Frequently Asked Questions

Signect is a communication access platform that connects Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients, organisations and agencies with independent communication professionals — including BSL interpreters, Deaf interpreters, CSWs, lipspeakers, captioners and notetakers — across the UK.

Signect is for anyone who needs communication support — individuals, organisations and agencies — and for communication professionals who want a simple, independent way to find and manage bookings.

Requesting support and browsing opportunities is free. Joining Signect as a professional is also free — there's no cost to register or create your profile.

Signect currently operates UK-wide, connecting clients and professionals across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Use the "Request Support" button on the homepage to submit a booking request. You'll be asked for the type of support you need, the date and time, and whether it's in person or online — Signect takes it from there.

Submit a request through "Request Support" with your preferred date, time and communication need. Signect reviews your request and coordinates a suitable professional on your behalf.

Yes. Bookings that haven't yet been assigned to a professional can be cancelled instantly from your client portal. Once a professional has been assigned, you can request cancellation and Signect will confirm it with you directly.

Yes. Once a booking is confirmed, you can securely upload and share relevant documents with your assigned professional directly from your client portal.

Yes. Every booking has a secure message thread with Signect, and once a professional is assigned you can message them there too. For privacy, professionals and clients don't message each other directly outside of a booking — Signect is always part of the conversation.

Yes. Your client portal shows the live status of every booking — from submitted, through review and assignment, to completion — so you always know where things stand.

Register your interest through the "Join Signect" page with your details, qualifications and the roles you cover. Once your account is set up you can complete your full profile and start receiving opportunities.

No. Joining Signect and creating your professional profile is completely free.

Matching opportunities appear in your professional dashboard as they come in. You're in full control — Signect never books you without your response.

From your dashboard, open an opportunity and let Signect know whether you're interested, not available, or need more information — all in a couple of clicks.

Once you're assigned to a booking, the Documents section of that booking lets you securely upload and view any relevant files shared with you.

Every assignment has its own secure message thread where you can reach Signect directly, and message the client once you're assigned to their booking.

Organisations can request support through Signect today. Multi-user team accounts, so several staff members can share visibility of an organisation's bookings, are on our roadmap — contact us to discuss your organisation's needs ahead of launch.

There's no subscription required to request support through Signect. If your organisation has ongoing or high-volume needs, get in touch and we'll talk through the options that make sense for you.

Yes. Every booking made through your account remains visible in your portal, along with its current or final status.

Yes — your full booking history is available in your portal at any time, so you can review past requests and outcomes.

Yes. Agencies can use Signect to request communication support in the same way individual clients and organisations do.

Agencies working with several communication professionals can coordinate bookings through Signect — get in touch and we can talk through the best setup for how your agency works.

White-label solutions are planned. Contact Signect to discuss your requirements.

Yes. Signect is Deaf-led — built by and with the Deaf community to reflect real needs, not assumptions about them.

Accessibility is a core design principle at Signect, not an afterthought. The site is built to meet WCAG AA standards, with clear navigation, sufficient colour contrast, and full keyboard support throughout.

Yes. Supporting BSL users is central to what Signect exists for — connecting Deaf and hard-of-hearing people with the communication professionals they need, including BSL interpreters.

Yes. Signect is actively growing — more communication support services and features are planned as the platform develops.