DFL took the opportunity to shake things up last year.
After rebranding from ‘Designs for Lighting’ in 2020, we welcomed a shift in our team structure. Our directors, Andrew Longman and Richard Jackson, took the reins from our previous managing director, Alistair Scott, who continues to play an essential role as a chairman, non-executive director and mentor.
But we didn’t stop there.
As organisations turned their focus to the environment, we invested heavily in our Lighting Impact and Planning Team — a dedicated group of designers who specialise in the environmental side of lighting design and the planning process. This team has doubled in size and is now working on a variety of large and small environmentally sensitive solutions for our clients.
These adjustments have allowed us to put our best foot forward and take massive strides towards growing our business — and boy, have we done just that…
TAKING ON MORE TALENT
It might be cliché, but a company is only as good as its employees. So, we made it a top priority to invest in our team last year.
With a dynamic approach to hybrid working and a comprehensive private healthcare plan, we have put each and every staff member — both old and new — at the centre of what we do.
Several new faces joined us in 2021, including Kelly Smith, who took up her role as a senior lighting engineer last April. Kelly stumbled into the lighting industry in 2001 and has been involved in many important lighting schemes since, including the car park at Manchester Airport. She’s also presented to a range of technical bodies on various lighting-related subjects. So, we’re incredibly lucky to have her on our team!
Paul Ransley and Fiona Elsley also joined us in the summer of 2021. Paul has brought a wealth of experience to his senior lighting and electrical designer role (particularly in highway lighting), and Fiona supports our Lighting Impact and Planning Team with her environmental science knowledge.
Scott Pengelly came aboard in March 2022. As a department lead, Scott is pivotal in ensuring we stay on top of everything from timescales to budgets. His 18 years’ experience in the lighting industry and 10 years of volunteering with the Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP) shine through in his attitude and approach to all projects.
Having such a diverse talent pool has allowed us to deliver exceptional service on more projects than ever before, including a series of installations with specialist requirements…
AND TACKLING EVEN BIGGER PROJECTS!
We’ve taken on a lot of ambitious projects this year, but we thought we’d take a trip down memory lane to look back on a project that put our Lighting Impact and Planning Team on the map.
Our partnership with The Dorothy House Hospice was nine years in the making. Situated next to Winsley Mines, where bats hibernate, and within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the site needed smart lighting solutions to meet strict ecological requirements.
DFL tackled the previous problems at the site — uncontrolled light distribution, glare and excessive light spill that proved a nuisance to adjacent residents — with bespoke lighting solutions, like light-spill-reducing luminaire shields. We also opted for ‘dark sky’ bollards to ensure warmer, dimmer, bat-friendly lights (after completing a risk assessment, of course).
Not only were we able to overcome the obstacles of this demanding site, but we also earned praise from local residents — many of whom had been previously opposed to the idea of lighting the area. To have been so successful on a project of this size and complexity is a clear indication of our capabilities and growth as a business.
It has been an absolute pleasure to get stuck into so many complex projects this year, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for DFL.
Take a look at our case studies to learn more about our previous work. And if you need help with a tricky lighting project, get in touch with our experts at +44 (0)1962 855080 or email info@dfl-uk.com. Let’s see what we can achieve together!
