sign, makers, signmakers, signwriters, banners, vehicle lettering, vehicle graphics, Southampton, Midsomer Norton, near Bath, Paulton, embroidery, T shirt printing, printers, polo shirts, embroiderers, Southampton, BA3, SO16

Wellington Signs was established in 1983 when Simon Wellington left his teaching job and started a signwriting business from his garage in Southampton. This was not entirely new to him, as prior to taking his teaching degree with the London University, he had taken a City and Guilds course in Signwriting. This was Simon's Father's idea as Simon initially embarked upon a career as a professional footballer. "Simon you've got too much time on your hands, do something in the family business". For four generations the family business had been quality building and decorating, a branch of it was the signwriting workshop where there was a tradition of sign writing and gold leafing for some of the big breweries. Simon sat and watched the work carried out there since he was a child, so it seemed a good idea to take the course during free time. Thenceforth it was a skill he maintained even when teaching.

When Simon left teaching he set up a small business from home. In 1984 Simon moved to a run down shop in the red light district of Southampton ! Within two years the next door premises, which was derelict, was also purchased. It was during a property boom where builder's were like hen's teeth. Simon had to run the business during the day with the help of an apprentice and reconstruct the premises in the evenings and weekends. Luckily he was approached by a builder who seemed competent. He offered his services along with those of his colleagues. The rest of the group were a mishmash of scruffy tradesmen and labourers. It all started well but it was strange that they only seemed to work mornings and sometimes not at all. The mystery was solved when the disorderly group was spotted lying on benches in the local park. It transpired that they were all recovering alcoholics from the St Dismas centre nearby.

New lines of work were added in the late 80's, including T shirts and Screen printing. Around 1990 the first computer for vinyl cut letters was purchased from a company importing machinery from Italy. At that time the equipmnent was the cost of a small house. Unfortunately the Italian's don't have a letter Y and so when it came to cutting a Y, a space had to be left for it to be cut by hand ! A minor detail not mentioned by the suppliers !

In 1992 the business was moved to the current site in Winchester Road along with Simon and three staff members. Since then the site has gone through a number of structural changes to improve the working environment and a number of quality staff have been added. Mike Edwards now runs the company ably assisted by Lee Stewart who doubles up as embroidery designer. Stuart Furmage and Gavin Williams concentrate on sign making and full colour graphics. Christine Betts is the wizard of the embroidery machine and Sias Esterhuisen and Lee Wilson run the Tshirt printing and transfers. Improving the skills base is very much the ethos of the company and whenever possible training courses are embarked upon and new equipment is evaluated.

Midsomer Norton near Bath is where Simon, Jill and Andy Bryant, run an operation from. They have the capacity there to produce a large variety of work ably assisted by Dom Allan. We have large format colour banner print machiney, 6 head embroidery machine and plenty of capacity!