Ansell expands Primo Track lighting range

Ansell Lighting, a designer and manufacturer of luminaires, has introduced two new products to its Primo Track range, aimed at broadening choice for commercial, retail, hospitality, and residential lighting projects. The new additions – Primo Deco and Primo Mini – are compatible with the existing Primo Three Circuit system and are designed to offer greater flexibility in both function and appearance. Primo Deco The Primo Deco Trackspot is an architectural fitting with a circular design, available in black or white finishes and optional accessories such as a brass baffle, honeycomb, dome, and decorative lenses. It is offered in 7W, 12W, and 25W versions with a 4000K colour temperature and a high colour rendering index (CRI). The fitting supports 350-degree rotation and a 0-to-90-degree tilt for adjustable directional lighting. Triac dimming is included as standard, with DALI and OCTO smart control available as options. Primo Mini The Primo Mini is a 24V system intended for discreet display use. The Primo Mini Trackspot features 360-degree rotation and a 0-to-180-degree tilt, along with an anti-glare design to improve visual comfort. The Primo Mini range also includes other architectural fittings suitable for residential and hospitality settings. These include three pendant designs (slim pendant, white glass globe, and black pendant), a slim neon tube, a suspended light line, and Neon and Optic Line luminaires available in 1,250mm and 2,500mm lengths. Mark Abbott, Managing Director at Ansell Lighting, says, “Track lighting has been a mainstay of commercial and hospitality schemes for many years, but until recently, styling choices have been limited. "We are now seeing increased demand for design-led options that combine performance with visual appeal. "The latest additions to our Primo Track range have been developed to meet this demand, giving designers more freedom to achieve the right aesthetic without compromising functionality.” For more from Ansell Lighting, click here.

Emergency lighting that works for installers

In today’s fast-paced electrical contracting world, Zemper understands that installers can’t afford delays, unreliable products, or fiddly fittings. Every extra hour on site eats into margins, while call-backs caused by poor-quality lighting can damage your reputation. That’s why more UK installers are turning to Zemper for their emergency lighting needs. Fast delivery from UK stock: Zemper knows projects rarely go exactly to plan. Spec changes, reactive jobs, and tight deadlines are part of everyday life. With products held in the UK, Zemper can deliver within 48 hours, helping you to keep your project on track. Built to perform: Emergency lighting must work when it matters. Zemper fittings are engineered with premium components, delivering exceptionally low failure rates. To prove it, every product comes with a 6-year warranty including batteries. That means fewer call-backs, less hassle, and happier clients. Quicker, smarter installs: Zemper products are designed with installers in mind. From pre-wired options and push-fit terminals to industry-leading spacings (up to 30m on some products), Zemper makes installation faster, easier, and more flexible. Trusted by contractors across the UK: From schools and offices to warehouses and healthcare environments, Zemper emergency lighting is proving itself in projects of every size. Contractors appreciate the straightforward installation, dependable performance, and responsive UK-based support team. The installer’s choice: When you combine rapid delivery, practical design, and rock-solid reliability, the result is simple: emergency lighting that works for installers. Find out more at Zemper's website.

Go Zero, Rolec secure £100m to expand EV charging in UK

Go Zero, a UK provider of smart EV chargers for homes and hospitality destinations, and Rolec, a UK manufacturer of EV charging points, have announced a partnership to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle (EV) charging across the UK’s hospitality sector. A £100 million debt financing facility secured by Go Zero will support the installation of multi-bay charging hubs at hotels, leisure destinations, and other public sites. The funding will enable deployment through Go Zero’s VendEx model, which removes upfront capital costs for businesses by allowing infrastructure to be financed and managed centrally. Growing demand for destination charging While research shows that 90% of EV drivers prefer destinations with charging facilities, only 6% of city hotels in the UK currently offer chargepoints. With more than 1.3 million EVs already on UK roads, and almost 40% of new car registrations now plug-in models, demand is growing rapidly. EV drivers are increasingly business travellers, families, and international visitors, and the expectation to charge vehicles as easily as connecting to Wi-Fi has become common. However, many destinations remain underserved. Go Zero brings sector expertise and national coverage, supported by its own charge point operator software. Rolec contributes UK-based manufacturing, technical support, and a partner network for large-scale installations. Together, the companies say they can deliver consistent and reliable infrastructure at speed. The collaboration is targeting sites such as holiday parks, theme parks, hotels, resorts, shopping centres, and sports stadiums. Several projects have already been completed, with further rollouts scheduled. Andy Taylor, CEO of Go Zero, says, “Securing this £100 million debt facility is a strong vote of confidence in Go Zero’s strategy and growth prospects within hospitality. "With funding in place, we can fully deliver our current project pipeline, expand rapidly across key hotel locations, and continue providing scalable, guest-friendly charging solutions. "Partnering with Rolec for hardware supply ensures faster installation, multi-bay EV hubs, and a bigger national footprint, bringing our vision of 10,000 sockets closer to reality.” Darren North, National Sales Manager at Rolec, adds, “Destination charging isn’t yet where it should be and this partnership represents a significant step toward addressing that gap. "By combining Go Zero’s funding expertise with Rolec’s UK-manufactured hardware, technical capability, and nationwide installer network, we are enabling businesses to introduce EV charging with no upfront cost. "The benefits extend beyond sustainability, charging infrastructure boosts visits, longer dwell times, and higher local spend, while also supporting operators in achieving their net zero goals.” For more from Rolec, click here.

WISKA UK wins third consecutive ‘Supplier of the Year’ award

WISKA UK has announced that it has been awarded the coveted Supplier of the Year title at the 2025 IBA Trade Show and Gala Awards, held on Thursday 18 September 2025 at Whittlebury Hall, in a prestigious event celebrating the best in the industry. For a third consecutive year, WISKA UK has received this top accolade, voted for by members of the The IBA Buying Group. The company says the achievement underlines its unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service, strong communication, and providing high-quality, innovative products that meet the needs of independent electrical wholesalers across the UK. The IBA represents over 90 members and 110 branches nationwide, and the Supplier of the Year award is considered one of the most respected honours in the sector. WISKA UK’s continued dedication to building strong relationships with its customers has been pivotal in securing this remarkable three-peat. Commercial Manager of WISKA UK, Rhiannon Wilson, who attended the ceremony, expresses her gratitude, stating, “To be named Supplier of the Year by IBA members for a third consecutive year is an incredible honour. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire WISKA UK team. “We remain committed to listening to and working closely with our customers to provide the highest quality products and services to help them succeed. A huge thank you to Paul Jenner, the IBA team, and all the members for their ongoing support. We look forward to continuing this journey of success together." The award highlights WISKA UK’s ongoing efforts to lead the industry by offering innovative solutions, unparalleled service, and a customer-centric approach. The company says that it looks forward to further collaboration and future success with the IBA and its members. Paul Jenner CEO of The IBA Buying Group adds, “I was delighted to award the Supplier of the Year award to WISKA. WISKA have won the award for the third year running in a tightly fought competition. They actually improved their supplier rating to a massive 84.1%. “The consistency highlights the strength of the partnership between WISKA and the group Members. We thank and congratulate the entire team at WISKA knowing the entire team contributes towards the success.” For more from WISKA, click here.

ESP launches Espire mobile showroom for CPD training

ESP, a UK fire and security product specialist and part of the Scolmore Group, has launched a custom-designed mobile showroom to support training and awareness around fire and safety alarm systems. The Espire mobile showroom will tour the UK, providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) sessions on BS 5839-6, the British Standard for fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises. The initiative is aimed at wholesalers and contractors, offering both technical guidance and practical demonstrations. Hands-on training and product demonstrations The mobile facility is equipped with a showroom displaying ESP’s full range of Espire fire and carbon monoxide alarms, including heat, smoke, combined heat and CO, and combined smoke and heat devices. Visitors will be able to test functionality, including RF device pairing. The CPD course will cover system categories, grades, and minimum requirements under BS 5839-6. It is designed for those involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of domestic fire detection systems. In addition to the Espire range, the showroom provides an overview of ESP’s wider fire protection products. These include the MAGfire four-wire and MAGDUO two-wire alarm systems, which are designed for small to medium installations, as well as the MAGfire addressable system for large or more complex commercial sites. ESP said contractors interested in attending on-site CPD and product awareness sessions should contact their local Area Sales Manager. For more from Espire, click here.

Lighting industry comes together at Circular Lighting Live 2025

Collaboration and innovation took centre stage at Circular Lighting Live 2025, a sustainability conference for the lighting industry in the UK. Held in London and organised by Recolight, the event brought together more than 35 inspirational speakers and leading brands to explore how the industry can accelerate the transition to circularity. Delegates, sponsors, and speakers highlighted both the urgency and the opportunity for the sector to embrace circular design, reuse, and decarbonisation. A recurring theme was the need for collaboration between manufacturers, lighting designers, clients, and contractors, to deliver step change sustainability. Speakers emphasised that “doing things differently” requires trust, dialogue, and collaboration across the supply chain – and that misplaced perceptions of risk, especially with luminaire reuse, can hinder progress. Key trends and technical insights Delegates engaged with technical and regulatory themes, reflecting a fast-evolving landscape: • Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) were widely discussed, recognising their growing importance in enabling transparent and credible product comparisons. • TM65 and TM66 were acknowledged as important gateway tools for measuring embodied carbon and assessing circularity. • Legislative updates provided delegates with visibility of new and evolving UK and EU regulations on sustainability. • The importance of reuse, refurbishment, and the energy transition were repeatedly emphasised as drivers by lighting specifiers. • Broader themes included decarbonisation, design for repairability, skills development, and other circular economy practices. Nigel Harvey, CEO of Recolight, says, “Circular Lighting Live this year was buzzing with ideas and opportunities. It was inspiring to hear of new approaches to tackling sustainability and the circular economy. "It was particularly pleasing to note that there was a tangible desire to press on, in spite of the political headwinds coming across the Atlantic.” What the delegates said The event drew backing from major brands including Signify, Sylvania Group, Glamox, KKDC, Prime Light Group, Prolojik, Thorlux Lighting, Trojan Lighting Solutions, NVC Lighting UK, Mymesh by Chess UK, SMART SYSTEMS UK, and ALBIS Distribution. Feedback from sponsors and delegates was reportedly positive: • “Circular Lighting Live this year showed that meaningful change is underway. […] Business as usual is no good; we must challenge and we must change.” – Gary Thronton, Nulty • “An important conversation about circular design in lighting. Events like this are vital in helping our industry move from talking about circularity to embedding it as standard practice.” – Paul Beale, 18 Degrees • “Circular Lighting Live was an inspiring event, full of passionate people driving change in the industry.” – Nicholas Holmes, Ambit • “This event has established itself as a must-attend event for anyone serious about sustainability within the lighting industry.” – Mike Edwards, Verde Photon Ray Molony, who co-organised the event and curated the agenda, notes, “With sustainability now at the heart of lighting product development, design, and specification, Circular Lighting Live has become a vital platform for collaboration and innovation. "By tackling barriers, sharing knowledge, and embedding circularity as standard practice, the UK lighting industry is leading the way towards a truly sustainable future.” For more from Recolight, click here.

Espire dual sensor smoke and heat alarms from ESP

Advanced fire safety is central to the Espire dual Smoke and Heat Alarm models from ESP, combining the benefits of both optical and heat detection in one compact unit for maximum safety coverage. Designed to respond to a wide range of fire types – from fast-flaming to slow-smouldering – the Espire Smoke and Heat Alarms use intelligent monitoring software to analyse input from both sensors and trigger alerts, when necessary, significantly reducing false alarms. The addition of ESP exclusive innovations such as auto-dimming LED indicators, dust compensation, and RF-Link capability further elevate performance and installation flexibility. Installers can choose from two power options to suit varying project requirements: • Powered by mains, with a sealed, tamper-proof 10-year lithium battery • Powered by a sealed, tamper-proof 10-year lithium battery The Espire Dual Smoke and Heat Alarms are to be installed in accordance with BS 5839-6. The alarms are certified to BS EN 14604 and BS 5446-2, combining the full compliance of separate detectors in one dual-sensor product. As with all Espire alarms, this model features a lock-in base, hush button, and eco-friendly packaging, aligning with ESP’s mission to provide reliable, sustainable safety solutions for residential and domestic environments. More information can be found on the Espire website and the Scolmore Group app. For more from Espire, click here.

CU Phosco installs smart poles to boost 5G ahead of Oktoberfest

UK exterior lighting manufacturer CU Phosco, working with 5G Synergiewerk and Telefónica, has installed six smart streetlight poles in Munich to improve mobile coverage and capacity in time for Oktoberfest 2025. The new poles are positioned near major underground rail stations to reduce coverage gaps and support network demand during one of the world’s busiest public events. Smart infrastructure in urban settings The deployment in Munich follows earlier installations in Augsburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hannover, and Würzburg. Each pole combines street lighting with integrated 4G and 5G equipment, designed to fit into the surrounding streetscape. The base of each structure includes dual access doors, and the poles stand between 11.9 and 13.9 metres high, with tri-sector antennas at the top. According to Telefónica, the installation supports its wider network densification plans, improving connectivity in pedestrian areas around transport hubs. The company said the poles will help provide coverage for both safety applications and heavy public use. The structures are modular, allowing them to host additional applications such as CCTV or public address systems, and are designed to act as direct replacements for conventional streetlight columns. A demonstration event attended by Telefónica representatives and government officials marked the completion of the installation. Keith Henry, General Manager and Telecommunications Product Manager at CU Phosco Australia, comments, “This project continues the momentum of Connected Urban across Europe. "The deployment in Munich shows how smart lighting infrastructure can play a vital role in creating safer, more connected urban environments. "We’re proud to work alongside Telefónica and 5G Synergiewerk to support Germany’s vision for smarter cities.” The poles are expected to provide lasting benefits beyond Oktoberfest, improving coverage for daily use and future large-scale events in the city’s transport zones. Ralf Gerbershagen, Managing Director of 5G Synergiewerk, adds, “This collaboration demonstrates the strength of engineering-led partnerships. "Each Connected Urban pole combines innovative design with practical functionality, helping urban planners address both short-term needs, like major events, and long-term network challenges.” Further rollouts are planned across Germany and in other cities, including London. For more from CU Phosco, click here.

UK heat pump training surges despite barriers to upskilling

New research has shown how heating installers and plumbers across the UK are stepping up to meet the demand for low-carbon heating, but also how regional disparities remain. Across the UK, 58% of professionals have already trained or upskilled in heat pumps, with a further 34% planning to do so within the next 12 months. Only 8% say they have not been trained and do not plan to train in heat pumps. This is all according to findings found in plumbing, heating, and electrical supplier City Plumbing’s new report, Taking the Temperature. What the data shows The research suggests that confidence in the heat pump market is growing, with installers citing expected customer demand (37%), the chance to gain a competitive advantage (34%), and personal interest in renewable technologies (38%) as key motivators for training. Practical enablers also matter, with 30% saying they trained because it was convenient to access and 28% were encouraged or funded by their employer. However, there remain some barriers to upskilling in renewables. Some respondents cited the cost (28%), lack of local offering (24%), difficulty in taking time off work (24%), not enough customer demand (24%), and too much competition (20%) as reasons against training in renewables. A fifth (20%) said they haven’t trained or plan to train as they will retire soon. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents said there are still not enough qualified heat pump installers to meet demand – raising concerns about meeting the Government’s target of 600,000 heat pump installations per year by 2028. Alongside this, 85% agree that there needs to be more financial support to help people train or upskill in renewables. A breakdown by region Exploring the research in more detail, several regions are leading the way, with Wales (75%), the East Midlands (74%), and both the North West and Scotland (72%) reporting the highest levels of trained installers. The South West also performs strongly at 68%, giving these areas a robust workforce to meet current demand. Northern Ireland, despite having the lowest training uptake today (21%), shows the highest growth potential – with more than seven in ten professionals (71%) planning to upskill in the next 12 months. The North East (56%), East of England (47%), and Greater London (39%) also report significant pipelines of planned training, indicating that these areas could quickly close the gap with more mature markets. Hemal Morjaria, Managing Director, Heating & Renewables at City Plumbing, comments, “Our research shows clear progress on heat pump training, but some disparities between the regions. "Although it’s positive to see so many upskilling, it’s important that we continue to support installers - especially sole traders and small businesses - with affordable and accessible training to future-proof the industry, which plays an essential part in the UK’s net zero ambitions. “City Plumbing continues to invest heavily in this area. Our partnership with GTEC Training, two centres of excellence, mobile training rigs, and our heat pump umbrella scheme with VitoEnergy are helping hundreds of installers upskill and access government grants, creating a more resilient and future-ready workforce. "Since 2023, City Plumbing has supported more than 650 installers through accredited training in heat pumps, with further training dates and incentives planned for 2025 and beyond as demand continues to rise.” The heat pump training costs £660, but with the £500 Heat Training Grant and a £160 City Plumbing credit for a future heat pump purchase following completion of the course, it becomes effectively free. The next available dates are: • Bedford, 13 October • Aylesford, 14 October • Farnborough, 14 October • Farnborough, 28 October For more from City Plumbing, click here.

Click Scolmore adds Matt Bronze to Deco ranges

Following the success of the Matt Bronze finish in the Definity range, and in response to growing demand for stylish decorative wiring accessories, Click Scolmore has now expanded this sophisticated finish to its Deco Plus and Deco ranges. Deco Plus is Click’s premium curved profile decorative wiring accessory range, while Deco offers a high-quality square profile alternative. The new Matt Bronze finish, available with black inserts, enhances the Deco Plus and Deco’s timeless appeal, ideal for both residential and commercial settings. This elegant addition provides electrical contractors with high-end solutions that elevate modern interiors. All switch plates are modular as standard, allowing installers to create any switch plate required. The Click MiniGrid modules are all easily and quickly exchanged or mounted onto unfurnished plates by means of a simple single screw fixing, allowing endless combinations to suit multiple installations within both domestic and commercial environments. With this latest addition, the Deco Plus and Deco collections now offer nine distinctive finishes: Matt Bronze, Matt Black, Black Nickel, Satin Chrome, Polished Chrome, Stainless Steel Antique Brass, Polished Brass, Satin Brass, and - for the Deco range only - Pearl Nickel. Explore the full range on Click Scolmore’s website or on the Scolmore Group’s app. For more from Click Scolmore, click here.