This year marks a major milestone: FASTSIGNS Leeds is celebrating 30 years in business.
1995 feels like a lifetime ago. Leeds was a different city then, and so was the signage industry. One thing hasn’t changed: we’ve been helping local businesses get their message seen for three decades.
Over the years, our signs have been part of the fabric of the city. We’ve wrapped stadium stands, transformed shopping centres and brought colour to Leeds Station. As we hit this 30-year mark, we're taking a moment to celebrate the people, projects and partnerships that have shaped our journey.
Starting out on Boar Lane
Back in 1995, Chris and Catherine Simpson, along with their son Andy, opened the doors to our first shop on Boar Lane in the city centre.
Our very first project was a free-standing entrance sign for St Wilfrid’s Catholic High School. From there, our work quickly became much more varied – shopfronts, banners and one particularly memorable job installing vinyl graphics on the side of a massive mining machine in the late 90s.
Installing vinyl graphics in the 90s
By 2006, we'd completely outgrown Boar Lane and moved to our current home on York Road. The move gave us space for large-format printing, vehicle graphics and proper on-site production, plus room for a bigger team. It was exactly what we needed to take on larger, more complex projects and support more customers across Leeds.
The first FASTSIGNS Leeds van in the 90s
Projects that shaped our city
Some of our biggest highlights have been working on projects that thousands of people in Leeds see every day. These are the signs that feel part of the city itself – places where our work has helped bring Leeds’ identity to life.
Trinity Leeds
Trinity is one of the busiest spots in the city, welcoming thousands of visitors every day. We've been involved from day one. Our involvement goes right back to the launch in 2013, when we produced and installed all the temporary hoardings and shop unit vinyls across the centre. It was one of our biggest projects, with months of preparation and overnight installs to keep everything on track.
Since then, we’ve worked on shopfront graphics, large wall displays and digital signs that guide visitors, reinforce the Trinity brand and create a space that feels vibrant and easy to navigate. It’s been a partnership for more than a decade and one we’re proud to see reflected in such a recognisable part of the city.
As Trinity’s Centre Operations Manager said: “They deliver even on the shortest of deadlines and always produce top-quality work. A first-class service, design and company to work with.”
Learn more about our work with Trinity Leeds
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium has more than a century of sporting history, and it’s a place that means a lot to people in Leeds. Working there is always special. From wrapping the North Stand for Leeds Rhinos to refreshing the cricket changing rooms, over the years we’ve helped give a fresh look to a venue packed with memories, while keeping its character completely intact.
Leeds Station
Leeds Station is the city's gateway – thousands of people pass through every day, and it's a space we know inside out. Over the years, we've been back again and again to install large-scale graphics across the concourse and platforms.
One project that really stands out was in 2015, when we worked with artist Supermundane to apply bold, translucent vinyls to the glass on the walkway. It perfectly captured the energy and creativity of the city. Watching those colours catch the light as trains pulled in was a brilliant reminder of just how much impact the right graphics can have.
Leeds Marriott Hotel
We've worked with the Leeds Marriott for almost our full 30 years, supporting them through rebrands, refurbishments and day-to-day signage needs. From brass plaques in the 90s to digital displays today, the projects have evolved with the times but the relationship has stayed constant.
Our work has touched every part of the hotel, from wayfinding that helps guests find their way around to restaurant rebrands and graphics to boost staff morale behind the scenes. For many visitors, the Marriott is their first stop in Leeds, so creating a polished and welcoming environment has always been at the heart of what we do there.
Read more: Spotlight on Leeds Marriott Hotel: A 28-year partnership
Leeds United
Our relationship with Leeds United goes back to 1997, when we produced banners featuring club legend Billy Bremner. Since then, we've supported the club with everything from stadium signage to retail graphics, including Centenary celebrations and countless shop refits.
Working with LUFC means being ready to respond quickly to big moments, whether it's a new signing, a promotion or a major event. It's fast-paced, exciting work, and we always love collaborating with a club that means so much to the city.
Leeds Year of Culture
Leeds Year of Culture 2023 was one of the biggest projects we've ever been part of. From the start, it was obvious how much this meant to the city, so being asked to help bring it to life felt special.
The scale was enormous. Our team was out on-site fitting banners, vinyls and wayfinding across venues like Leeds Station and Trinity – sometimes working through the night to make sure everything was ready for the morning crowds. Watching Leeds come alive with colour and knowing our work was part of that gave the whole team a massive sense of pride.
How we brought Leeds 2023 to life
Adapting with the times
FASTSIGNS Leeds banners in the 90s
The way we make signs today looks nothing like it did in 1995. Back then, creating a banner meant cutting vinyl letters with a plotter and carefully applying them onto banner material by hand. We’ve still got the same eyelet machine Chris brought back from Dallas that year, and it’s still going strong, but most of the process has completely changed.
The biggest difference is the printers. What used to take hours now takes minutes, and we can print full-colour designs straight onto the material instead of building up layers of vinyl. It means we can handle bigger jobs and turn them around quickly for our customers. More recently, we've added a commercial laser engraver that lets us cut and engrave everything from acrylic to wood with precision we couldn't have imagined in the 90s.
Keeping up with changes like this has always been part of the job. The tools are different now, but the goal is the same – making sure our customers get signs that look right and last.
The people behind the signs
FASTSIGNS Leeds opening, 1995
What we're most proud of is our people. FASTSIGNS Leeds has always been a family business, and that sense of looking out for each other has shaped how we work.
Some of our team have been with us for decades. Rebecca, our Senior Account Manager, joined in 2000 and is still with us today. Martin has been part of our production team for twenty years. And in our design team, Vinny has been here more than 20 years and Jonny more than 10. Between the team, there’s over a century of signage knowledge under one roof. As Vinny once put it, “we get to tap into that for free!”
When we asked Andy what 30 years means to him, it wasn't about any single project, it was about the team itself. Building a business that's lasted 30 years and provided jobs for local people is something we're all genuinely proud of.
Find out more about the people who make FASTSIGNS Leeds
A message from Andy
Thirty years is a milestone, but it’s not one we’ve reached on our own. The support of our team, our suppliers and our customers has been behind every project we’ve delivered.
“I am very grateful to our suppliers, the team at Fastsigns Leeds and the UK And US Fastsigns staff, for making the job enjoyable and always going the extra mile to help us provide a great service to our clients. I would like to thank all the clients who have trusted us over the years to help with their signs and graphic projects.”
Andy Simpson, Managing Director, FASTSIGNS Leeds
For 30 years we’ve been creating signs that help Leeds businesses stand out. If you’re planning a project of your own, our team is here to help you make your statement. Get in touch to find out how we can help.