BEL Signs has over ten full-time staff members, a factory in Blatchford Road, Horsham and a fleet of vans. Our staff has dedicated and specialised skill sets, many with a background in the signage and creative industries.
Here we highlight some of the team so you can get to know them better and put faces to those people you contact.
Peter Bedford
Senior Partner/Managing Director
15 years as a Pattern Maker/Engineering mainly vehicle shape and engine development. 47 years self-employed developing Bedford Sports which morphed into BEL Signs.
Establish BEL Signs: 1977
Favourite part of your job: Developing new skills/products & interests.
Hobbies/Interests: Darts (Retired), Woodwork, Allotmenteering, and Bee Keeping.
Peter Fraser
Project/Production Manager
I have been in the print and signage industry for over 15 years. I have experience with the machinery here at BEL Signs and I’m able to run and use all equipment and install it, but as Production Manager I look to the team to finish the projects, however, I try to always lead by example. I still muck in so can everyone else, there are never any problems only solutions.
Joined BEL Signs: 2015
Favourite part of your job: Working with a great team.
Hobbies/Interests: Horse Racing, Gym, family time.
Danny
Signage Production & Head Installer
30 years in the signage industry.
Joined BEL Signs: Since 2000
Favourite part of your job: Each day isn’t the same, today I’m installing van graphics, and yesterday I was out installing posts and then attaching lettering onto the exterior of a sports hall. Because BEL manufactures the signs I work on various projects within the factory too, from CAD cut to acrylic, banners to ACM.
Hobbies/Interests: Watersports and holidaying with the family.
Luke
Signage Production, Installation and Dry Transfer Specialist
14 years of experience in the signage industry. I learnt most of my skills at my last employment. Joining BEL to grow their dry transfers team, I have also expanded my knowledge of vehicle wrapping, large format printing and finishing in addition to manufacturing signs.
Joined BEL Signs: 2021
Favourite part of your job: I enjoy the creative and technical challenge of vehicle wraps but also love the variety of work here.
Hobbies/Interests: Bikes (MTB and BMX), my family and kids, music and festivals, generally being outdoors.
Gary Jeffery
Signage Production, Engraver
29 years in the business; artworking, printing and graphics production.
Joined BEL Signs: March 2021
Favourite part of your job: Laser engraving and working with new materials.
Hobbies/Interests: Electronics, robotics, gaming and rambling.
Rob Weetman
Artworking/Quoting
I started working at a label printer when I left school doing finishing, deliveries and stock taking. Then I worked at Virgin Megastore as a Warehouse Supervisor promoted to Store Supervisor for 5 years, and then joined another label printer for 5 years as a finisher/trainee printer. I worked within a large format print finisher/dry transfers business moving into quoting, art-working, accounts and dealing with the day-to-day running for over 12 years before joining BEL Signs.
Joined BEL Signs: 2020
Favourite part of your job: Good group of people who all get on (sometimes).
Hobbies/Interests: Listening to music, watching movies, listening to Audiobooks, messing around with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and gaming on my PC.
Martin Simmons
Signage All-Rounder
26 years in the signage industry, with skills including vinyl wrapping guru, sign maker and screen-printer.
Joined BEL Signs: April 2024
Favourite part of your job: Every day is different.
Hobbies/Interests: DJing, rugby, mixed martial arts, baking (let’s face it everything is better with cake).
Paul Jode
Artworker
I am a BA (Hons) Illustration Graduate with extensive experience in the design industry. Armed with an understanding of the Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) I am proficient in either creative design projects or simple art working requirements.
Joined BEL Signs: August 2023
Favourite part of your job: Working with varied clients on a range of exciting projects. Learning and developing the processes for printing & sign-making.
Hobbies/Interests: Music, sport, fitness and Viking drinking horn crafting!
Tina Collins
Administrator
Held various admin posts in the PCB Industry, from Pharmaceutical to Valves & Fittings.
Joined BEL Signs: 23rd March 2020, the day of the Lockdown.
Favourite part of your job: Cakes made by the MD’s wife and of course the camaraderie.
Hobbies/Interests: Travelling, and making memories with my family and grandchildren.
Carly Hacker
Marketing Team
23 years in the creative industry as a graphic designer with an agency background, and knowledge of Adobe, and WordPress.
Joined BEL Signs: January 2018
Favourite part of your job: Working with the different team members on varying projects across the marketing remit.
Hobbies/Interests: Puzzles, gaming and all things design.
Chris
Embroidery/Machine Operator (part of the AppliedFX team)
Worked for many years in the embroidery industry at a few different manufacturers and factories. I have always enjoyed the work as every day is something different which keeps it exciting.
Joined BEL Signs: 2022
Favourite part of your job: Love the people I work with, it is a laid-back atmosphere.
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy spending time with friends, and family, going on trips, movies, and sports and cannot forget food!
Helen
Embroidery Machine Operator (part of the AppliedFX team)
History of BEL Signs
BEL Signs was established in 1977 and was started by Peter Bedford as Bedford Sports. Peter and his wife Fran then worked at a small retail shop in Roffey, Horsham, selling sportswear and engraving various sports trophies and plaques on-site.
In those 40 years, Bedford Sports became Bedford Engraving Limited now known as BEL Signs and has grown considerably producing a huge range of signage and display solutions. BEL Signs became a leading provider of signs in Horsham and now Sussex. Bedford Sports shop was closed in 2020 when Fran retired but BEL Signs goes from strength to strength.
