Tailor made records of 16th Century working life in Newcastle, which have been gathering dust in a family attic, are now on show to the public

Michael Foggin had inherited his ancestors’ employment records and filed them away in a safe place in the family home.

But, as a Freeman of Newcastle, the 51-year-old realised their historical interest extended far beyond the immediate family and he decided to give the rare papers, making up a book of indentures, to Tyne & Wear Archives.

The papers, one dating back to 1576, are original copies of apprenticeship indentures in the tailoring industry, originating from The Incorporated Company of Tailors of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The tailor’s guild was founded in 1536, with the apprenticeship enrollment book dating from 1576 to 1625 and the family’s membership of it going back to 1789, when Michael’s ancestor William Foggin was admitted after completing his apprenticeship as a tailor to John Barrow.

Two of the three documents are minutes of guild meetings from 1682 which detail disputes between members, including reference to a meeting in August 1688 with colourful language and a description of a physical confrontation between a tailor, Henry Wallis, and John Shaftoe, a steward of the guild, over an unpaid fine.

Michael, who is father to Jack 23, and eight-year-old Joe, said: “The documents have been passed down through our family all these years and I would like to continue that tradition with my sons but, given that these documents are so name-rich, I thought they may be of interest to local historians and the wider public.”

They are available to view in the archives of Discovery Museum in Newcastle where, until now, the earliest surviving membership records for the Tailors Guild were from 1666. Archivist Alan Hayward said: “I am delighted Michael has brought these documents into the archives for us to preserve, but also for everybody else to enjoy. They are fascinating.”

• By BARBARA HODGSON, 30 SEP 2013 – originally published by The Journal

North East-based JMF Group has invested in a new office in London to support its growing client within the capital.

The Islington office is the first for the company to have a presence outside of the North East.

The company – a full-service agency delivering in-house solutions including design, print, digital and signage services – is currently celebrating its 30th year in business.

Production and manufacturing will continue to operate across its four factories on the Sands Industrial Estate in Swalwell but chairman Michael Foggin says the company has been looking at a number of locations across the UK.

“We’ve been looking at sites right across the UK for a while but felt now is the right time to have a London base to serve our high street retailers and blue-chip companies, many of which who have head office operations based in the city,” he says.

“Since the introduction of our signage division, we have experienced significant growth and felt that we needed to have a presence in the centre of London to serve many of our existing clients but also to attract new clients. The London operation opened at the beginning of May and will initially be staffed by three senior members of staff, offering clients a full-service solution to their design, print and signage requirements.”

JMF has recently invested £1m in new technology and equipment, staff and training. It has a growing number of clients in the capital including Barclays, Mercedes, Poundland and has recently completed a full site survey, manufacturing and installation of an entire site in Sutton on behalf of client Easy Coffee.

Michael added: “We work with some major high street retailers and a lot of our new business is generated through word of mouth. The full site installation for Easy Coffee came about because of a recommendation from another one of our London-based clients.

“We can remain competitive compared to other signage companies based in London and all manufacturing will continue right here in the North East. It is one of our commitments to sustain local employment but still continue to provide a competitive, first class service right across the country.

“We have a healthy order book over the coming months with jobs booked in from clients as far as Cornwall in the south to Thurso in Scotland. We even have clients in some of the most remote parts of Ireland so we can deliver and install anywhere.”

Michael continues: “Our factory units in Swalwell showcase the latest products on the market including metal and plastic fabrication facilities, along with vinyl, large format and digital print capabilities. All this is supported by an experienced team of project managers, a national installation service including our maintenance division.”

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to increase its workforce by almost a third, from 30 to 45 people with roles specifically in sales and marketing, digital and signage.

Article by ASHLEIGH SMITH, 22/05/2019 – featured on BG Live.

North East based JMF Group is set to increase its workforce by almost a third this year to support its growth plans.

Now in its 30th year, the full-service agency based in Swalwell delivers in-house solutions including design, print, digital and signage services to some of the biggest names on the high street. The company’s turnover was up 24% in 2017/18 and is forecasted to rise to 68% this financial year due to the increase in its signage division. This month, the company welcomed its 29th and 30th employees and is set to increase this figure to 45 by the end of the year, with roles specifically earmarked in sales, digital and signage.

The business has experienced significant growth since it was founded in 1989 by its now Chairman, Michael Foggin. Michael, 57, worked out of his garage in Chapel House where he would go out and sell 9am-5pm and then work nightshift 6pm-2am to print those jobs.

After a few years, he moved into his first 600 sq ft factory on Swalwell Bank printing stationery such as leaflets, posters, flyers and business cards. He bought a single-colour press which was his first step into the world of colour printing. His first large client was NCJ Media where he printed single-colour format A2 posters, bulletins and the Jobs supplement for the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun.

Today, the company operates across four factories on the Sands Industrial Estate in Swalwell and although Michael is still involved in the business, he has taken more of a back seat after handing the reigns over to his son, Jack and director of sales, Anthony Cole.

For a number of years, the business operated using one, two and full-colour Heidelberg presses serving more than 700 clients nationwide but it was a strategic decision they made in 2010 which catapulted the business. Michael said: “In the early days, we operated using litho printing processing but we could see new technology coming to market that provided better processing in terms of quality, speed and cost. It was at this point, we made a strategic decision to re-align our business.”

“We decided to purchase state-of-the-art high tech digital presses. We started offering clients a full-service with in-house manufacturing and launched new services such as design, animation and signage.”

The company’s client book includes high street names such as Pound Stretcher, Poundland and Admiral and they also won a competitive pitch to rebrand Kenny Atkinson’s House of Tides on the Quayside, which is still the only One Star Michelin and Four AA Rosette awarded restaurant in Tyneside.

Last year, the business invested a further £1m in new technology and equipment and staff training. Its signage division has seen rapid expansion, now working with clients who have in excess of £450m turnover.

Managing director, Jack Foggin, 29, commented: “This is a landmark year for JMF Group We’ve got a great team in place who have the strategic vision to drive the business forward and these are really exciting times.

“We always want to be one step ahead and we know we are competitive because of our ability and flexibility to manufacture in-house, it’s what sets us apart from our competitors. We now operate right across the UK including Ireland and this is one of the reasons why some of the big national retailers, with many of their head offices based in London, want to work with us.”

“It’s fitting we have just appointed our 30th employee in our 30th year and we’re looking forward to bringing in a further fifteen staff this year to support our plans.”

“Who knows what the next 30 years has in store – maybe international expansion. We’ve been invited to pitch and price up jobs for companies in France, Dubai and Las Vegas so you never know.”

Read the North East Times article here.

Another site successfully fitted for Poundstretcher this week in Derry, another great job completed by the JMF team. From concept to installation this job was manufactured and fitted in under a week. We’d like to thank all the team at JMF and Poundstretcher for helping getting this massive installation victoriously built and finished. We are pleased to be adding this to our collection of site re-fits, including stores in Swansea, Penzance, Bitterne, Sittingbourne, Ramsey, Chatteris, Swaffham, Syston, Warrington and Telford. Once again a big thank you to everyone!!!

#jmf #poundstretcher #signage #customsign #signmaking #flexface#shopfront #design #teamwork #handmade #graphicdesigner

Once again a big well done and thank you to the team at Poundland and at JMF, for assisting in designing, manufacturing and installing Poundland’s new addition to Ladysmith Shopping Centre in Ashton. As always at JMF we stuck to tight schedule to get ready in time for the store’s celebrity opening. We look forward and hope to continue working alongside Poundland in the future!

See the article below for a full insight into the store including the external and internal signage created by JMF.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/…/new-poundland-opened-by-towi…/

Well done to the JMF team for another successful job completed! Poundstretcher’s store in Sutton is now open and fully fitted with brand new signage and window vinyls. Big thanks to everyone who helped, great job guys.

Casino Gold Gift Voucher and Envelopes

We designed and printed these beautiful, sparkly gift vouchers, voucher holders as well as C6 envelopes and DL envelopes for Michelin Star restaurant House of Tides.
Using GF Smith Peregrina Majestic 120gsm paper Medal Bronze, we printed the logo 1 colour, and created the die to score and cut the envelopes and vouchers.

Heart Radio Calendar, 12 months in 12 hours

What better way to round off a great 2017 at JMF Print Group, then to work along side Heart Radio on  “Justin & Kelly’s 12 months in 12 hours 2018 Calendar”. We were set the challenge of printing and designing their calendar within 3 working days, using their fun photos based on the comments of their listeners. The challenge was great fun and the finished result looks amazing.

“Thank you so much for being so easy to work with. The final product looked amazing.” 

James Thomson-Boston

Breakfast Show Producer

If you haven’t seen it, here is the behind the scenes video of Justin & Kelly creating the calendar from Facebook:
Click here for video.

If you didn’t hear the radio spots below is the link:

Multi Screen scrolling Graphics

Take a look at our latest product, the multi-screen scrolling animation and graphics. Bring your window displays to life using standard LCD screens grabbing attention of passers-by at a distance and up close. The multi screen function allows for maximum impact and creativity. All of our animations are created in house with our animation team, and we supply the multi screen splitter box.

All you need are the screens and a product or event to sell and we’ll do the rest.

Click here to see an example of our work.

This week the JMF Signage team were in Wednesbury fitting the Poundland and Pep & Co signs.

Poundland Main Fascia: Fret cut fascia with powder coated finish. 10mm push through opal acrylic. Website is in 3mm opal backed off with aluminium centres. Illuminated with LED’s.

Poundland Left Panel: Blank aluminium panel with vinyl applied graphics.

Pep & Co: Blank aluminium panel with a high gloss finish. Rebated, acrylic faced letters with 80mm aluminium returns, finished white, mounted via foamex back trays. LEDs mounted on to back trays.