Signs Express Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary In Franchising With Record-Breaking Year

The UK’s leading signs and graphics franchise company celebrates its 25th year anniversary with a record-breaking network growth.

To lead Signs Express’s management buy-out is Jonathan Bean, who was the franchise’s finance director for 13 years before becoming the market-leading brand’s new managing director. Jonathan will head the board of directors that includes network development director, Aaron Davis; chairman, Carl Fisher; marketing director, Ed Guichard; IT director, Mark Poole and commercial director, Mark Harvey.

When asked about his new role in Signs Express’s MBO, Jonathan said: “2017 has been a remarkable year for the business. We’ve proudly celebrated our 25 years in franchising and marked that milestone to help us achieve incredible growth in our network. Consequently, our trading has been exceptionally strong with our third successive record year. All of this adds up to a fitting tribute to Craig’s tenure as Managing Director and both I, and the board team, are really excited about building upon that legacy.”

Signs Express network’s MBO is led by the Norwich based franchise support team and follows a two-year plan that has seen considerable infrastructure and support services investments. By 2020, the business expects the brand to expand to over 80 production centres and to continue to grow the nine new franchises that came on board in 2017.

Craig Brown, who has been with the company since its beginnings in 1989, is stepping down as joint shareholder and managing director to pursue other personal and business interests. Craig explained: “I am delighted to announce this MBO and to now help transition the ownership of Signs Express to a hugely talented management team. I genuinely believe I will be leaving the business in much better shape than when I took the role of Managing Director and is poised for a really exciting future.”

Established in Norwich in 1989, Signs Express has become the largest sign franchise in the UK, with 66 franchises across the country. Signs Express offers professional one-stop-shop custom sign and graphics services for businesses and has been expanding its network of franchisees since 1992.