The Sign Show 2025 Preview

Sign-makers and signage companies from all corners of the UK market will descend on the NEC this September to experience the first-ever edition of The Sign Show. Organised by the same team behind successful sister event, The Print Show, this new addition to the calendar promises to deliver a show dedicated to signage and wide-format print.

The Sign Show will take place from September 23rd to 25th in Hall 3 of Birmingham’s NEC, co-located with The Print Show to allow visitors to pass freely between both events without having to exit the hall. The event has not only secured a number of big-name signings but also put together an intriguing special feature programme that aims to entertain and inspire those in attendance.

Here, SignLink catches up with some of those companies that will exhibit at the show and finds out more about what else visitors can expect from their visit to The Sign Show 2025.

Creative Industry

Chris Davies, event director of The Sign Show and The Print Show, sets out the stall for the new event, saying it will deliver something for everyone, no matter which area of the industry visitors work in.

“Given the size of the UK sign-making and display markets, we believe the industry deserves and needs an event that is entirely dedicated to these creative sectors,” Davies says, adding: “We will deliver exactly this at the show, covering everything from signwriting, engraving, and vinyl wrapping to sign fabrication and traditional neon.

“The Sign Show creates a place for visitors to learn and expand ideas, as well as showcase what brands and marketing professionals can access to make their clients stand out in the modern world.”

The Sign Show creates a place for visitors to learn and expand ideas, as well as showcase what brands and marketing professionals can access to make their clients stand out in the modern world

Davies picks up on the co-location with The Print Show as a major plus point for those who attend, allowing them to explore diversification options in the wide-format print arena as well as their core focus areas in signage.

“A stand-out buzzword in the industry for a number of years, diversification, is absolutely key to the success of signage businesses,” he explains, continuing: “Standing still is no longer an option for companies that want to grow and with access to both shows, this will allow our visitors to explore expansion opportunities in a range of markets.

“Add in special features including live demonstrations for crafts such as vinyl wrapping and workshops on historic and inspiring crafts, and The Sign Show is an event that simply cannot be missed.”

Who is Exhibiting?

Taking a quick glance at the exhibitor list, several major names immediately stand out. HP is taking one of the largest stands across the two events and has already revealed that it will be showcasing a range of its leading solutions.

Highlights include the HP Latex R530, which has a maximum printing width of 1.6m and can handle materials as thick as 5cm, as well as sister model, the HP Latex 830W, which allows users to print with white ink. A third HP Latex machine in the HP Latex 630W, which also offers a maximum print width of 1.6m, will appear on the HP stand.

Aside from this, HP will display its HP DesignJet XL3800, a multi-function colour printer, and the HP DesignJet Z9 Pro, 1.6m-wide machine.

“We are thrilled to be part of The Sign Show, a vital gathering of creative minds and business leaders in the sign-making community,” says Colin Easton, UK and Ireland HP Large-Format Print channel manager, who continues: “The Sign Show provides a supreme platform for HP to debut our most recent innovations, tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the sign and display market.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to experience HP’s range of wide-format printers, high-resolution graphics solutions, and our most environmentally certified printing technologies designed to elevate the quality and efficiency of signage production.”

Also at The Sign Show will be Hybrid Services, the exclusive distributor for Mimaki in both the UK and Ireland. While the company has not yet revealed the exact machinery it will be showing [at the time of writing], sales director Andy Gregory says there will be something for everyone.

“Hybrid has proudly supported The Print Show since it began, and we’re excited to now embrace this new event, which places the sign industry front and centre,” Gregory says, adding: “It’s a great opportunity to connect with an even broader audience and demonstrate what Mimaki has to offer.

“We know how precious time is for sign-makers and print professionals, so we’re committed to making every visit worthwhile. Events like The Sign Show need to deliver real value, and we’re looking forward to contributing to a memorable experience that earns its place as a must-attend date in the industry calendar.”

Delivering a more sign-making focus on its stand will be EFKA Frame Solutions, which will be using the event to launch its new weatherproof outdoor frame range. Engineered specifically for long-lasting, all-weather performance, the new range will offer both illuminated and non-illuminated profiles to sign companies in the UK.

“With this launch, EFKA expands its portfolio to include high performance exterior display solutions for signage, retail, events, and commercial environments,” EFKA says, adding: “We are pleased to be showcasing the full outdoor range on Stand S315 at The Sign Show this September.”

Getting Hands On

While exhibitors and their latest products and solutions will be the main attraction for those in attendance, The Sign Show will also be running three special feature areas offering visitors the chance to not only learn more about certain sign-making techniques but also test out their skills at these crafts.

The showpiece feature at the inaugural show will be the School of Wrap, where visitors can look forward to live demonstrations from knowledgeable wrapping experts across vehicle wrapping and architectural wrapping. CVi Group, All Print Supplies, and SPACE Architectural Interiors will jointly run the area, in collaboration with FESPA UK.

Sessions will take place throughout The Sign Show 2025, with visitors having the opportunity to ask questions and speak with experts at the end of each presentation to gain more insight into the art of wrapping. Visitors will also be able to try their hand at wrapping a range of items from wing mirrors to household products, with our team of experts on hand to offer hints and tips along the way.

Suzi Ward, managing director of FESPA UK, and Jon Hutton, director at FESPA UK, comment: “We are delighted to support The Sign Show and this exciting feature. As part of our ongoing Waste Accreditation initiative, we will work closely with the show to capture and responsibly dispose of material waste generated throughout the School of Wrap.”

Tiffany Parkin, architectural manager at SPACE Architectural Interiors, adds: “This event is all about celebrating innovation, creativity, and the latest advancements in architectural signage and interior branding – something we’re truly passionate about. We’re excited to collaborate with industry professionals, exchange ideas, and contribute to an event that continues to drive the sector forward.”

Across from the School of Wrap will be Neon Insights, where specialists from Neon Creations will shine a light on what neon actually is, speaking to visitors about the differences between true neon and LED alternatives, and the value traditional neon offers in the modern market.

Those in attendance will also be able to view live demonstrations of bringing neon to life, including the different types of glass bending and how expert staff are able to create intricate shapes and letters, as well as try their hand at neon bending.

The third special feature comes in the form of the Traditional Sign-Making Masterclass, where David Mearns of Signmode will educate attendees about some of the crafts that not only helped shaped the sign industry, but remain popular in today’s modern market.

Visitors will view live demonstrations of crafts including signwriting, screen printing on a flat table and on walls, and both water and transfer leaf gilding. Visitors can also test their own skills at signwriting on white emulsion boards, with Mearns on hand to offer hints and tips.

Added Value

Swinging back to co-location with The Print Show and in addition to being able to browse the aisles of the sister show and speak with the many exhibitors in attendance – Agfa, swissQprint, Vivid Laminating Technologies, and Fujifilm to name but a few – visitors will be able to drop in on the Knowledge Zone.

This year, organisers have once again lined up a diverse programme of speakers, covering the subjects important not only to print companies but all types of businesses within the graphic and marketing sectors. Stand-out topics include sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI), and entrepreneurship, with a host of leading names among the confirmed speakers.

Meanwhile, outside the hall, The Sign Show has enlisted the help of Sam Armstrong and the hugely popular Make It Happen Signage Consultancy to host a series of specialist bootcamps throughout the event.

The programme begins on the day before the show opens with a full-day Signage Bootcamp, covering a raft of information about flat cut, fabricated, and illuminated signage. Then, on each day of the event, Armstrong and the Make It Happen team will run half-day ‘Illuminated Bootcamp’, ‘Frontline Bootcamp’, and ‘First Drill’ sessions. Those keen to take part are urged to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Finally, the British Signs and Graphics Association (BSGA) will be running its own booth in the hall, with chairman Craig Brown leading a three-day live Sign Surgery throughout the event.

“We see The Sign Show as a powerful tool for education and engagement within the industry,” Brown says, adding: “Events like this bring together the entire supply chain in one space. It’s an incredibly efficient way to absorb new ideas, meet potential collaborators, and stay on top of trends. I’ve always loved shows for the real conversations they enable.

We see The Sign Show as a powerful tool for education and engagement within the industry

“You often get insights during a five-minute chat on a stand that you wouldn’t get anywhere else. It’s also an opportunity to help businesses spot opportunities they might not realise are just around the corner.”
Of course, this is just a small selection of what visitor can expect at the NEC this September. Exhibitors are fine-tuning their plans for the show and will be announcing more details of their stands in the weeks leading up to the event, while organisers will be adding more exhibitors to the already-impressive floorplan.

But if there is one thing that is abundantly clear: The Sign Show is an event that sign-making companies and related businesses should make time for if they want to gain insight into new solutions and market trends. The event will give sign-makers and wide-format providers the only dedicated, large-scale networking opportunity in the UK, meaning that SignLink will see you there in September!