Signee Industry – education to employment
Signee Industry is an industry recognised training programme that focusses on the beginner’s guide to sign making industry standards in the core six pillars of sign making.
The cost is $1,500 and includes a comprehensive first aid course.
industry
recognised training
The Signee Industry training programme is directed at those already employed within the sign making industry at an entry level role, those looking to change direction with their career, or school leavers interested in finding out what a career in the sign industry would be like.
The Signee Industry training programme is designed to provide a well informed insight into a what a career in the New Zealand sign industry is all about. It provides fundamental knowledge and skills in the ‘six’ pillars’ of sign making and health and safety.
The Signee Industry programme is done through practical work experience in a full service sign business and online learning.
A successful completion of this industry recognised training programme demonstrates to employers in the sign making industry, that you already have some essential skills and knowledge. This means that you can be productive in many tasks from day one of employment and ready to learn more through, working in the industry.
For those thinking about sign making as a trade will have a well informed insight into what a trade in the sign industry might be like, before committing themselves to an apprenticeship.

six pillars
six pillars
learning outcomes
The Signee Industry programme is designed to provide a well informed insight into a what a career in the New Zealand sign industry is all about.
It provides introductory knowledge and skills in sign making industry standards through the ‘six’ pillars’ of sign making and health and safety.

The trainee will demonstrate the exploration of design elements and principles, typography, basic colour theory, sign making software and design processes.
Trainees will gain an understanding of effective visual communication of a message.

The trainee will begin to develop a working knowledge of printing techniques and common tools and machinery used in a sign shop, ie: printers, cutters, laminators and will also gain an understanding of three-dimensional signage and its uses including fabricated letters, lightboxes and pylon sign fabrication.

The trainee will develop knowledge in the selection and application of vinyl to a variety of surfaces. Identify materials used as substrates for general basic signage.
Develop skills in cutting, weeding, transfer techniques, preparing surfaces for vinyl and application of basic vinyl signage.

The trainee will begin to develop an understanding of signage installation, be able to describe access equipment use and types and have an awareness of the existence of Bylaws.

The trainee will be able to describe basic illuminated signage technology such as LED, fluorescent and neon use in the sign industry. Signees will be able to describe channel letter illumination types and will develop an understanding of lightbox illumination.

The trainee will gain awareness of basic processes, paint techniques, paint types, handling and cleaning up paints that are used in traditional sign making. Trainees will explore hand lettering techniques and begin to develop an awareness of when to choose traditional methods over modern cut and print methods.

The programme consists of three blended learning components
one
workplace training
Signee Industry – workplace training
The workplace training is done in a full-service sign shop to ensure the trainee gains insight and knowledge into all of the 6 pillars of sign making.
We work with industry to find a placement in a full service sign shop.
4 weeks in total (20 days). Timing can be flexible by negotiation to suit the trainer/employer and the trainee. It may be done as a continuous block course or on specific day/s of each week.
We provide the trainer/employer with a trainer guide. It’s a guide for the trainers to know what they need to show/teach using their expert knowledge on how things are done!
The trainer uses this for the duration of the work experience. (see photo below)
To enquire or apply for the Signee Industry Training programme, register through this link:
- we will make contact with you
- we contact a suitable employer (who may wish to meet the trainee)
- once a match is made, we sign the trainee up to the programme
- we send the trainee an invoice for the cost of the programme, which is $1,500
- we keep in touch with the trainer and trainee to support them throughout the course
- we are contactable for the trainer or the trainee to answer any questions, or to help problem solve effective strategies for any issues that may arise
- we provide pastoral care for trainees during the work place training
Once payment is received:
- we send the trainer/employer a ‘Trainer Guide’ – via courier
- we send the trainee a ‘Beginners Guide to Sign Making Industry Standards’ workbook – via courier
- we send the trainee an online learning login – via email
- we book and pay for the first aid course once the trainee lets us know suitable dates
TWO
online learning
Signee Industry – online learning
Trainee completes all online courses.
The courses have videos, written content, examples and images.
Most lessons have a short quiz based on the content of the lesson.
After each course is completed, the trainee has the ability to download the badge awarded for that course and include it in future CVs.

THREE
external training
Signee Industry – external course
Trainee registers and passes the First Aid course with Red Cross at a time suitable with the employer and themselves. This must be achieved before the end of the programme.
Signee Ltd will book and pay for the course, once you tell us the dates of available courses in your area.
The trainee will need to choose between two First Aid options below and let us know:
- which course
- suitable dates that courses are running in their area and able to attend
APP, Comprehensive First Aid – Pre-course through an online APP followed by 1 day in a classroom environment
Complete your pre-course learning using the First Aid and Emergency App followed by an 8-hour classroom session.
Comprehensive First Aid – 1 and half days in a classroom environment
Our most popular classroom based course – great for keeping you and the team safe in the workplace. You will cover all of the essentials and more. This course is the minimum requirement for high-risk workplaces.
Please follow the link here to see the First Aid course options and available bookings in an area near you.

Responsibilities
Signee will supply
+ Trainer guide for trainer
+ Signee Industry workbook
+ Industry assessments
+ Certificates
Trainee will
+ Takes responsibility for their learning
+ Reliably attend work experience
+ Read training material
+ Take notes in workbook during work experience
+ Take photos for assessments
+ Work to the best of their ability
+ Complete online courses and first aid course
Sign business/employer
+ Training and expert knowledge
+ Workplace learning opportunities
+ Equipment, time and tools
+ Support and mentoring of trainee to complete course

Assessment information
Workplace training assessment
Assessments are paper based for work experience and done by the New Zealand Sign and Display Association; industry standards assessed by the Communications and Training Officer and a Master Sign Maker.
The trainees have specific pages for taking notes in their workbooks. They are also prompted in the workbooks to take as many photos as possible for elements of assessment.
At times, this may also involve verifying knowledge and skills with the trainer/employer.
Industry standards based assessment:
(Content of NZQA Unit standards is covered in our course. If the trainee specifically wants assessment recorded through NZQA, they will need to pay for assessment through our NZQA registered assessors, the cost for the assessment is approx. $800 including gst and is done through Competenz – Industry Training Organisation)
Online assessment
There are six online learning course/pillars and upon completion of each one, the trainee receives a digital badge for that course/pillar.
The trainee must complete each module to be able to move onto the next module.
All modules need to be completed and a badge is awarded for each pillar successfully completed.
Above: Digital badges awarded for online courses
First aid = 4 credits
Red Cross comprehensive first aid
Assessment will be done and recorded on NZQA record of learning by the first aid provider, but you’ll need to let them know that you want the credits recorded.
- 6402 Provide basic life support, Level 1, credit 1
- 6401 Provide first aid, Level 2, credits 1
- 6400 Manage first aid in an emergency situation, Level 3, credit 2