About Hirst

1987

• Hirst Signs Limited was founded at the beginning of 1987 as a family business manufacturing reflective signs for use underground in coal mines.
• Hirst Signs Limited had the exclusive contract for all underground signs that met all the intrinsically safe requirements for the dark, dusty, methane gas environment of underground coal mining.

1994

• The business was very successful for the first few years, but the sudden demise of the coal industry following privatisation in 1994 required a distinct change of direction for the business.
• At this point, Ken Gee joined the company as Commercial Director and was charged with securing alternative opportunities.

The light bulb moment!

• We quickly realised that road traffic signs were manufactured similarly to the reflective signs used underground in the coal mines.

1995

• Over the next few years, Hirst Signs Limited successfully secured several large local authority contracts for the supply of permanent and temporary traffic signs and associated equipment.
• As the coal industry gradually disappeared, we concentrated on the manufacture and supply of permanent road traffic signs.