Signs & Signage in Wales

Bilingual signs done properly

Many Welsh businesses and public bodies display signs in both English and Welsh. Getting this right is mostly about layout: deciding which language comes first, giving both equal weight, and allowing enough space so neither looks squeezed. Translations should always come from a qualified translator and be checked before manufacture, because a mistake on a fascia is expensive to fix.

Cities, coast and countryside

Cardiff and Swansea have busy city centres with shopping streets, offices and venues, while towns along the coast face salt and wind, and rural businesses sit in or near national parks where roadside signs are tightly controlled. Each setting calls for different materials: aluminium and sealed lighting by the sea, timber or metal in villages, and illuminated letters in city centres where permitted.

Planning in Wales is handled by the local authority for your area. We discuss the likely consent route at the survey, and our own team installs the finished signs.

• Agree the language order before design
• Use a qualified translator
• Choose coastal-grade materials near the sea

Public buildings and schools

Councils, schools, health centres and other public buildings in Wales often need complete sign systems: entrance signs, reception signs, room names and wayfinding, all bilingual. A clear hierarchy matters more than ever when every sign carries two languages, so we keep text short and use consistent colours and symbols.

Modular signs with replaceable panels let you update room names or departments without replacing the whole sign, which is useful for schools and offices that change layout often.