Discover why Charlie chose to complete the two-year Level 3 (Advanced) Signage Technician Apprenticeship, with signage solutions company FASTSIGNS St Albans, where he works as a production and installations operative
I have a Hair and Beauty Industry Authority (Habia) Level 3 qualification in hairdressing. It's not related to the industry I'm now in, but it taught me so many transferable skills like working to a schedule, keeping the workplace tidy and using my people skills to engage with the client, which serve me well in my current role.
I'm someone who really enjoys learning new skills and expanding my knowledge across many sectors. It's why I've previously worked as a hairdresser and completed various building jobs - they're incredibly tactile roles that each require great skill, precision, patience, and creativity.
I was looking for something else to test myself and saw the apprenticeship advertised. Apprenticeships are a great avenue for people wanting to build practical skills and gain invaluable industry experience.
The opportunity with FASTSIGNS St Albans gave me exactly that - a chance to combine my creativity with my existing skills and, just like in hairdressing and construction, bring a client's vision to life.
The position was advertised online. I applied and went for an interview. During the interview, I discussed the hands-on skills from my previous roles and my experience in the building trade. Both align with the skill set required for signage, as you have to consider the finer details when planning how the sign will be installed.
I studied with the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), the leading trade association for print and the apprenticeship course was delivered online.
To begin with, I was doing the basics like weeding vinyl and assisting the in-house and subcontracted installer. As I gained experience, I started heading out to do my own installs. This started with simple window or vehicle graphics and progressed from there.
I was also responsible for submitting coursework on time and researching subjects and key values, including:
One of the most valuable parts of the course was the one-to-one online contact with my tutor every six weeks. It enabled me to report back on challenges and positive outcomes, and to discuss a timeline for me to work independently to complete my coursework.
The course ran slightly longer than the allotted time, because we were busy with production, but overall it was a fantastic, hands-on experience that taught me a range of skills that I put into action today.
It was really beneficial working with the team and different subcontractors on a range of projects, giving me a broad knowledge base. I have also completed an additional qualification to allow me to work on any job, including:
Although the course was online, it was hugely positive and very flexible, particularly in allowing me to complete my coursework at a pace that enabled me to fully engage with the production side of things.
Drawing on their industry experience, my mentor gave me plenty of advice and listened to my ideas - it was a great opportunity to express my creativity and test out what I had learned.
Both the college and my employer gave me the support, space and time I needed to learn.
It was on-the-job training and I worked with different installers on different jobs, so I picked up a lot of advice, skills, and experience. This gave me a broad spectrum of projects to learn from.
Depending on the project, when working in production, you end up working with so many different materials. This was really interesting to me.
When I started the apprenticeship, I could not have imagined there were so many different types of media. You have to know the final result that the client is looking for and where the sign will be placed so you can offer the right product. Is it short or long-term signage, indoor or outdoor, illuminated or non-illuminated, fixed to a wall or on a post? Until you know this, you do not know what media to use.
I also got to install what I had made, which was incredibly rewarding.
I enjoyed the variety of work on offer, the range of projects, learning about each stage of the industry and the processes involved from start to finish.
Overall, it was the ability to gain hands-on experience working with a well-established, reputable business.
It was balancing the volume of production work with the coursework requirements. With my mentor's help, we created an achievable timeline that would enable me to divide my time between the two.
While it was challenging, it gave me a realistic experience of full-time employment and the balancing act that's often required.
Now fully qualified, I work between the production and installation teams, putting many of the skills I learned during my course to use.
What's also really exciting is that I lead my own customer installations, with a second team member supporting me. Thanks to the course experience and the support I received, I feel confident in my ability to deliver the projects independently.
At an organisation like FASTSIGNS, things are always developing and we're always looking for ways to innovate and push ourselves. Following our recent relocation to a more central site in St Albans, we are set to produce more products in-house, from illuminated signage to laser-cut solutions.
As someone who loves learning and broadening my skills, I plan to work on both of these disciplines and hope to add another string to my bow soon.
