Reade Blog

The rain didn’t hinder the spirits of the Reade Team when they joined Berkeley Southern on a Karting Event at Sandown Park yesterday to support the Berkeley Foundation. The event consisted of a 3 hour endurance race comprising 29 teams of up to 6 drivers. The race proved to be quite a challenge to the Reade Team that included Andy Fergus-Smith, Roy Cheesmann, David Gerrard, Adriaan Wijsveld and Adam Grist. The wet and stormy weather added extra drama to an already very exciting and enjoyable event with all but one of the Reade Team spinning off the track at one time or another! All profits raised were in aid of charity MERU, who build assistive equipment for children and young people with disabilities.

Ben Reade and Adam Grist were proud to represent Reade Signs at Aldershot Town FC’s press conference on Thursday 6th May for the announcement of the new First Team Manager, Gary Waddock. Reade Signs are in their 8thyear of patronage at Aldershot Town FC and are proud sponsors of the South Stand at the EBB stadium. Reade Signs look forward to continued sponsorship at Aldershot Town FC having confirmed a new multi-year deal and share the club’s excitement for the future under the new management of Gary Waddock.

We at Reade Signs are well known for our charitable efforts, donations and contributions, and when ‘The Sussex Beacon’ – a Brighton-based charity that provides care and support for men, women and families living with HIV – underwent a rebrand, we were happy to support them by donating signage incorporating their new logo. Simon Dowe, CEO of the charity is delighted with the signage, commenting “many people have already commented on how fabulous the signs look, both outside and in our reception area…it is only though the generosity of people like you that we are able to continue our work”. We are very pleased to have provided the Sussex Beacon with their rebranding signage as part of our #reade35 challenge, celebrating 35 years of successful trading by supporting 35 community based initiatives over the past year. The Sussex Beacon Volunteer Fundraiser Danny Dwyer was thrilled with the new donated signage

Last Wednesday 27th April we were very excited to host valued clients, suppliers, business partners and Rushmoor Borough Council’s Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jacqui Vosper, at the Reade Signs launch event as we celebrated 35 successful years in the industry, revealed our new company identity, and showcased our dazzling new showroom. After guests had mingled and joined guided tours around the Reade Signs factory, CEO Andy Reade started off the evening’s speeches, acknowledging the efforts of the team at Reade Signs who have helped the company not only survive but thrive through two recessions and the more recent credit crunch. He captured the essence of Reade Signs, and summarised why Reade Signs has been so consistently highly regarded over the years, explaining “we are big enough to deliver, but small enough that the company still has a family feel about it”. Managing Director Andy Fergus-Smith proudly announced that through sponsorships, donations, and gifted signage over the last year, the Reade Signs Team has raised over £25,000 for local and national charities, as a result of the ‘Reade 35’ initiative that was implemented this time last year. Guest speaker Jonathon Clark, founding partner of top 20 UK agency ‘Bright Blue Day’ and visiting fellow and Board Member of Bournemouth University, illustrated the importance and impact of good design, branding and signage. Guests got to see this for themselves.The new Reade Signs brand identity is now a strong presence, and the buzz from the launch event continues on!

Over the last fortnight Mark Smith from our Production Team has run twelve consecutive 10k runs in aid of Cancer Research UK. Along with his Dad and brother, Mark has endured all weathers, and a wide variety of routes and courses – some muddy, wet and boggy, others grassy and rocky, and some with stunning views as you’ll see from the picture! Their challenge was met with a problem on the last day when their car broke down en-route to the Cancer Research UK ‘Tough 10’ event in Hadleigh Park, Essex, where they had planned to mark their final run. But instead of giving up they Googled the nearest 10k route and started running! Between them they have covered over 360 kilometres – the equivalent of running from London to Lands End! The Reade Signs team are very proud of Mark in rising to such an incredible challenge and raising over £800 for Cancer Research UK!

On 24th October the Reade Team got on their bikes and cycled the length of the Basingstoke Canal to raise money for Cancer Research UK. They pedalled an impressive 35 miles from West Byfleet to Greywell in just under 4½ hours and raised an even more impressive £510! The day wasn’t without its events, with one team member ending up in the canal and another trailing so far behind the rest of the team thought the challenge had got the better of him…but they were proved wrong when he met them at the finish line 30 minutes later. This was challenge number 14 out of the 35 charitable events Reade Signs has committed to participate in throughout the year to mark their 35 years in the business. Follow #reade35 for regular charity updates on this impressive challenge.