A LIGHTING firm's parent group has returned to profit, following a multi-million euro loss last year.

Zumtobel Group, the owner of major County Durham employer Thorn Lighting, said it made a net profit of 51.3m euro last year.

The turnaround, revealed in its figures for the year to May, which were released yesterday, contrasts with a loss of 69.8m euro the previous year, although that was mainly as the result of an impairment charge to goodwill.

The lighting segment of the business, of which Spennymoor-based Thorn is part, saw revenues increase 6.4 per cent in the year to May, to 869m euro.

The company, which employs 500 staff at Thorn's £28m headquarters, said growth in the division had been largely driven by an increase in people and businesses carrying out renovations.

A key part of this was a trend for greater energy efficiency and, in May, Thorn launched a new division aimed at helping customers become more energy efficient. It is hoping Thorn Energy Solutions will help it grow turnover by ten per cent in the next year.

The firm said development of low carbon lighting and helping firms become more environmentally friendly would be a key part of the plan.

It followed the appointment of a new management team last year, led by UK and Ireland managing director Paul Coggins, who is based at the plant.

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

Zumtobel chief executive Harald Sommerer said: "The 2010/11 financial year brought a return to growth.

"While in the first half year our components business proved a dynamic growth driver, in the second half we also noted a marked recovery in our lighting business.

"One particularly rewarding aspect was the development of our LED business where we have now moved beyond the niche and prestige project stage and into genuine high volume business.

"On the back of the trend towards greater energy efficiency and the anticipated strong demand from the emerging growth markets, we are now in an outstanding position to drive forward our global growth strategy."