Mark Coyle, the owner of the new facility that opened last month, will offer design, large-format printing and installation services to businesses in Macclesfield as well as the surrounding areas including Wilmslow, Winsford, Poynton, Middlewich, Northwich, Altrincham, Alderley Edge and Knutsford.

With a leased 214sqm production facility fully kitted out with Mimaki printers, a Vivid Easymount laminator and a Graphtec plotter, all supplied by reseller Granthams, the Macclesfield centre will produce items including vehicle graphics, illuminated signs, office signs, exhibition displays and window graphics.

“Working in the sign industry is all I’ve ever done, but this is my first franchise on my own. I was the managing director of another company previous to this, and also a shareholder, but I wasn’t the owner,” said Coyle.

“I’ve always been aware of Signs Express – they are a big-name player in the industry.

“I had a look at their business model and setup and then went to see them and they showed me what it’s all about with the backup they provide, the research that they do, and the support that they give all of their franchisees – not only from your launch but during the life of your business – and I thought it would be a great model for me to work with.”

Coyle has been joined by one other member of staff initially, and there are plans to take on another employee in six months and a fourth in around a year “if everything goes according to plan”. The centre’s turnover target for the first year is £150,000.

The Macclesfield outlet is the fifth new centre opened by Signs Express this year, boosting the company’s network of centres across the UK and Ireland to 65.

“It’s always exciting when a new centre opens, and I’m confident Mark is the right person to lead the franchise in supporting Macclesfield’s local businesses with their signage needs,” said Signs Express managing director Jonathan Bean, who led a management buyout of the business in January.