Brief
The RNLI appointed us as a preferred supplier to deliver across two areas of their estate. Visits spaces are the visitor engagement environments at lifeboat stations and visitor centres – the displays, interpretation panels and interactive installations that connect the public with the RNLI’s lifesaving story. Retail spaces are the shop and branded signage environments that support the charity’s retail income across the network.
The contract covers the full service: site surveys, design, print production, tech installation and on-site installation. The scope also requires the flexibility to accommodate both planned programme orders and short lead time requests, with delivery managed across a UK and Ireland-wide network of varied and often remote coastal locations.
The Solution
Visitor engagement signage and displays
Across the station network we design and produce visitor engagement signage and interpretation displays – from standardised panels and wayfinding elements to bespoke branded installations at flagship visitor centres. All work is produced to agreed quality standards, with print, graphics and tech installation managed end to end.
Retail signage and shop fit support
For the RNLI’s retail estate, we supply and install branded signage to specification – producing bespoke print and vinyl signage and attending site alongside the RNLI Retail team for installation as part of wider refit projects. Where installation is not required, all signage is delivered safely and on schedule to meet operational timescales.
Network-wide delivery
Across all 238 sites in the network, we provide surveys, design, manufacture and installation of signage and visitor engagement displays – managing logistics to stations in varied and often remote coastal locations throughout the UK and Ireland, to consistent quality and delivery performance standards.
Project highlights
Visitor Centre fit-out – Barry Island
We delivered the full interior fit-out of the RNLI Visitor Centre at Barry Island, South Wales, acting as main contractor and managing all trades. The installation included interactive touchscreen games with custom digital content (including on-site filming for virtual tour guides), a tide tank interactive model, digital lifeguard screens, electrical pump-operated games, hands-on rescue equipment displays, and wall graphics depicting rescue operations and RNLI history.
RNLI Rescue Zone – National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
We designed and delivered the RNLI Rescue Zone – a permanent interactive exhibition at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall focused on beach safety and the role of RNLI lifeguards. The installation included a multi-touch screen game allowing visitors to compete in beach safety scenarios, a dress-up lifeguard station with replica kit and photo backdrop, hands-on access to rescue equipment including watercraft and inshore rescue boats, and rock-themed information plinths, pillar banner wraps and immersive coastal floor and wall graphics.
RNLI 200th Anniversary Exhibition – Oriel y Parc, St Davids
We were commissioned to design, manufacture and install a fully immersive exhibition marking 200 years of RNLI lifesaving at Oriel y Parc, Pembrokeshire – a joint venue with Amgueddfa Cymru and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The exhibition ran from June 2024 to June 2025 and included interpretation panelling, branded display cases, 3D installations, interactive digital displays and outdoor event branding.
Services delivered
- Site surveys and scoping across the station and retail network
- Visitor engagement signage and display design
- Print production and tech installation
- Retail signage design, print and installation – shop fit support
- Full visitor centre interior fit-out – main contractor
- Interactive exhibition design and fabrication
- Custom digital content and interactive screen games
- Interpretation panelling and branded display cases
- 3D installations and bespoke fabrication
- Wall and floor graphics – immersive environment design
- Project management and installation across the UK and Ireland
- Flexible call-off supply with short lead time capability
Result
Over ten years as a contracted preferred supplier, we have delivered an end-to-end service across the RNLI’s Visits and Retail spaces – managing a consistent programme of visitor engagement signage and retail signage across 238 locations throughout the UK and Ireland, alongside a series of high-impact bespoke installations at flagship sites.
The scale and geographic spread of the RNLI network – from remote island stations to major visitor centres and retail shops – demands the kind of structured, reliable delivery programme we have sustained throughout the contract. Our work supports the RNLI’s mission to engage the public with their lifesaving story at every point of contact.
