Electric heating manufacturer Consort Claudgen has adopted Consort as its master brand, introducing a new logo and visual identity effective 1 September 2026.

The change reflects the name already used by customers and colleagues and creates a clearer, more consistent presence across the company’s communications and trade materials. The refreshed identity uses a warm red, retains the familiar heat-wave element and introduces the strapline, ‘Your trusted electric heating partner.’ The Claudgen name remains part of Consort’s product brand portfolio.

Gareth Davies, Managing Director at Consort, said: “Customers already know us as Consort, so the new identity makes the brand clearer while reflecting the business we are today. What has not changed is our focus on dependable electric heating, practical support and long-term partnerships. The new look gives us a stronger platform for the next stage of the business.”

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With this year’s GCSE, T Level and A Level results now released, many young people across the UK are considering their next steps into further education, training or employment.

For those interested in a career in the electrical industry, NAPIT Foundation is encouraging students and apprentices to take advantage of the support available to help them develop their knowledge, build confidence and prepare for the workplace.

NAPIT Foundation offers free membership to students and apprentices, providing access to technical guidance, educational resources, CPD opportunities and regular industry updates. The organisation says these tools can help learners stay informed as they progress through their training and begin their careers.

The support comes at a time of significant change within the industry, following the introduction of Amendment 4 to BS 7671:2018. Understanding regulatory developments and emerging technologies early in their careers can help learners strengthen their technical knowledge and improve their long-term prospects.

Brett Forster, Technical and Commercial Director at NAPIT, said: “Learners should be proud of their efforts throughout the academic year, and we congratulate all NAPIT Foundation students and colleges on their achievements.”

He added: “Through NAPIT Foundation, we are pleased to offer free membership that supports learners with technical resources, expert guidance and opportunities to enhance their knowledge as they begin their journey into the industry.”

For more information about NAPIT Foundation membership, visit: www.napit.org.uk/join-us/students-and-colleges/

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It’s been a busy few months in the electrical industry, with new appointments and shake-ups across different sectors. Keep up to date with the latest movements here, as we details who has gone where…

Robert Olver
ESP

ESP has appointed Robert Olver as Area Sales Manager for the East Midlands, where he will play a key role in supporting customers and driving growth across the territory. Rob joins the business with a strong background in electrical wholesale, having progressed from a graduate trainee position into a range of sales and management roles. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience in account management, business development and branch leadership, building strong relationships across the industry. In his new role with ESP, Rob will be responsible for driving demand across the company’s product portfolio throughout the East Midlands.

Guy Cowdry
TRITON SHOWERS

Triton Showers has appointed Guy Cowdry as Product Director to lead its innovation strategy, quality function and sustainability ambitions. Guy will head up Triton’s product strategy from concept and development through to launch, optimisation and end-of-life, ensuring the UK manufacturer continues to deliver solutions that align with evolving customer needs, technical advancements and regulatory shifts.

Guy, who is also a Chartered Engineer (CEng), began his career at Dyson, working on its cordless vacuum range and playing a central role in the development of its haircare portfolio. More recently, he spent five years at accessible bathing manufacturer Astor Bannerman, where he established its R&D function, supporting significant business growth and portfolio expansion.

Trevor Grote
THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Trevor Grote, Managing Director of BELL Lighting, has been appointed President of The Lighting Industry Association (The LIA). Trevor’s appointment reflects the recognition he has earned over many years as a leading figure in the industry. As Managing Director of BELL Lighting – a business with over a century of history and a genuine passion for innovation, quality and sustainability – Trevor has long championed the values that The LIA embodies. His presidency puts him at the centre of decisions and discussions that shape the direction of the lighting sector.

Greg Butler
ELUCIAN

Elucian has strengthened its sales team having appointed Greg Butler as Area Sales Manager for West Scotland. Greg joined the business with more than 10 years of experience in sales and account management, having successfully managed sales across West Scotland for a leading machinery manufacturer. In his role with Elucian, Greg is responsible for developing existing accounts, identifying new business opportunities, and promoting the Elucian product range across West Scotland. Working closely with electrical wholesalers and contractors, his focus is on building lasting customer relationships and supporting the continued growth of the brand throughout the territory.

Charlotte Jago, Matthew Clague, Sam Henderson, Jonathan Knock, Diane Utterson, Julie MacCluskey
ANSELL LIGHTING

Ansell Lighting has announced six strategic appointments as part of its ongoing growth and expansion strategy.

Charlotte Jago has joined the company as Head of Commercial Finance and FP&A, alongside Matthew Clague who has been appointed as Head of Customer Success, Sam Henderson who joins the business as Project Manager and Jonthan Knock who takes up the role of Supply Chain Manager.

Further expanding the management team are Diane Utterson, who takes up the role of Supply Chain Planner, and Julie MacCluskey, who has been appointed as Health and Safety Manager. These key additions mark an important advancement in the company’s growth journey, bringing significant strategic insight and operational expertise to accelerate expansion and enhance service to customers.

David Barnwell
RECOLIGHT

Recolight is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Director, David Barnwell, who will represent Holophane on the Recolight Ltd board; the first time the company has held a seat on the board. David is Managing Director of Holophane, a role he has held since 2019, and brings over 30 years’ experience in the lighting industry, including more than 26 years at Holophane. He also sits on the Board of the Lighting Industry Association, having served as its President from 2024 to 2026.

Catch up on previous months ‘Movers and shakers’ articles here

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Luceco has delivered a tailored lighting design for Kings’ School Winchester, creating a bright, efficient and visually comfortable learning environment across the school’s facilities.

Kings’ School Winchester, a state-maintained secondary school, sought a lighting upgrade that would improve energy efficiency, visual comfort and long-term maintainability across classrooms, communal areas, and circulation spaces.

Building on Luceco’s experience working with Hampshire County Council on previous educational and healthcare projects, the team developed a full lighting design, working closely with the installing contractor to ensure the solution met both functional and aesthetic requirements.

The lighting scheme incorporated a carefully selected range of Luceco products to ensure uniform illumination, compliance with educational standards and ease of maintenance:

• LuxPanel Connect – High-performance LED panels offering low glare and consistent, uniform lighting ideal for classroom and study environments.
• Platinum with Platform – Flexible downlighting solution providing high-quality illumination with advanced control options for energy efficiency.
• Academy Range – Robust linear lighting designed to suit corridors, communal areas and learning spaces.
• DWW Windsor Bespoke Columns – Exterior lighting solutions that complement the school’s architecture while ensuring durability and safety.
• Exit Signage – Compliant emergency signage integrated seamlessly throughout the building.

This combination of internal and external luminaires delivered a cohesive, future-ready lighting solution tailored to the school environment.

Paul Carter, Account Manager at Luceco, said: ‘Having worked with Hampshire County Council on other school projects, we understand the importance of reliable, compliant, and visually comfortable lighting for both students and staff. At Kings’ School Winchester, we were able to deliver a solution that enhances learning environments while providing long-term energy and maintenance benefits.’

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Scolmore Group, through its community‑focused platform Scolmore Connect, has announced its growing support for Better Pathways – a respected mental health charity based in Birmingham, West Midlands. The organisation provides life-changing support for people with mental health issues and disabilities, helping over 130 participants each week to develop essential vocational skills that prepare them for employment and volunteering opportunities.

The partnership between Scolmore Group and Better Pathways has been long-standing. The charity’s social enterprise, Better Packing, has delivered commercial packing services to Unicrimp – part of the Scolmore Group – for four years. With up to five volunteers assigned each day to Unicrimp’s Tamworth-based site to help pack some of Unicrimp’s best-selling trade tubs, this collaboration has not only created meaningful work opportunities but has also demonstrated how strong partnerships between businesses and charities can deliver lasting social impact.

During a recent visit to Better Pathways, Lee Taylor, Scolmore Group’s Head of Operations, learned of the charity’s ongoing struggle with persistent water leaks through its ‘Northern Light’ industrial roof, an issue that threatened the integrity of the building the charity has occupied since the 1970s.

In response, Scolmore Group acted swiftly, allocating funding to enable the charity to carry out essential roof repairs. The much-needed refurbishment has ensured a safer, more welcoming environment for service users, staff, and volunteers, protecting the future of Better Pathways’ work for years to come.

Sue Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Better Pathways, said: “We love working with the Unicrimp team and are thrilled that Scolmore Group is helping us in these ways. This support will help us to maintain our building into the future and means that we can open up our space to more participants who need our support. We cannot thank Lee and his team enough.”

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On the 31^st of August, Surge Protection Devices celebrated its 20^th anniversary, marking two decades of technical innovation and a continued commitment to advancing electrical safety.

Founded 20 years ago, the company has grown from humble beginnings into a leading UK specialist in lightning and surge protection, with its products now protecting installations around the world. From military bases and historic landmarks to factories, data centres and homes, its solutions provide vital protection against lightning and transient overvoltages.

The company’s growth has accelerated over the past eight years, with enhanced surge protection requirements within the BS 7671 wiring regulations helping to establish surge protection as an essential part of modern electrical infrastructure.

Alongside product development, Surge Protection Devices Ltd has placed knowledge sharing and education at the heart of its work. Through free accredited CPD training and active involvement in British Standards, the company continues to support electrical professionals and help raise industry standards.

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A new independent report commissioned by Klipboard has revealed that late payments have become almost universal across the wholesale and distribution sector, with 98% of businesses reporting overdue customer payments.

Based on a survey of over 300 distribution businesses and 250 trade buyers from across the UK, the research was commissioned to better understand how payment processes are affecting customer experience, operational efficiency and cash flow across the distribution sector.

The results explore the biggest payment challenges facing the industry, the causes and impact of late payments, the most common issues buyers have with payments and the ways customers would prefer to pay.

Key findings

• 98% of distributors deal with late payments
• 56% spend over six hours per week on manual payment admin
• 96% employ at least one person dedicated to payments and credit control
• 94% believe offering multiple payment options boosts customer loyalty
• Just 12% of distributors operate with a single payment provider

The findings suggest late payments remain a near-universal challenge for distributors, placing pressure on cash flow while creating additional work for finance and credit control teams. The issue remains firmly in the spotlight following the UK Government’s announcement earlier this year of new measures aimed at tackling late payments and strengthening protections for suppliers.

At the same time, distributors are under growing pressure to offer customers more choice in how and when they pay. While many businesses have introduced additional payment methods and providers to improve the customer experience, doing so can create disconnected systems, more manual administration and more difficult reconciliation. This ‘payment sprawl’ can make it harder to track and collect payments efficiently, contributing to delays and cash flow challenges.

Lochan Sim, VP of Payments at Klipboard, commented: “The research shows that late payments have become a fact of life for almost every distributor, creating unnecessary pressure on cash flow and placing a significant administrative burden on finance teams.

“The businesses we work with want faster, more efficient ways to collect payments – without creating additional complexity for their teams or customers. Our mission is simple: to give distributors access to modern payment technology that helps them get paid faster, operate more efficiently and make it easier for customers to do business with them. The easier you are to buy from and pay, the more likely customers are to come back and buy again.”

To download a copy of The 2026 Distribution Payments Report, visit: https://www.klipboard.com/payment-in-distribution

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UK-based lighting manufacturer Thorlux Lighting has marked its 90^th anniversary throughout the summer with charity events and the opening of a refreshed visitor centre at its Redditch, Worcestershire headquarters. As the company continues to innovate and works towards a validated net-zero target, its future remains bright.

Founder Frederick William Thorpe first manufactured Thorlux luminaires in 1936. Based in a small factory in Small Heath, Birmingham, the company initially made vitreous enamelled steel reflectors.

This was the beginning of a journey that would see Thorlux grow into a globally recognised manufacturer of luminaires and lighting control systems, becoming the largest company in the FW Thorpe Group.

Thorlux has installed a spinning lathe used since the 1930s as the centrepiece of its refreshed Thorlux Application Centre. The centre also includes an improved Emergency Lighting Experience, providing guests with a realistic, educational power failure escape scenario.

Thorlux remains at the forefront of modern UK luminaire manufacture, with multi-million-pound investments in advanced technology at its Redditch factory. The company still proudly makes over 90% of its products in the Midlands, employing five hundred people locally. Thorlux specialises in energy-efficient, sustainable products, and is working towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

Mark Stevenson, Marketing Lead at Thorlux, said: “90 years is a major milestone for Thorlux. As a proud UK manufacturer, it is important to reflect on our accomplishments so far – from pioneering energy-saving controls to relighting the clock faces of Big Ben – while keeping our eyes on the future. The best is still to come!”

Get more details at: www.thorlux.co.uk/

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Snickers Workwear has announced a new charity partnership with Band of Builders, reinforcing its commitment to supporting people working across the UK construction industry.

The partnership will see the two organisations collaborate on a range of fundraising and awareness initiatives, while Snickers Workwear will also supply free workwear to hundreds of Band of Builders volunteers undertaking charitable projects across the country.

Band of Builders provides practical, financial and wellbeing support to members of the construction industry and their families facing illness, injury or other life-changing circumstances. Through its nationwide volunteer network, the charity delivers projects and assistance designed to make a lasting difference to those in need.

The collaboration also aims to raise awareness of the challenges affecting tradespeople, both on and off site, while highlighting the importance of supporting the industry’s workforce.

Ben Stacey, UK Sales Manager at Snickers Workwear, said: “The construction industry is built on teamwork, resilience and looking out for one another. Band of Builders embodies those values every day through the incredible support it provides to people facing difficult circumstances. We are proud to name Band of Builders as our chosen charity and look forward to working together on a range of initiatives that will make a real difference to construction workers and their families.”

Gavin Crane, CEO of Band of Builders, added: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Snickers Workwear, a brand that is trusted and respected by construction workers across the UK. Our mission is to ensure people don’t have to face their challenges alone through practical projects, financial assistance and wellbeing support.”

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Bobcat Safety Footwear has secured a trio of major stockists just months after its launch.

Among the latest additions is MacGregor Industrial Supplies (MIS), one of the largest independent industrial suppliers in North Scotland – serving the industrial, construction and engineering sectors across the Highlands and Aberdeenshire. Selected Bobcat boots and shoes are now available through MIS’s extensive branch network and online platform, with 24/7 trade account ordering and daily delivery services. To celebrate the launch, MIS is offering complimentary footwear from the Bobcat range with every Bobcat equipment purchase or hire.

Versatile Equipment, the UK’s number one Bobcat dealership serving London and the South East, has also added Bobcat Safety Footwear to its offering, providing customers with easy access to the brand’s innovative boots and shoes alongside its construction and industrial equipment.

Safety-Shoes.co.uk, an leading online safety shoe supplier, further expands Bobcat’s national footprint, making the range accessible to customers across the South of England.

This follows a growing network of PPE and workwear specialists across the breadth of the country now stocking Bobcat Safety Footwear, greatly increasing availability and accessibility for customers across the UK.

Peter Lawson, Brand Manager at Overland Shoes, the footwear powerhouse behind Bobcat Safety Footwear launch, commented: “Since introducing the Bobcat Safety Footwear range just months ago, the response has already surpassed our expectations. Clearly, the market has been crying out for a range that combines standout style, all-day comfort  and uncompromising protection – and Bobcat delivers on all three at a mid-market price point. Quite simply, there’s nothing else like it today.

“It is therefore incredibly exciting to have such highly regarded stockists on board. This is another step forward in expanding our national reach and delivering trusted products that combine comfort, protection and reliability.

“We encourage any merchants or distributors interested in stocking our products not to delay and to get in touch today, we’ll be happy to help.”

For more information please visit www.bobcat-footwear.com

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