THORN Lighting has launched a new division aimed at helping customers become more energy efficient.

Thorn Energy Solutions forms part of a new business strategy launched by the County Durham based firm, as it looks to grow turnover by 10 per cent in the next year.

Thorn, which employs 500 staff at its £28m Spennymoor headquarters, said development of low carbon lighting and helping firms become more environmentally friendly would be a key part of the new plan.

It also aims to regain market share in the outdoor lighting sector.

The strategy follows the appointment of a new management team last year, led by UK & Ireland managing director Paul Coggins, who is based at the plant.

Mr Coggins said: "We're hugely successful at what we do here at Thorn, but for a while now we've been a sleeping giant.

"It's time to wake up and lead from the front. Thorn has changed and it's down to me and my management team to demonstrate this to our customers.

"May is the start of our new financial year and the year ahead looks set to be an exciting period of growth for Thorn."

It comes after Thorn's market share had started to fall in recent years, despite it being Britain's largest lighting manufacturer.

It is the latest shake-up of the company since Mr Coggins appointment, following the relocation of its headquarters from Hertfordshire to the County Durham plant at the end of last year so that all its operations would be under one roof.

A spokeswoman added: "We are looking at the business in a new way and looking to the future. We have a new management team with different perspectives."

The Thorn Energy Solutions division will work with firms to reduce their energy consumption and lower operating costs by developing tailored lighting and controls.

This could include auditing its existing lighting, providing reports on cost savings or advising on Government assisted funding schemes.

The spokeswoman added: "It is a division where we look at sustainability and energy saving in lighting.

"Energy consumption is a big issue and lighting is a big part of energy consumption, so how do we go about reducing CO2 emissions and cost for people."