Signs Express Colchester & Chelmsford opened officially in January as a new addition to the nationwide network. Based in Witham, Essex it will serve local businesses in the surrounding area.

Joshi, who has long worked as a project manager and business consultant across a number of sectors, wanted to start her own business and settled on the signage franchise model as the ideal option.

“I have basically had a corporate career that has given me a deep understanding of how businesses are set up and run,” she said. “I wanted to do that myself and could see how that knowledge would come in handy. I wanted to be in the B2B space and looked at several options before choosing Signs Express.

“Signage was rather interesting to me because every business needs it – that’s what drew me. I spoke to existing Signs Express franchisees and they come from a diverse range of backgrounds that made me feel confident coming into the sector.

“The main thing I want to convey is that we are an end-to-end signage solution company and we pride ourselves on being responsive to customers’ needs, the quality of our work and our great value for money.”

With one full-time and one part-time member of staff, Joshi oversees a signage operation that comprises an Epson solvent printer, an Easymount laminator, plotting and cutting kit and a vehicle bay for graphics application.

She said a clear three-year business plan is currently in place with initial projections for the business, while she hopes to see her operation attain the status of 'gold centre' at Signs Express within five years, meaning circa £500,000-£750,000 turnover and seven or eight members of staff.

Signs Express Colchester & Chelmsford operates out of 167sqm premises in Witham, which is equidistant from the two Essex towns it takes its name from.