UK’s Lighting Association, and Europe’s largest trade body association is 70 years old this year.

The last seven decades have been one of change both  within the industry and the association.

“Our first meeting convened to establish the Association was held on Friday 21st April 1939 consisting of 12 manufacturers of lampshades and standards. Of the founding members only the John Lewis Partnership survive in name. Speights Ltd were also a founder member but their business closed in 2007,” says  CEO, Peter Hunt.

The principle reason for founding the Association was concern over the loss of business to imported goods. By the time they had convened for the second meeting in September Britain had officially been at war with Germany for two  weeks and already many lampshade manufacturers had begun producing Air Raid Precaution (ARP) lampshades.

As the war drew to a close members began to lobby for restrictions on their trade to be removed and even began efforts to standardise a number of components common to the industry.

Although raw materials were a problem for several years to come several enterprising members adopted the use of Government surplus parachute silk for lampshade production. Business was slowly returning to normal.

As a matter of interest the longest surviving member of the Association is Dernier and Hamlyn who appear to have joined in 1940 and remain members to this day.

With over 200 members and as the largest lighting association in Europe, The Lighting Association represent the interests of all sectors of the industry. The Lighting Association offers a comprehensive array of services to help members compete in today’s world lighting markets. As one of the most progressive associations, sharing experience and technical understanding in National, European and international arenas, is a primary goal to ensure that their member’s interests are represented.