinery, manufacturing processes, and ways of working that support both quality and efficiency. More recently, that has included a stronger focus on sustainable production, recycling, and a longer-term environmental vision for the future.
At the same time, Hardy Signs has continued to invest in training and workforce development. Building in-house knowledge and supporting young professionals has remained an important part of the company’s approach, helping to strengthen skills across the business and support the next generation entering the industry.
For many customers, that investment is reflected in the quality, consistency, and reliability of the work delivered.
Recognition for Quality and Service
Over the last decade, Hardy Signs has also received recognition through several business and manufacturing awards.
The company was named Manufacturer of the Year in 2019 and 2020 and was later recognised as a finalist for Excellence in Manufacturing in both 2021 and 2022. These achievements reflect not only the quality of the company’s manufacturing output, but also the wider standards of customer service, teamwork, and operational delivery behind each project.
For customers, this matters because choosing a signage supplier is about more than product alone. It is about confidence in the process, the people, and the outcome.
Milestones That Shaped the Business
Over the last decade, Hardy Signs has reached several important milestones that reflect its growth as a business and its connection to the wider community.
These include:
- launching the Resuscitation Grab Bag Appeal in support of Burton Hospital, raising £10,000
- establishing the Signs and Print Academy in partnership with Burton and South Derbyshire College to help train new talent in the sign and print industry
- installing 200 solar panels at Hardy Place as part of continued investment in sustainability
- completing international installation work in Brussels, Belgium
- delivering a digital signage project in California, USA
Together, these milestones reflect the company’s ambition to keep moving forward while staying rooted in the values that helped build the business in the first place.
What 29 Years Means for Customers
For marketing managers, facilities managers, estates teams, and commercial decision-makers, experience matters.
Choosing the right signage partner is not just about finding someone who can produce a sign. It is about working with a business that understands design, manufacturing, installation, project coordination, compliance, and the practical realities of delivering signage across different sites and sectors.
After 29 years in business, Hardy Signs continues to support clients who need exactly that: a partner capable of delivering quality signage solutions reliably, professionally, and at scale.
Looking Ahead
As Hardy Signs enters its 29th year, the focus remains on building for the future — investing in people, improving sustainability, and continuing to deliver signage solutions that help organisations present themselves clearly and professionally.
From local beginnings to national delivery, the company’s growth has been shaped by long-term relationships, a commitment to quality, and a willingness to keep evolving with the needs of customers.
We would like to thank our customers, partners, and team members who have been part of that journey so far.
