Association Update – March 2025
From webinars and accreditation achievements to award entries and conference registrations, there are many opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate this year. Here’s everything you need to know this month.
In February, we ran our first webinar for the year, one of a series delivered by ACC. The webinar provided some much-needed guidance on how to select the right classification unit for your business and information on levy invoices. The Q&A section of the webinar also provided members with a great opportunity to get advice and answers directly from an ACC representative. This session was recorded and is now live on our website. ACC has provided us with some further advice to share with members, which can be found in the Governance section of our website. The second webinar with ACC will be held in April and is all about understanding ACC cover if you’re self-employed.
We are also running a series of webinars delivered by Competenz. The first of this series will run on 13 March and will cover important updates on sign-making apprenticeships, including changes to the unit standards and new financial support information. This webinar is a must for any business that is, or is considering, training apprentices.
Award entries for the 2025 Sign Display Awards of Excellence are now open. We are encouraging all sign makers across the country to enter their best projects. There is a huge range of categories, so there is sure to be something for everyone. Notable awards are also open for nominations, so even if you haven’t found an award category that suits, you can still nominate yourself or someone you know for a notable award or for Apprentice of the Year. Let’s make this year a year of celebration and recognise the amazing people in our industry and the work that they do!
Registration is officially open for the 2025 Sign Makers Conference. As it’s our 60th anniversary, we’re going the extra mile to make sure this event is one to remember. If you haven’t attended a conference before, then this is the one to be a part of. And for those that come regularly, we cannot wait to celebrate this milestone with you! We have added extra sessions, and the agenda is now jam-packed with exciting opportunities to learn, connect, and craft. Early bird pricing is available, so make sure you register soon to take advantage of the discount.
Late last year, we launched the new and improved Master Sign Maker Accreditation, and we are thrilled to announce that two businesses have completed the pathway and achieved the accreditation. Congratulations to Big Brown Industries and LG Creative for putting in the work and earning the title of master in their trade. Achieving this accreditation is no small feat, and we’re proud to celebrate their success. We look forward to seeing many more quality sign shops follow their example and work towards this badge of honour.
We are continuing to run regional meetings across the country, connecting with as many members and non-members as possible. In March, we will be running meetings in both Christchurch and Wellington and will head to New Plymouth in April. We hope to see as many attend these meetings as possible. It is great to get the industry together, and the more that attend, the merrier and more beneficial for everyone involved.
So much on the horizon! Make sure you take advantage of these opportunities, and let’s make 2025 a year to remember.
