Special Report
Assistant editor Benjamin Austin getting stuck in with the exercises
pure chance they fell into the industry; a notion that is seemingly common; me included, who formerly worked as a reporter for my local paper. It was even said at the start of the
workshop: “No one ever thinks they will get into signs, but they find their place along the way.”
Earning our stripes But whatever the reason for being here, we all came with an intention, and everyone seemingly walked away with everything they wanted. Libby continued: “Someone like
Sean probably knew 70% of the information, but enjoyed solidifying that information while picking up new knowledge. Whereas Charlie came in with no knowledge, and I believe by the end of the day, he had a nice basic understanding. “Claire and Piotr were asking specifics
about certain materials and things they are comfortable with, but then learning a bit more on the side. “I think The First Drill is a wonderful
starting point, so that people like Charlie can step into his new job on his first day with a bit of knowledge, knowing what to expect and, most importantly, feeling confident in himself and his role.” The course was created with a small
group in mind. It was designed to be engaging with encouragement of questions with lots of practicality, and so keeping each group to a more intimate size, not only made it more manageable, but meant more attention could be given to those attending.
www.signupdate.co.uk
Libby Clifford (left) and Sam Armstrong Topics revolved around types of
materials used in sign making, questions to ask the client, the planning process, as well as a few competitions and hands-on activities. We were given an introductory course
on the intricacies of sign making, what materials are available and which ones are best used where, as well as clever ways to upsell offerings to customers. We were also taken for a tour around
the SignFab workshop floor to get a better understanding of all the different processes used to make signs, and seeing it firsthand gave a clearer understanding of everything spoken about upstairs.
Sound-off All-in-all, it was engaging, informative, hands-on on and I genuinely feel I have come away with more knowledge about
the industry in which I write about; I have since held interviews with other members and have been able to keep up with the terminology they use. The others also found it useful. Sean
said, “It’s been good. I had a lot of questions to ask, but it’s been good to come here and have them answered and get the whole overview.” Charlie shared this sentiment. He
said: “Obviously, I have no experience, so having an introduction to it all is exactly what I need”, while Piotr added: “It’s been good. I’ve had a great time and am very happy with how it all went. I’m very excited to see what else is to come.” I can now say I feel more integrated in this industry than before and am more comfortable writing about it – I even have the paperwork to prove I passed my initiation.
The group ready to learn May/June 2025 | 55 |
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