The project

Since 2014, Cambridge Sign Company has been producing signage across East Anglia and London. Its nine-person team handles everything from vehicle wraps to office and retail fit-outs, as well as exterior and wayfinding signage.

The company already had a long-standing relationship with Girton Golf Club when the club approached them about updating its existing signs.

"We've worked with Girton Golf Club on and off since 2017. When they got in touch about updating their signage, we were more than happy to help."

Nick Dowell, Managing Director, Cambridge Sign Company

The challenge was to bring the signage up to date without losing the traditional appearance that suited the golf club and its surroundings.

"They wanted something durable that also fit with the classic traditional vibe of the club," Nick adds. "The old signs had seen better days and weren't really doing them justice."

The requirements: traditional appearance, modern performance

Natural timber would have complemented the character of the golf club, but there were understandable concerns around its long-term durability. The new wayfinding signage therefore needed to:

• Retain the traditional character of Girton Golf Club
• Provide the appearance and warmth associated with timber
• Offer improved durability for an exterior environment
• Create a consistent and professional wayfinding system
• Remain within a sensible project budget
• Be straightforward for Cambridge Sign Company to manufacture and install

The challenge was finding a signage system that could deliver the right visual result without introducing unnecessary fabrication or future maintenance.

The product solution: KOPA with Decro oak-effect posts

Cambridge Sign Company selected the KOPA modular sign system from Sign Trade Supplies, using Decro oak-effect aluminium posts to achieve the traditional appearance required by the client.

The team had initially been introduced to KOPA by their Sign Trade Supplies representative.

"Our rep from STS brought in a sample, showed us how easy it was to work with, and we were sold. We even got samples of the different post finishes, which we now proudly display in our showroom."

Nick Dowell, Cambridge Sign Company

For Girton Golf Club, the Decro oak-effect finish proved particularly important. "The club loved the traditional timber look but were understandably worried about durability. The KOPA system gave them the best of both worlds, classic aesthetics with modern longevity," Nick explains.

Rather than relying on natural timber, the system provided the desired wood appearance using aluminium posts, helping Cambridge Sign Company balance the client's aesthetic requirements with the practical demands of exterior signage.

Making wayfinding signage simpler to produce

KOPA is supplied as a modular kit and is designed to make professional post and panel signage straightforward for sign makers to specify, order and install.

For smaller sign-making teams, systems like KOPA can help reduce the amount of specialist fabrication needed to offer a professional finished product. This supports our wider focus on helping UK sign makers confidently deliver a broader range of projects through practical systems, product knowledge and support.

End client success

The finished KOPA signs gave Girton Golf Club a coordinated wayfinding system that felt appropriate for the location while providing a much fresher and more professional appearance.

The oak-effect posts help the signs sit naturally within the golf club environment, while the updated graphics and consistent sign system make navigating the site easier for visitors and members.

Importantly, the success of the project has also created further opportunities for Cambridge Sign Company. "Since completing the Girton job, we've recommended the KOPA system to other clients and have several new projects lined up," Nick adds.

"The feedback's been brilliant. Staff and members alike have commented on how professional the new signage looks. It's transformed how people navigate the course and interact with the space."

Nick Dowell, Managing Director, Cambridge Sign Company

For a sign maker, that is one of the key advantages of finding the right modular signage system. Once the product has been successfully specified and installed, it becomes another proven solution that can be confidently offered to future customers.

Support from Sign Trade Supplies

Introducing a new sign system is easier when the team behind it can provide samples, demonstrations and practical advice. For Cambridge Sign Company, that support helped make specifying KOPA for the Girton Golf Club project straightforward.

"STS were great," he says. "They walked us through a demo, sorted us out with samples, and were always on hand to support us. They really made the whole process simple."

That solutions-first approach is central to how we support small and medium-sized UK sign companies. Alongside product supply, we provide industry knowledge, project support and personal account management to help sign makers find the right solution for the job.

A repeatable solution for other sign makers

The Girton Golf Club project shows how KOPA can help sign makers offer a premium-looking post and panel system without having to manufacture every element from scratch.

The combination of KOPA and Decro wood-effect aluminium makes it particularly relevant for projects where traditional aesthetics are important:

• Golf clubs
• Hotels & hospitality
• Visitor attractions
• Schools
• Leisure facilities
• Business parks
• Landscaped commercial environments

Reflecting on the project, Nick says the system delivered across the board. "It's easy to install, looks great, and it lasts. You don't often find something that works so well across the board. We'll definitely be using it again."

For Girton Golf Club, the result is more than a replacement for its ageing signs. The new wayfinding system helps visitors navigate the site while complementing the character and identity of the club. For Cambridge Sign Company, it has provided a signage solution they can take forward to future projects.

Project photography courtesy of Cambridge Sign Company. See more projects on our case studies page.