Signage Technician Apprentice

Apprentice Sign Maker (Level 3 Signage Technician)

Salary: £16k (Year 1), £18k+ (Year 2), £24k–£28k+ once qualified
Hours: 35 per week, Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm (some flexibility during busy periods)
Location: Rolvenden Layne, Kent (TN17)

Applications close: 30 November 2026. We’ll be interviewing as applications come in, so apply early.

Expected start date: January 2027

Summary

This is a chance to join our small, friendly team handcrafting bespoke slate, granite and limestone signs that are sold across the UK and abroad. You’ll learn every part of the job: production, finishing, stock and dispatch, design and customer support. You’ll be learning a traditional craft alongside modern techniques.

About us

The Bespoke Sign House is one of the UK’s leading makers of handmade stone house and property signs, based in rural Kent. More than 40 steps in making each sign are done by hand, from cutting and finishing the stone to engraving and paint-filling the lettering. We make signs for homeowners, private estates, property developments and businesses across the UK and abroad. Our work has been featured at the Chelsea Flower Show, and we’ve collaborated with innovative brands like what3words. We’re a small, close-knit team who take pride in quality work and a great customer experience.

About the role

You’ll spend four days a week with us in the workshop, learning to make our signs from start to finish alongside experienced makers, including our current apprentice. The fifth day is a virtual lesson with Walsall College. These sessions are engaging, collaborative and led by specialist instructors. College lecturers also visit from time to time to catch up with you in person and hear about what you’ve been working on.

You’ll learn how to:

• Prepare slate, granite and limestone for engraving (cutting, cleaning and masking)
• Operate our core machinery, including vinyl plotters, bevelling machines, bench drill press, saws and sandblasting equipment
• Paint, finish and seal completed stone signs
• Quality check every sign to make sure it meets our standards
• Prepare layouts and designs using computer software
• Help with product photography and content for social media and our website
• Support customers with design requests and mock-ups by email, live chat and phone
• Keep the workshop clean, organised and safe
• Manage stock, job sheets and dispatch
• Handle logistics: weights, packaging and delivery requirements for sending our signs across the UK and overseas

You’ll gain a nationally recognised Level 3 qualification while developing valuable practical, technical, and digital skills for a rewarding career in the signage industry.

Who we’re looking for

• A genuine interest in design, making and practical work
• Good attention to detail and a willingness to learn
• Someone reliable and punctual who’s happy working in a small team
• Friendly and confident talking to customers
• Comfortable using a computer (experience with Photoshop or similar creative software is a bonus)
• Comfortable using tools and machinery (full training and PPE are provided)
• Happy working in all seasons. Our workshop can be warm in the summer and cold in the winter, and some tasks are done outside for short periods.
• Able to handle the physical side of the job, including lifting stone and standing for long periods
• A reliable way to get to our rural workshop in Rolvenden Layne (a driving licence or your own transport is a big help)

What we offer

• Year 1 salary: £16,000
• Year 2 salary: from £18,000, depending on age and progress
• Potential of a permanent position upon qualification with salary starting at £24,000-£28,000+
• Discretionary bonus based on personal and company performance
• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Additional time off over Christmas due to workshop closure.
• Casual dress due to workshop environment
• On-site parking
• Workplace pension with employer contributions
• Full training, PPE and support throughout your apprenticeship
• Get paid while you learn. Your weekly college day is paid, and there are no tuition fees or student debt.

Future opportunities

We’re a growing business, and the right apprentice could become a key part of our team after completing the apprenticeship. There’s plenty of room to learn new skills and grow with us as we expand our product range and workshop setup.

How to apply

If you’re enthusiastic, enjoy making things, love practical work and want to build real skills in a creative trade, we’d love to hear from you! Please apply through Indeed with your CV and a short note outlining why you’re interested in the role.

Job Types: Full-time, Apprenticeship

Pay: £16,000.00-£18,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Application question(s):

• What’s something you’ve made, built or fixed that you’re proud of?
• Our workshop is in Rolvenden Layne, near Tenterden (TN17). Will you be able to reliably commute here each day, and how would you get here?

Work Location: In person