Thorn Lighting wins double at the 2024 HEA Awards

L-R: Craig Lensky, Martin Thompson.

Thorn Lighting is delighted to announce a double triumph at this year’s Highway Electrical Association (HEA) Awards, securing both the Lighting Project and Employee of the Year Awards. 

The Project of the Year accolade celebrates Thorn’s innovative lighting solution for the Aykley Heads footpath in Durham, which combined cutting-edge technology with environmental sensitivity to provide safe and sustainable illumination. Meanwhile, the Employee of the Year award recognises the outstanding contributions of Martin Thompson, Thorn Lighting’s Product Manager for Outdoor Luminaires.

Award-Winning Lighting at Aykley Heads Footpath

Thorn Lighting’s Urba NightTune lanterns were instrumental in transforming Aykley Heads footpath, a popular Active Travel route near Durham Police Headquarters. With its focus on safety, sustainability, and environmental harmony, the project tackled the challenges of nocturnal wildlife preservation and light pollution.

Durham County Council installed 31 Urba NightTune lanterns, leveraging features such as adjustable colour temperatures, dimming regimes, and precise light control. The solution minimised environmental impact while enhancing safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for highways, community safety and rural communities, said: “The Aykley Heads project aimed to create safe and accessible active travel routes within Durham and forms part of our wider plans to encourage people to choose healthier and more environmentally friendly modes of transport. Our work with Thorn Lighting has supported this ambition by enabling us to create well-lit areas for walking and cycling in a way that saves energy and respects the nocturnal ecosystem.”

Celebrating Thompson Martin: A Lifetime of Dedication

With a career spanning over 40 years at Thorn Lighting, Martin Thompson is a pillar of expertise, innovation, and dedication within the business. His work has profoundly impacted customers, colleagues, and the wider lighting community.

Reflecting on Martin’s achievement, Karin Zumtobel, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Zumtobel Group AG, said:

“Martin is ‘Mr. Thorn’. He knows our products inside and out, and he has been a dearly valued and respected member of the team for many years. As the perfect ambassador for Thorn Lighting, he had my vote a hundred times over for this well-deserved award.”

Paul Kilburn, Managing Director at Thorn & Zumtobel – UK & Ireland, adds, “It is truly a privilege to work alongside someone as talented, passionate, and genuinely kind as Martin, and I can think of no one more deserving of the HEA Employee of the Year award”.

Saurabh Pandhi, VP of Thorn Lighting, and Samantha Berry, Head of Outdoor Sales – UK & Ireland, were present at the awards to celebrate this landmark achievement with the team.

Paul comments: “Massive congratulations to Martin Thompson, Craig Lensky – project lead for the Aykley Heads Footpath, and the Thorn Lighting team for this outstanding achievement at the HEA Awards!”

For more information on Thorn Lighting, visit www.thornlighting.co.uk