Use our Search Facility to browse our members.....         Use our Search Facility to find your nearest retailer.....           A warm welcome to The Lighting Association, founded in 1939. The Association has developed into the largest organisation in Europe for companies and professionals in the lighting industry. We are a privately funded company owned by our members with an annually elected Board of Directors. The Association employs 25 full time staff including technical specialists. Find out more here! Read our Annual Report to find out more... 21st April 1939 This date saw the beginning of what is now the largest lighting association in Europe - 'The Lighting Association. More than sixty years ago fourteen manufacturers of lampshades attended a meeting, which discussed problems facing the industry at that time. Those were difficult times for manufacturers, where materials and labour were scarce and cheap imports from Japan, Belgium and Holland were threatening the industry (nothing changes!) One particular problem facing manufacturers during that part of our history was the introduction of a piece of legislation which was to limit the amount of hours worked by persons under 16 to 44 hours per week! During this first meeting of the association was finalised as being - The Lampshades & Standards Manufacturers Association. Membership fees were also set at this first meeting:- 2 Guineas - Manufacturers not exceeding £1000 per year in operative wages. 3 Guineas - Manufacturers exceeding £1000 but not exceeding £5000 per year in operatives wages. 5 Guineas - Manufacturers exceeding £5000 per year in operatives wages. The lampshades & Standards Manufacturers Association was founded to deal with serious loss of trade from overseas competition. Competition was fierce because of cheap overseas labour markets, which were not possible in this country at that time. The Association also negotiated the purchase of silk parachutes from the government so that lampshades could be produced. A Brief History of The Lighting Association 1939 - Lampshades & Standards Association 1947 - Lampshades Manufacturers Association 1960 - Decorative Lighting Association 1968 - Decorative Lighting Manufacturers and Distributors Association 1971 - Name changed to Decorative Lighting Association 1977 - 10 May Formed into a company limited by guarantee 1991 - Name changed to Lighting Association Ltd 1992 - The Association moved to its purpose built headquarters and test laboratories at Stafford Park 7, Telford 2001 - Major extension to building to accommodate the expansion of the laboratories     Keyword         Email/Username Password         Forgotten your Password?