Artech Lighting secures new deal to illuminate university learners’ journeys

A lighting manufacturer will illuminate the way for students to learn in style after securing work to support an institution’s £200 million overhaul.

Artech Lighting has picked up a contract to supply thousands of fixtures and fittings to Preston’s University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN).

The Durham-based firm will support UCLAN’s Preston Campus redevelopment, which includes a new engineering innovation centre and public space.

The deal represents another coup for Artech Lighting in the higher education sector, with its order book also including projects at campuses in Edinburgh and Strathclyde.

Director Stuart Hylton [pictured] said: “We are delighted to be involved in the UCLAN project, which is part of a decade-long plan to completely redevelop the Preston Campus.

“Our lighting scheme and products will help the university reach its goal of becoming a truly unified, sustainable and welcoming campus, enhancing the experience for everyone visiting the university.

“We have worked incredibly hard with contractors and project designers to build a reputation for delivering exciting, bespoke lighting solutions across all sectors.

“It is particularly exciting to work on these large-scale university projects.”

Stuart said the UCLAN contract also highlights the importance of organisations using domestic suppliers, especially in light of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He added: “It is down to us to help the UK economy recover and by thinking British and buying British, we all play our role in what we hope will be the fastest possible recovery from recession.

“Like most businesses, we scaled back production during the lockdown. However, construction projects didn’t close completely, so we never actually stopped working altogether.

“As a result, we were in a position to ramp up production where we left off once our clients returned to work.

“Being a true UK manufacturer, we were ready to supply products quickly to sites that were reopened and eager to make up for lost time.”