Engineering and manufacturing
Signage technician
Design, manufacture, fabricate and install signage.
Summary
This occupation is found in the manufacturing sector, in the signage industry. Signage technicians mainly work in small and medium enterprise (SME) businesses, although there are larger businesses including national franchises. Signage businesses supply signage products and services to a wide range of customers, within the private and public sector.
Signs may be made from wood, vinyls, plastics, metal, glass, textiles, card and composites. They may be illuminated or non illuminated. Types of signs can include:
- vehicle signage including wraps
- post mounted signage including road signage, directional, traffic signs, gantry signs
- building signage for example, entry & exit signs, health and safety signs, fascia signs, window signs and manifestations
- freestanding signs and displays including pavement signs and exhibition displays
The broad purpose of the occupation is to design, manufacture, fabricate and install signage. Technicians work with customers to agree the signage requirements and will produce costings and quotations. Design work is completed using computer aided design (CAD). They manufacture component parts and/or complete products. They may also identify components that cannot be manufactured at their premises that would be outsourced to a third party. They assemble the final product and perform finishing operations. On completion of the finished components/product, they ensure its safe storage and transport to the installation site. They may directly install or work with others to install signs. Throughout the process, they use a range of machines, tools and equipment. Signage technicians diagnose issues and resolve problems to ensure high quality products and services.
They work in a manufacturing workshop at their premises, customers premises or public spaces. Depending on the size of the company they will work within a team or alone.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation may interact with internal colleagues/teams undertaking design, manufacturing, installation, sales, project management and organisational management, depending on the structure and size of the company. External contacts include customers and personnel in the supply chain.
An employee in this occupation is responsible for the design, manufacture and installation of signage products to customer specification/requirements, signage regulations and company quality standards. They must work within the health, safety and environmental regulations, including use of appropriate protective clothing and equipment and working at height. They are responsible for the correct use and maintaining machinery, tools and equipment. They will need to ensure production is efficient and cost-effective. The role may involve the supervision of others.
Some signage technicians may require a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
Typical job titles include
- Graphic sign maker | Graphics installer | Large format printer | Letter maker | Neon glass bender | Production department team member | Road sign maker and fitter | Sign designer | Sign installation technician | Sign maker | Sign writer | Signage fitter | Transport and vehicle wrapper | Vinyl applicator | Wide format printer
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The signage industry: types of markets/customers and different types of signs produced and their use: vehicle signs, wraps and graphics, window graphics, building frontage signs (sign trays, projecting signs, flat panels), post mounted signs (totem’s and road signage), street furniture and pavement signs, point of sale, floor graphics, exhibitions and displays, built up 3D letters, flat cut letters, health and safety warning signs, plaques and nameplates, information signs, road traffic signs (standards, chevrons, directional, advanced directional and gantry signs). Option for signage illumination by a variety of means.
K2:
Regulations and guidelines: British Standards for Signage BS559 2020, Consumer Rights.
K3:
Materials used in sign-making; their uses and characteristics, including self-adhesive vinyls (monomeric, polymeric, cast, reflective/fluorescent, grades of vinyl), self-adhesive laminates, adhesives for different applications (removable, permanent, high tack), banner material (scrim and mesh, total block out), wallpapers (self-adhesive and pastable), card, rigid substrates, plastic and metals (PVC, foamed PVC, acrylic, resin, fluted PVC, polycarbonate), aluminium composite material, aluminium (panels and extrusions), steel, fibreglass, soft signage (polyester fabric) and paint, powders and ink. Illumination (LED, Neon).
K4:
Health and safety regulations and requirements: Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, manual handling, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH), Working at Height, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Risk assessments, method statements.
K5:
Environmental policy and requirements: Environmental Protection Act 1990. Sustainability. Disposal of waste, segregation of recyclable materials.
K6:
Machinery, tools and equipment used in sign-making – their purpose and use: Inkjet printers (roll fed or flat bed), vinyl cutters/plotters, laminators (roll fed and table), Flat bed cutters, routers, laser cutters, engraving and etching machines, 3D printers, spray equipment, screen print equipment & guillotine. Portable Appliance Testing requirements.
K7:
Information technology: Management Information Software, Computer Aided Design and Manufacture.
K8:
Colour management and coding references: Pantone, RAL (European colour matching system), Cyan Magenta Yellow Black (CMYK), Red Green Blue (RGB).
K9:
Design principles: layout, colour selection, positioning, scale and proportion.
K10:
Installation techniques: self-adhesive vinyl application (vehicle wrap, windows, substrates), screw or resin fixing, concrete post fixing, channel and clip post fixing, wallpaper (self-adhesive and pastable), electrical. Site survey requirements.
K11:
Commercial operations: costing and quotation considerations and requirements.
K12:
Planning techniques; work scheduling.
K13:
Communication techniques – verbal and written. Signage terminology.
K14:
Documentation requirements: client records, works order/job bag, invoices. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
K15:
Quality assurance requirements.
K16:
Equality and diversity in the workplace.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0824: Signage technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0824
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £30,903 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5449 Other skilled trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5449/08 Sign makers and writers
- 5421/00 Pre-press technicians
- 5422/99 Printers n.e.c.
- 8159/10 Sign fitters (excludes electrical fitters)
S1:
Interpret information, for example customer briefs, specifications and work instructions.
S2:
Conduct site survey.
S3:
Calculate costs and prepare quotations.
S4:
Plan and schedule work.
S5:
Prepare for signage work.
S6:
Use graphic design software to design signage.
S7:
Create pre-fabrication files/instructions.
S8:
Select and use materials and components.
S9:
Assemble signs.
S10:
Trim, clean and add fixing features to signage such as eyelets, hinges and brackets, as required.
S11:
Protect materials and signs to prevent damage during manufacture, transportation and storage.
S12:
Apply, install or erect signs.
S13:
Check signage materials and products against quality requirements.
S14:
Identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace; advise on and apply control measures.
S15:
Comply with health and safety regulations and requirements.
S16:
Comply with organisational and statutory environmental and sustainability considerations: safe disposal of waste, recycling of materials and efficient use of resources.
S17:
Select, set up, complete pre-checks and operate sign-making machinery, tools and equipment.
S18:
Maintain work area, tools and equipment for example, charge batteries and sharpen blades.
S19:
Use access equipment in the installation process, for example ladders, fixed and mobile platforms.
S20:
Communicate with colleagues and/or stakeholders – verbal, written or electronic; use industry terminology.
S21:
Complete documentation for example job sheets, maintenance records.
S22:
Rectify or report issues.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0824: Signage technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0824
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £30,903 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5449 Other skilled trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5449/08 Sign makers and writers
- 5421/00 Pre-press technicians
- 5422/99 Printers n.e.c.
- 8159/10 Sign fitters (excludes electrical fitters)
B1:
Prioritises health, safety and the environment.
B2:
Acts professionally, for example represents employer well, uses appropriate language, neat and tidy in appearance and takes account of equality and diversity considerations.
B3:
Takes responsibility, for example completes work with minimal supervision, knows own limitations and asks for help where required.
B4:
Team player, for example keeps colleagues informed and supports colleagues to complete work and develop.
B5:
Adaptable, for example to changing priorities and deadlines.
B6:
Committed to continued professional development, for example keeps up to date with developments in the industry.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0824: Signage technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0824
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £30,903 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 5449 Other skilled trades n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 5449/08 Sign makers and writers
- 5421/00 Pre-press technicians
- 5422/99 Printers n.e.c.
- 8159/10 Sign fitters (excludes electrical fitters)