Business Details
29 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Specialist Lighting for Secure Environments
Established in 1997, Light Years Ahead has built a reputation as a trusted UK manufacturer of specialist lighting solutions for high-risk environments. Our expertise lies in designing anti-ligature and anti-vandal luminaires that meet stringent Ministry of Justice standards while prioritising safety and durability. As part of the Daro Group since 2017, we combine decades of industry knowledge with robust supply chains to deliver compliant products for custodial, mental healthcare, and industrial sectors. Our commitment to innovation ensures all solutions exceed regulatory requirements, with a focus on reducing ligature risks and enhancing therapeutic environments.We guarantee 100% on-time delivery through precise stock management and dedicated manufacturing processes. Our technical team provides proactive support from project conception to completion, serving clients including prisons, police stations, and healthcare facilities across the UK and internationally. Continuous investment in quality assurance and customer service underpins our approach to delivering secure, energy-efficient lighting systems tailored to client needs.
Services
Custodial Lighting
Mental Healthcare Lighting
Emergency Lighting
Anti-Ligature Lighting
Retrofit Services
Impact-Resistant Luminaires
Compliant Lighting Systems
Energy-Efficient Solutions
Technical Support
Product Certification
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of experience in custodial lighting design and manufacturing.
- Our products exceed Ministry of Justice compliance standards for safety and durability.
- We guarantee 100% on-time delivery through precise stock management systems.
- Our technical team provides proactive support from project conception to completion.
- We specialise in energy-efficient LED solutions tailored to high-risk environments.
What people say
Exceptional safety compliance
Durable construction
Expert technical support
Regulatory knowledge
Reliable delivery
Services
Custodial Lighting
Our custodial lighting solutions feature anti-ligature and anti-vandal designs specifically engineered for prison cells, police custody suites, and court facilities. These fixtures meet Ministry of Justice standards while minimising self-harm risks through secure, tamper-resistant construction. The range includes impact-resistant luminaires with IK10++ ratings and IP65 protection for durability in high-risk environments.
Mental Healthcare Lighting
Designed to create calming environments in secure healthcare facilities, our mental healthcare lighting combines safety with circadian rhythm support. Products eliminate ligature points while maintaining aesthetic appeal, helping reduce patient distress and promote recovery through optimised light quality and distribution patterns.
Emergency Lighting
Our emergency lighting systems provide reliable illumination during power failures in custodial and healthcare settings. Featuring self-test capabilities and DALI control integration, these anti-vandal fixtures maintain functionality in extreme conditions while complying with lifesaving safety regulations and building codes.
Retrofit Services
We offer retrofit solutions to modernise existing lighting systems without full replacement. Our retrofit gear trays reduce maintenance costs and downtime while improving energy efficiency. Designed to fit current infrastructure, these upgrades ensure compliance with latest legislation while extending the lifespan of installed luminaires.
Impact-Resistant Luminaires
Engineered for extreme environments, our impact-resistant luminaires withstand physical abuse in high-risk locations. With IK10++ ratings and polycarbonate construction, these fixtures maintain integrity in custodial settings while providing consistent illumination. Available in multiple configurations for wall, ceiling, and recessed installations.
People
Lee McCarthy
Director of Lighting
With 30 years' industry experience, Lee leads our specialist lighting division. He joined Daro Group in 2000, bringing expertise in design and application of secure lighting solutions for custodial environments.
Steve Shefford
Key Account Manager
Steve has 8 years in lighting and 5 in project management. He develops relationships with architects and contractors, specialising in custodial and healthcare lighting solutions from concept to delivery.
Suzanne Gunn
Key Account Manager
With over 25 years' experience, Suzanne focuses on custodial and healthcare lighting. She provides expert guidance to distributors and contractors, ensuring clients receive tailored solutions and exceptional support throughout project lifecycles.
Sarah Pennock
Finance Director
Sarah oversees group finance and HR as a CIMA-qualified professional. With Daro since 2004, she brings extensive financial management expertise to support our lighting division's growth and operations.
Matt Pilgrim
QHSE Lead
Matt leads quality and safety standards across the group. With 19 years' engineering experience and NEBOSH qualifications, he ensures compliance with ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 standards through Six Sigma methodologies.
Questions
What makes your lighting suitable for custodial environments?
Our products feature anti-ligature designs, IK10++ impact resistance, and IP65 protection ratings to withstand abuse while meeting Ministry of Justice standards for prison and police facilities.
Do you offer lighting solutions for mental healthcare facilities?
Yes, we design therapeutic lighting systems that reduce self-harm risks while creating calming environments. Our fixtures support circadian rhythms to aid patient recovery in secure healthcare settings.
Can you retrofit existing lighting systems?
We provide retrofit solutions that upgrade existing infrastructure with minimal disruption. This reduces costs compared to full replacement while improving energy efficiency and compliance with current regulations.
Are your products compliant with UK standards?
All products meet or exceed Ministry of Justice specifications including STD/E/SPEC/021 and 022. We maintain rigorous testing protocols to ensure ongoing compliance with safety and performance requirements.
How do you ensure product durability?
We use polycarbonate materials and impact-resistant construction rated to IK10++. Products undergo extensive testing for anti-vandal properties, with guaranteed performance in high-risk environments.
What support do you offer during installation?
Our technical team provides comprehensive support from project design through to completion. This includes specification assistance, site consultations, and post-installation maintenance guidance for all lighting systems.
