Custom Slate Medals Made in the UK
Custom Slate Medals Made in the UK
Create distinctive natural slate medals for sporting events, schools, charities, clubs and awards. Choose circular, square, hexagonal or heart-shaped slate, with laser engraving, full-colour printing and optional metallic gold, silver or bronze finishes.
What are custom slate medals?
Custom slate medals are awards made using pieces of genuine natural slate rather than conventional cast metal. The slate can be laser engraved, printed in full colour or enhanced with a metallic finish to suit the event and design.
Because slate is a natural material, its texture, edges and surface markings can vary slightly from one medal to another. This gives every medal its own character while keeping the overall event design consistent.
A distinctive alternative to standard metal medals
Slate provides a substantial, premium-feeling award with a natural appearance. It works particularly well for organisers who want their medals to feel different from mass-produced stock medals while still retaining the recognisable appearance of a sporting or achievement award.
Which slate medal shapes are available?
Slate cannot be cut into unlimited bespoke outlines in the same way as wood. We offer four proven slate medal shapes that provide a strong, practical base for engraving, printing and metallic finishes.
Circular Slate Medals
The classic medal shape. Circular slate provides a balanced area for event logos, distances, dates, award categories and illustrated designs.
Square Slate Medals
Square slate creates a modern, substantial appearance and provides useful space for larger logos, text and structured artwork.
Hexagonal Slate Medals
Hexagonal slate offers a more unusual geometric shape while retaining a practical surface for engraving and full-colour printing.
Heart-Shaped Slate Medals
Heart-shaped slate medals are particularly suited to charity events, memorial events, community awards, fundraising challenges and recognition gifts.
Which finishes can be added to slate medals?
The same slate shape can produce very different results depending on how the artwork is applied. Our team can advise which finish is best suited to your design and event.
Laser-Engraved Slate
Laser engraving creates a permanent light-grey design against the darker slate surface. It works particularly well for clear logos, bold text, dates, distances and line artwork.
Full-Colour Printed Slate
Colour printing allows detailed event artwork, illustrations, brand colours and sponsor logos to be added directly to the slate medal.
Metallic-Finished Slate
Metallic gold, silver or bronze can be added to create winner, runner-up and placing medals or to give the slate a more traditional award appearance.
Can slate medals have a metallic finish?
Yes. Circle, square, hexagonal and heart-shaped slate medals can all be supplied with metallic finishing. The metallic effect can be used to distinguish award positions or simply to create a more decorative finish.
Gold Slate Medals
Suitable for winners, champions, first-place awards and premium recognition medals.
Silver Slate Medals
Suitable for second-place awards, finalists, achievement medals and contemporary event designs.
Bronze Slate Medals
Suitable for third-place awards, ranked competitions and traditional gold, silver and bronze medal sets.
Engraved, colour printed or metallic slate medals?
| Option | Appearance | Best suited to | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser engraved | Natural dark slate with light-grey artwork | Bold logos, text, line designs and understated branding | Fine detail may need to be simplified for clarity |
| Full-colour printed | Bright and detailed artwork against natural slate | Illustrations, brand colours, sponsor logos and themed events | The design should be prepared for the dark slate background |
| Metallic finished | Gold, silver or bronze award-style appearance | Winners, runners-up, placing medals and premium awards | The metallic finish forms part of the overall design treatment |
Which events are slate medals suitable for?
Slate medals can be used for participation events, competitive placings, fundraising challenges, school achievements and presentation awards.
Why order slate medals from Zero Waste Medals?
UK Production
Your slate medals are decorated and prepared through our UK production operation rather than being purchased as completed generic event medals.
Four Proven Shapes
Choose from circular, square, hexagonal and heart-shaped slate medals, all developed as practical shapes for event awards.
Free Design Service
Send finished artwork, an event logo, a rough idea or a written brief. Our team can prepare a suitable slate medal design and provide a proof before production.
Multiple Decoration Options
Combine the natural appearance of slate with engraving, full-colour printing or metallic gold, silver and bronze finishes.
Can you design the slate medal for our event?
Yes. You do not need to provide a finished medal design. Our design team can use your event logo, branding, colours, wording and ideas to develop artwork suitable for the chosen slate shape and finish.
Information to include in your brief
- Event or award name
- Event date and location
- Distance, category or placing
- Event logo and brand colours
- Preferred slate shape
- Engraved, printed or metallic finish
- Ribbon colour and ribbon-printing requirements
- Required quantity and deadline
Artwork designed for natural slate
Slate has a naturally dark and textured surface. Artwork needs to be prepared differently from artwork intended for white paper or light wood.
Our designers consider contrast, line thickness, text size and the selected production method so the final result remains clear and practical.
How does the custom slate medal process work?
Send your requirements
Tell us the quantity, event date, preferred shape, finish, ribbon and any design ideas.
Receive a quotation
We will price the order according to the shape, finish, quantity, ribbon and production requirements.
Review your design proof
Our design team will prepare the medal artwork for you to check before production.
Approve the final design
Confirm the artwork, wording, finish, quantity and delivery details.
Your medals are produced
The slate is engraved, colour printed or given the approved metallic treatment.
Quality checked and dispatched
Your order is checked, packed and prepared for delivery in line with the confirmed deadline.
Will every slate medal look identical?
No. Slate is a natural stone, so small variations in texture, surface, edge shape, thickness and markings should be expected. These variations are part of the character of natural slate rather than manufacturing faults.
The approved event artwork and overall specification remain consistent, but each medal may show subtle natural differences.
Frequently asked questions about custom slate medals
Who makes custom slate medals in the UK?
Zero Waste Medals produces custom slate medals in the UK for sporting events, schools, charities, clubs, community groups and businesses. Available options include engraving, full-colour printing and metallic gold, silver or bronze finishes.
Which slate medal shapes are available?
Slate medals are available in circle, square, hexagonal and heart-shaped formats. These are the available slate shapes and should not be confused with fully bespoke laser-cut wooden medals.
Can slate medals be printed in full colour?
Yes. Full-colour artwork, illustrations, logos, wording and sponsor branding can be printed onto slate medals. The artwork is prepared to work effectively against the naturally dark slate surface.
Can slate medals be laser engraved?
Yes. Laser engraving creates a permanent light-grey design on the surface of the dark slate. Bold logos, text and line artwork generally produce the clearest engraved result.
Can slate medals have a gold, silver or bronze finish?
Yes. Circle, square, hexagonal and heart-shaped slate medals can all have metallic gold, silver or bronze finishing added. This can be used for placing medals or as a decorative finish.
Are slate medals suitable for running events?
Yes. Slate medals are suitable for 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons, marathons, trail races, ultramarathons, charity runs and other participation events.
Are slate medals heavy?
Slate medals generally feel more substantial than lightweight wooden medals. Their exact weight depends on the chosen shape, size and natural variation in the slate.
Can slate medals break?
Slate is a natural stone and can chip or break if it is dropped onto a hard surface or handled roughly. It should be treated as a natural stone award rather than as an indestructible metal item.
Will every slate medal be exactly the same?
No. Natural variations in texture, edge shape, surface and thickness are expected. The event design remains consistent, but each piece of slate has individual characteristics.
Can sponsor logos be added?
Yes. Sponsor logos can be engraved or printed where there is sufficient space. Full-colour printing is usually more suitable for detailed or multi-coloured logos.
Can slate medals have custom ribbons?
Yes. Slate medals can be supplied with plain or custom-printed ribbons featuring event branding, sponsor logos, dates or repeating text.
Do you provide a free slate medal design service?
Yes. Our team can prepare the medal artwork and provide a proof for approval before production. You can send finished artwork, a logo, a rough sketch or a written brief.
Is there a minimum order quantity?
Zero Waste Medals does not require a minimum order quantity for custom slate medals. Pricing will depend on the required quantity, shape, finish and ribbon specification.
How long do custom slate medals take to produce?
Production time depends on the quantity, selected finish, ribbon specification, artwork approval and current production schedule. Always provide your event date when requesting a quotation.
How do I get a slate medal quotation?
Provide the required quantity, event date, preferred slate shape, finish, ribbon requirements and any available artwork through our quotation form. Our team can then confirm suitable options and pricing.
Need custom slate medals for an upcoming event?
Tell us the shape, quantity, finish and event deadline. Our team can help you choose between engraving, full-colour printing and metallic gold, silver or bronze finishes.