and have been operating since 2003. We have grown in a fast but controlled way, at all times making sure that we have the right people in place, management control systems implemented and the design and manufacturing technology to meet client needs.
We maintain a strong set of core values based on customer service, attention to detail and investment in new technology. In terms of technology, we are at the cutting edge. We invest heavily in capital equipment throughout our design, manufacturing and fitting operations. Our people are also critical to our success; we have a highly experienced team and we are always planning for opportunities to learn and train. In particular, the foundations of our business are built on high quality graphic design and skilled project management.
We work with businesses in all sectors, on both a local and national scale. Many of our long-standing clients are multi-national; recognised super brands including The Post Office, Tesco, NHS, Stobart Group, Muller Wiseman, Malcolm Group, Yodel, HSS Hire and Speedy Hire. To discuss your branding requirements, or for more information on our vehicle wraps and signage products simply
We've been fortunate enough to have collected several business and industry awards over the past seven years including 'UK Sign Business of the Year'. Some of our awards have acknowledged our work not only as a sign business but also in the field of vehicle livery.
We're proud to announce that one of our apprentices was awarded the title of ‘Roland Apprentice of the Year’ at the 2015 BSGA British Sign Awards. 18 year old Nathan, a Print Apprentice who has been with Ast Transport Branding for two years, fought off stiff competition from talented apprentices throughout the entire country to claim the accolade. The award recognises apprentices ‘who have made outstanding progress in their academic and learning achievements, have made a real contribution to their employer’s business, shown a dynamic approach to training and demonstrated initiative, enterprise, innovation and creativity’.
SIA Sign Business of the Year
Ast Signs were awarded the prestigious Sign Industry Awards UK Sign Business of the Year. The award was judged by a panel of business experts and was presented by John Sargeant, former Chief Political Correspondent for the BBC at the Ricoh Stadium, Coventry. The judges commented: “Ast Signs is a quite remarkable story. Through its enterprising spirit and sound management, it has achieved great things in five short years.”
We've been recognised for the quality of our work in a Europe-wide competition for our vehicle wrapping on the Eddie Stobart fleet. FESPA, which promotes screen printing and digital imaging throughout Europe, acknowledged our design, project management and overall vehicle wrapping of this vast fleet. The FESPA jury recognised our interesting and innovative application of digital printing in awarding us the runner-up spot in the vehicle category. We were the only British firm recognised at these awards and this represents a huge milestone for us.
Cumbria Business of the Year
Ast Signs were also awarded the Cumbria Business of the Year award at a ceremony at Rheged, near Penrith organised by the CN Group.
This award recognised the achievements that Ast Signs has made in the sign industry, recognised nationally for its professionalism in supplying vehicle graphics, vehicle wrapping, fleet liveries and a vast range of signs, including internal signs, external signs, shop signs, business signs, printed signs, digital signs and promotional signs.
Ast Signs has been highly commended in the Mactac Worldwide Awards twice for its innovative signs, graphic design and application. The Mactac Worldwide Awards are held annually in different locations with finalists selected from thousands of entries by leading sign industry magazine editors and a jury of technical, advertising and creative experts from the world of signmaking, application and design.
Businessman of the Year
Managing Director Mark Aston won the Businessman of the Year at the Cumbria Business Awards held at the Hundith Hill Hotel. The judges were impressed by the Ast Signs business and its range of signage services and internal systems. Since beginning as a signmaking business, Ast Signs has grown to specialise in corporate branding and vehicle graphics, as well as expanding its services which now include design, clothing, litho printing and every aspect of signage such as exhibition signs, commercial signs and digitally printed signs.
Ast Signs is proud to be a 3M Select Gold Partner, which means we will use components such as films, inks, laminates and clear coats that have been tested and approved by 3M for total compatibility. As a 3M approved vehicle wrapper we offer a
, offering you quality and piece of mind no matter where you're located. The Matched Components System enables 3M and ourselves to offer the strongest warranty in the graphics industry for the production of your warrantied graphics. For more information on this partnership please
We take seriously the impacts of our business on the environment and we are committed to conserving natural resources, operating in a manner sensitive to the environment and complying to all relevant legislation. We periodically monitor our Carbon Footprint with the aim to reduce this year on year with the implementation of our ‘green’ latex printers, stringent waste and recycling management and monitoring of gas, electricity, fuel and water usage. We carry the ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Standard Accreditation which is awarded by the recognised national body ISOQAR.
In-house print and production
We operate all our printing and production from our purpose-built HQ in Cumbria, which services the whole of the UK. The premises, which is 21,000 square feet in size, is a highly controlled print, production and finishing environment and enables us to produce consistent, high quality results for our clients. We invest heavily in the latest kit to make sure we are constantly at the cutting edge of technology.
