[ Spotlight: Member profiles ]


shareholders were invited to invest in Vision Accendo to help set up these partnerships. The company started trading in 2010 and in its first year recorded revenues of £500,000 – growing every year since. It has since expanded both home and abroad, with offices in Eastleigh, London, Leeds and Beijing. Asked to explain why it chose to focus on LED


lighting technology and its application, Caunter says: ‘Our decision was based purely on our belief that LED technology was starting to become commercially viable and would grow rapidly. The business case was compelling – return on investment (ROI) within two years, low maintenance costs and reduced carbon emissions.’ According to Caunter, LED awareness is


undoubtedly growing. He says: ‘Now, when we meet potential buyers, they are much more educated and knowledgeable about LED products than they were when we started. We do not have to demonstrate the lights as often as we did in 2010 and 2011 with proof of concepts, and we get far more unsolicited enquiries from customers each month.’


Competitive advantage Vision Accendo has worked hard to establish a USP in a fiercely competitive sector. Its products have the input of the company’s technical experts, and are designed specifically to address the needs of the UK market. To support its product sales, it provides a number of added-value services, such as a professional design service, product trials and proof of concept, lease finance products and installation services.


Such is the flexibility of LED lighting that it is now used in a diverse array of applications. Bigwood says: ‘Our work includes fitting out magistrates courts, installing lights in distribution depots and factory and assembly plants, and retro-fitting lights in large retail complexes.


One of our most interesting recent installations


was at Buckingham Palace and we are hoping to install our lights at other royal sites in the next few months.’


Getting involved When setting up Vision Accendo, Caunter and Bigwood recognised the benefits that being an ECA member could offer. ‘I’d known about the ECA through my previous


roles and, being in a band, I also used to play at various events that they held.’ says Caunter. ‘In the early stages of the company’s existence, its legal, technical and health and safety-based services proved invaluable. Membership is much more than simply getting a


badge – it says to our customers that we operate to the highest possible standards.’ For Caunter, giving something back to others


prompted him to become more involved with the ECA. He says: ‘We learned so much when establishing the business – and it was a very steep


Reach for the sky


Southampton Airport is once again leading the UK’s airports with its innovative and sustainable approach to lighting. Work was recently completed on replacement of the lights on all 14 of its aircraft stands. LED lighting was supplied by Vision Accendo and installed by Southampton-based electrical contractor, Rigfone Electrics. Having successfully used LED lighting around the airport for other


projects, when the lights illuminating the aircraft stands at night were reaching the end of their lives, the airport’s projects and engineering teams were keen to explore the same technology. Despite not being aware of any other airports using LED lighting, Southampton Airport felt confident that, with the right set-up, it could make it work and reap the rewards of high performance and significant energy savings. Following interest in the project from a number of international lighting manufacturers, it was Eastleigh-based Vision Accendo that offered the most promising solution. A trial took place in 2010, where the lighting was installed and assessed and, with a few minor tweaks, the decision was reached to roll the solution out to all stands. A spokesperson at Southampton Airport, says: ‘We have seen a 75 per


cent reduction in the energy required to run the new lighting, which is an outstanding saving. The lights have also made a big difference to security teams, ground crews and pilots and will reduce on-site maintenance. The success of this project has been down to the excellent working relationship between us, Vision Accendo and Rigfone Electrics.’


ECA membership is much more than simply getting a badge – it says to our customers that we operate to the highest possible standards


learning curve. Therefore, I wanted to make sure that I passed on this experience to people who were in a similar position to ours. So, in addition to being a member, I am ECA Southampton branch chairman and I sit on the communication support group.’


Of the moment Vision Accendo is a perfect example of a company that has embraced new technology and has quickly established itself as an expert in its field. For Bigwood, the possibilities are endless, and he concludes: ‘Starting up a business so soon after the financial crash was tough, but making it a success continues to be an extremely rewarding experience.’


LED lighting at Southampton Airport


June 2013 ECA Today 33


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