Leeds signage manufacturer acquires North West business

A Leeds-based digital and traditional signage specialist has acquired a St Helens business to add capacity to the growing 132-year old firm.

Widd Signs, headquartered on Gelderd Road, has taken over Spectrum Sign & Display Ltd, safeguarding jobs and adding further scope for significant job creation over the next few years.

Widd Signs provides signage consultancy, design and production to a range of high-profile businesses operating in the retail, construction and sports and leisure sectors. Its clients include retail giants Marks & Spencer, Primark and Schuh, and culture and leisure hubs such as the National Science and Media Museum and Burnley F.C.

Widd Signs managing director Gary Williams said: "We've got great plans for our new facility as we expand across the north. Having reached full capacity at our Leeds site, acquiring the St Helens firm will support the business growth over the next few years.”

The firm has already invested £50,000 in upgrading plant and equipment at the new site.

The acquisition of Spectrum Sign & Display and its new 20,000 sq ft site in Sutton was supported by St Helens Council, who are actively assisting Widd signs with the recruitment of local people to help fill a number of vacant positions,

St Helens Council Leader David Baines said: "For such a successful city-based company to choose St Helens as the place to grow and take business to the next level really speaks volumes about St Helens being seen as the place to be for economic activity - especially when it comes to industries such as manufacturing - and we will do everything we can to support them."

Councillor Richard McCauley added: "It's clear to see the positive impression Widd Signs has made in such a short space of time, investing not only in the business side, but the workers too who seem really happy and enthusiastic about their work and future prospects.”

Established in 1888, Widd Signs employs more than 80 staff across its Leeds and St Helens sites, with plans to create more positions in St Helens in the near future, as it looks to build on its position as one of the UK’s leading digital and traditional signage producers.