Nuneaton Signs has been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity.
Nuneaton Signs is one of only 8 businesses nationally to be recognised with a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise – Promoting Opportunity. Announced Monday 6 May 2024.
Nuneaton Signs has been recognised for its excellence in this category by His Majesty, The King. Nuneaton Signs were recognised with this award in 2024, as a Social Enterprise, employing 73 people. 71% have a disability and 20% have a learning disability.
Nuneaton Signs was founded in 2010 in its current form but was originally set up in 1982.
A sign making factory in the Midlands with a difference, Nuneaton Signs defies national figures for employment rates for people with disabilities, 52%, which reach under 5% for those with learning disabilities. Nuneaton Signs supports both adults and young people in their working journeys, focusing on a person’s abilities and supporting them in being able to live their lives to the full.
Nuneaton Signs, offers the design and manufacture of signage and, in doing so, aims to provide meaningful employment and training for people with disabilities through the manufacture and sale of these products. The impact and value of the work done was clearly demonstrated.
The company serves as an excellent example of how social responsibility can be consistent with running a successful business.
We at Nuneaton Signs are extremely honoured to have received the Kings Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity.
This is a fantastic achievement for our company, and we are delighted to be able to use this opportunity to share the important work we do within our community supporting people with disabilities through the manufacture and sale of signs.
One of the core areas of our work recognised in the award is our Supported Intern programme, within which we have been able to offer placements for 13 young people with Special Educational Needs to help them gain employable skills to help them in their journey to the working world.
We hope that this achievement helps to inspire other companies to look at how they recruit and to become a more inclusive employer themselves.
The award is a testament to the hard work of our whole staff and the support they offer one another.
During my thirteen years at Nuneaton Signs, I have seen the company face many ups and downs. We have overcome tremendous challenges, from our business model change as a sheltered workshop to a company limited by guarantee in 2010, and the global crisis of the coronavirus in 2020. One thing stands out to me that has remained true and consistent throughout these turbulent times, and that is the resilience and commitment of our wonderful team.
On reflection, it’s an overwhelming prospect to think that our small factory in Nuneaton has been honoured with this prestigious award, though when you look at the details, it’s no surprise.
This award recognises the dedication of our team, who support one another, who embrace one another’s differences, who rise to challenges, and for that I am immensely proud.
It was my great honour to attend Windsor Castle in July this year, representing our company in the presence of His Majesty at the formal reception for Kings Award winners.
But for me, the real celebration is here today, with all our team. Where we can revel in our collective achievement together.
Congratulations to you all.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.