The AA marks 120 years since historic first road sign
The signage division of the AA has marked the 120th anniversary of its very first road sign, which was erected in Hatfield to show the place name and mileages to nearby towns
Signs Express is officially a finalist in the Established Franchisor of the Year category at the British Franchise Awards, with its franchisees also named as finalists for the Community Impact Award
Signs Express has been named as a finalist in the Established Franchisor of the Year category at the BFA HSBC UK British Franchise Awards.
The announcement comes alongside further recognition for the network, with Ian Furlong and Louise Sergent, owners of Signs Express Liverpool & Wirral, also named as finalists in the Community Impact Award category for their positive contribution to the local community.
Run by the British Franchise Association (BFA), the awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the UK franchising sector. Dubbed ‘the Oscars of franchising,’ the 2026 event is the 37th edition of the awards, featuring 58 finalists competing across 14 distinct categories.
A judging week for the 2026 awards will take place on July 20th to the 24th, with finalists delivering a presentation followed by a live Q&A. The awards will then be presented at a gala dinner on November 12th 2026 at the Telford International Centre.
Signs Express has achieved the nomination after more than 35 years of trading, with 61 signage operations currently in its franchise across the UK and Ireland.
The company has been built with a core focus on ethical franchising, long-term franchisee support, and sustainable network growth. Franchisees remain with the network for an average of 17 years, with some having been part of Signs Express for more than 30 years.
Jonathan Bean, managing director of Signs Express, says: “Being named as a finalist in the Established Franchisor of the Year category is a proud moment for everyone connected with Signs Express.
“This recognition reflects the strength, commitment, and resilience of our franchise network, as well as the dedication of our Franchise Support Centre team.”
Speaking about the role of Signs Express for its franchisees, Bean adds: “Our role as a franchisor has always been about far more than simply growth. We want to help the right people build fulfilling, profitable, and valuable businesses, while protecting the standards, culture, and long-term stability of the network, so every franchisee can be proud to operate under the Signs Express brand.”
Under the leadership of Bean and network development director, Aaron Davis, Signs Express has continued to evolve its franchise model while aiming to maintain stability and best practice.
Discussing company operations in more detail, Davis adds: “Signs Express has built its legacy by combining stability and outstanding customer service with innovation. We are proud of our history, but equally focused on the future, investing in systems, data, training, marketing, and franchise models that will help our network continue to thrive for years to come.”
Recent developments at Signs Express include the launch of new rebrand and conversion models, designed to help established signage businesses join the Signs Express network in a way that reflects their existing customer base, trading history, and growth ambitions.
Signs Express has also continued to invest heavily in technology and training to support franchisees across the network. This includes the rollout of CoreBridge, a CRM, quoting, and operational platform that can improve job management and customer communication.
The network’s bespoke Learning Management System also provides franchisees and their teams with access to more than 90 courses, with new content continuing to be added.
