Winners will be announced on 16 May at a gala dinner during the Fespa 2018 expo in Berlin. Nominees will be chosen for 14 categories, as well as the People’s Choice and Best in Show awards, with entries closing on 26 January 2018.

Shortlisted companies' work will be displayed by the entrance at the exhibition, where they will be seen by up to 25,000 visitors.

“I think the awards are a great way for firms to get exposure for their work, as well as recognising the work of your team,” said Fespa head of events Duncan MacOwan.

“The act of entering will engender a warm feeling in a company’s staff, as well as raising morale.

“Being nominated will also have a very tangible positive effect on business – one previous winner recently told me that six of his 10 biggest customers were signed on as a result of the exposure he got when his firm won at the Fespa Awards.

“Every nominee is showcased online and thousands of people take part in the voting process. The awards are one of my very favourite events to run. We are very lucky to see such strong work every year, showcasing excellence in print.”

British print put up a strong showing at the 2017 awards, held in Hamburg in May, with London-based Augustus Martin, Egham-based Signbox, Digital Plus of Leeds and Birmingham’s HNS Signs all taking home Gold Awards.

Chatham-based large-format printer PressOn, which recently completed hoarding work for the Crossrail project, has won multiple Fespa awards over the years, with joint managing director Andy Wilson explaining the benefits of securing a gong.

“Winning a Fespa Award has boosted our credibility and visibility, both internally with staff and externally,” he said.

"When we carry out prestigious projects such as wrapping buildings, we sometimes take for granted the impact of our work. Winning this prize shows true recognition from industry peers and reinforces the quality of our work.”

For information on the 2018 Awards, visit fespaawards.com.