Trusted Brands success story: Over 30 years of partnership helps keep Openreach moving

For one of the UK's largest branded vehicle fleets, consistency is about far more than appearance. Every vehicle needs to project the same professional image while remaining operationally ready, wherever it is in the country.

That has been the focus of the partnership between Stewart Signs and Openreach for more than 30 years. Since 1992, Stewart Signs has supported the communications provider with a comprehensive vehicle branding service, managing everything from design and production through to installation, maintenance and accident repairs across a fleet of more than 23,000 vehicles. 

One of the partnership's biggest achievements came during a nationwide rebrand, when Stewart Signs successfully rebranded 22,000 vehicles in record time. Delivering up to 500 vehicles each week, the project required close coordination between production, logistics and installation teams to minimise disruption and keep vehicles on the road. Beyond major projects, Stewart Signs continues to provide ongoing fleet branding maintenance, ensuring vehicles remain compliant with brand standards throughout their working lives.

As Openreach has expanded its electric vehicle fleet, the partnership has evolved again. Stewart Signs delivered branding for the company's first electric van during the London 2012 Olympic Games and has since supported the rollout of thousands of electric vehicles across the network, including milestone vehicles such as the 5,000th EV.

Innovation has also helped improve operational efficiency. Stewart Signs' Accident Repair Portal enables replacement graphics to be produced and installed quickly following vehicle damage, helping reduce vehicle-off-road time and return engineers to service faster.

The case study demonstrates how vehicle services have become a strategic part of fleet operations. By combining nationwide delivery, long-term planning and continual innovation, Stewart Signs has helped Openreach maintain a consistent brand, minimise downtime and support one of the UK's largest and most recognisable commercial fleets.

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