It’s been two incredible years since the DFL LaMP Academy began its journey of nurturing young talent into the lighting industry!

Way back in July 2023, we welcomed our very first recruits, and from day one, they impressed us with their energy, creativity, and ability to deliver strong results in record time.

Andrew Longman, Managing Director and a key figure in the Academy’s inception, shared:
“The highlight for me was seeing them take on their own projects after only a few weeks and actually getting to a deliverable that’s of pretty good quality in such a short space of time.”

The team continued to grow with the additions of Jack Mersh and James Probut – each of them bringing their own unique strengths and continuing to make us proud. With our rising stars on the team, we’ve had more than a few ‘proud parent’ moments! Connor Gardner and Jack Mersh are currently working hard on their ILP Module D, and James Probut is heading for his Module C in October.

Connor MacDonald, Senior Lighting Designer and mentor, reflected on the camaraderie and culture:

“My highlight is how they’ve come together as a group and involved themselves within the company and also socially outside of work with squash and table tennis. Although that may sound basic, it’s really been valuable. We can see them working hard and also creating friendships. It creates a nice dynamic.”

Four weeks ago we welcomed 2 more recruits to the LaMP Academy and we managed to tease out a few inner secrets about them both:

Aaron Cockram

What brought you to DFL?

“I have always been passionate about design, and I have always had a strong interest in lighting throughout my life. When I came across this opportunity, an opportunity that not only combines both of these interests, but also offers an apprenticeship to help further develop those skills, I just knew I had to apply!”

How have your first few weeks gone?

“The first few weeks have been amazing! I feel like I have settled into the team well, being made to feel a part of the DFL family as soon as I step foot though the door. And whilst the first few weeks of training have been intense, it has been great fun and I look forward to further developing my skills as a lighting technician.”

Tell us something you learnt that surprised you?

“It is amazing how advanced street lighting technology has developed. Being able to get troubleshooting data wirelessly sent to a CMS, and the fact that some street lighting can adjust their brightness to the volume of traffic on the road automatically, it has been fascinating!”

Tell us somewhere interesting that you’ve been or something unusual that you’ve done?

“I have programmed lighting in theatre for celebrities such as Romesh Ranganathan, Tom Davis’s Sky Comedy show Underdog, Brian Conley, as well as programming lighting for shows involving Shaun Williamson and James Argent.”

Bradley Russell

What brought you to DFL?

“Coming from the marine industry, I had a desire to learn a completely new profession and gain technical knowledge in a new industry to satisfy my need to be challenged. DFL and the LaMP Academy provides the scope to learn the lighting industry in a comprehensive and supportive environment. The aspect of practical learning and gaining experience on the job also provides the ability to progress quickly both in knowledge and ability, leading to high fulfilment and satisfaction within the role. “

How have your first few weeks gone?

“On week 4 already! We’ve been taught a lot, and the learning curve has been steep! It has been an enjoyable few weeks with a range of tasks to complete and diverse learning formats undertaken. Everyone at DFL has been very welcoming and it has been thoroughly enjoyable settling in with the Team and the new role.”

What is your Favourite Quote

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try”

Tell us somewhere interesting that you’ve been or something unusual that you’ve done?

“Just before joining DFL, I planned and completed a 2,600-mile road trip around Europe with 9 friends with 6 cars which covered Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and France before returning to the UK. In total we visited 9 countries in 12 days. Being a car enthusiast, we visited the Porsche Museum, the BMW museum, and the Hockenheim circuit. We also stayed in some very scenic and picturesque places such as Lake Como and Lauterbrunnen. The main destination of our holiday was Lake Worthersee in Austria, a relatively unknown destination for tourists, but has always been a bucket list destination of mine due to the Lake’s close ties with Volkswagen and the VW community.”

Aaron and Bradley have settled in so well that it feels like they’ve been here a lot longer than 4 weeks!

Here’s to the growth, learning, and success of the Academy so far and a bright look forward to the years ahead.

Here’s to our lighting Technicians: Connor Gardner, Jack Mersh, James Probut, Aaron Cockram and Bradley Russell. 🥂

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