Pictured above: (l-r) Chris Samwell, design director, Blue Frog Ltd; Steve Watts, managing director, Abstract AVR Ltd and Barrie Billinghay, business advisor, Sustainable Construction iNet.

A Leicester company specialising in lighting products for the entertainment industry has stepped into the spotlight after being awarded Innovation, Advice and Guidance worth £7,000 by the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet).  

The company Abstract AVR Ltd based in Blaby, has developed an LED track light which can be fitted into existing systems - a process known as 'retro fit'. Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable Construction iNet has helped the company complete the product development stages of the process because the company has already been commissioned to supply its first LED system for a new ASDA store at Langley Mill in Derbyshire.

Lighting expert Steve Watts is Abstract AVR's managing director and head of design and was delighted to be given the green-light by the Sustainable Construction iNet team.  He commented: "We are nearing the completion stage of the project and have been working in partnership with the product development agency, Blue Frog, to create something aesthetically pleasing, while we control the thermal management of the LED component and development of the LED control gear."

The standard normally used in display lighting is a CDMT 70 discharge lamp using 70 watts of energy, Abstract AVR aim to deliver reusable light replacing the CDMT 70 with a 24 watt LED substitute thereby enabling retailers to meet targets for reduced energy consumption.

Barrie Billinghay, business advisor, Sustainable Construction iNet said: "Steve and his team are precisely the type of business we aim to help. Highly skilled, hard working and committed to British manufacturing, we are happy to support Abstract AVR's vision for the future and their positive contribution to the environment, which in turn will benefit business development and employment."

Over the past 18 months the Sustainable Construction iNet has helped more than 35 businesses in the East Midlands region with targeted funding support to improve their products, processes or services to become more commercially viable in the construction industry, and more than 150 with specialist advice and guidance. This financial year a further 30 SME's are expected to benefit from iNet Innovation, Advice & Guidance, plus a further 100+ SME's with supplementary assistance. It also aims to run 12 - 15 events throughout 2010 and expects to see upwards of 1500 firms utilising the network. 

Steve Watts concluded: "More input from organisations like the iNet would be welcomed by British businesses like ours fighting to achieve global recognition. Our talent here in the UK is often stifled by red tape and bureaucracy, the iNet's input was like a breath of fresh air, it made us feel good about our product and our company."

In 2011 the iNet moves to its new headquarters building in Daventry, a purpose-built business hub featuring best-practice design with sustainability. Interested parties should contact the iNet on info@construction-inet.org.uk or telephone 01604 892326.