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Matalan Lights the Way: LED Upgrades Rolled Out Across 127 Stores

Airis partnered with Matalan to install energy-efficient LED lighting in 127 stores nationwide. The project cut energy costs, reduced carbon emissions, and improved in-store lighting quality—delivered seamlessly through a collaborative, streamlined approach.

Project Impact: Key Metrics

Achieves return on investment within just 21 months

Over 2,000 tonnes of C02e reduction each year

Zero lighting maintenance cost for the next 10 years

Increased shop floor lux levels by 75%

The LED lighting upgrade across our estate was a huge success, financially, operationally, and helped us reduce our carbon footprint contributing to our sustainability goals. The planning was meticulous from both Airis and Matalan to ensure there were no disruption to our store colleagues or a reduced shopping experience for our customers. The collaboration between Airis and the Matalan FM team was truly remarkable to upgrade 127 stores within a nine-month time frame with no technical issues or complaints just shows how hard the teams worked together. – Dan Butler, Senior Facilities Manager, Matalan

 

I’ve heard very good things re the LED project so just wanted to pass on my thanks to you and your team for all efforts – Julia Hassall, Head of GNFR Procurement, Matalan

 

We are very satisfied with the works carried out, and also the way in which the contractors worked with such speed, efficiency and professionalism. The store looks a million times better. – Matalan Store Manager, Grimsby

LED Lighting Upgrade: Project Summary & Key Insights

  • Project Scope and Objectives:

    Airis partnered with Matalan to deliver a nationwide LED lighting upgrade, installing approximately 40,000 energy-efficient fittings across 127 stores.

    Spanning 9 months, the project followed a structured, multi-phase approach—from inception to evaluation—designed to minimise disruption, reduce energy consumption, and improve the in-store experience for customers.

  • Collaboration and Teamwork:

    This large-scale transformation was made possible through seamless collaboration between Airis, Matalan’s operations team, and cross-functional experts—including engineers, lighting designers, administrators, and logistics personnel.

    Regular progress updates and coordinated efforts across departments ensured everyone remained aligned on objectives, timelines, and project milestones.

  • Delivery and Execution:

    To ensure timely and efficient delivery, an average of 4 teams per week, totalling around 25 personnel, were deployed across the UK.

    Over the course of the project, an estimated 400 shifts were completed. Careful planning, resource allocation, and ongoing communication enabled a smooth rollout across all sites with minimal impact on day-to-day store operations.

  • Overcoming Challenges:

    Throughout the project, several challenges were encountered and successfully managed. Early supply chain delays affected the availability of shop floor fittings, prompting the team to adapt by prioritising back-of-house installations in the first four weeks.

    Additionally, to respect Matalan’s request to avoid using skips on-site, a dedicated logistics team was established to collect and manage waste nationally.

    These proactive solutions highlighted the team’s flexibility and problem-solving ability—ensuring the project stayed on schedule and delivered measurable, long-term benefits.

Why choose Airis?

Airis Energy Solutions UK are part of a global electronics network with HQs in 18 different countries and representation in a further 22.

We’re an end to end manufacturer, suppplier and installer, who continually research and develop our products to offer the latest and best technology on the market.

Our size means we have the capacity to handle any project, large or small.

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Optimising Pool Lighting: A Sustainable Upgrade at Jason Kenny Leisure Centre

In partnership with Serco, we transformed the swimming pool lighting in just 4 nights! Replacing 32 outdated floodlights with 22 energy-efficient LEDs, we achieved optimal lighting while making a significant impact on energy savings and carbon reduction.

Testimonial Fairhaven Golf Club

Following several recommendations, we engaged with Airis to deliver a solar project here at Fairhaven Golf Club. As an organisation, we prioritise sustainability throughout our working practices and to partner with a company that shared these values was most beneficial to the process. The project will see our annual grid consumption reduce by over 12% resulting in around 21,000 kWh of energy each year being generated. During the planning stages, we encountered several issues which the team at Airis helped to resolve. Their understanding, flexibility and practice applications made the whole process seamless. We could not recommend Airis more highly.

Mark Duncalf, Fairhaven Golf Club
Testimonial Cairngorm Capital, London

The change to LED has been a switch we’ve been considering for a few years. It was just a matter of finding the right partner with the expertise to deliver it across all our sites. Airis Energy Solutions not only made it happen, but they upgraded 29 of our sites simultaneously with upfront costs kept to a bare minimum. The results speak for themselves.

John Douglas, Cairngorm Capital, London
Testimonial Hambleton Primary Academy, Over Wyre

We sourced Airis Energy Solutions alongside the Green Business Fund / Carbon Trust to install a full school LED Smart Lighting system. All our lighting was extremely outdated and was failing more frequently, at a significant cost each time. There is no capital outlay and the installation of new lights was a very efficient process, with all the old lighting being taken off-site afterwards. It has significantly improved the appearance around school, has reduced our maintenance costs to zero, reduced our CO2 emissions and will reduce our energy consumption over time.

Head, Hambleton Primary Academy, Over Wyre
Testimonial Lostock Hall Academy, Preston

To the Airis team. Just to let you know that we’re really happy with the work and the difference in the quality of the lighting. Your guys were a credit to you with their work ethic, getting so much done at night and also over weekends. I am more than happy to recommend your services in the future.

Gary Tiller, Lostock Hall Academy, Preston
Testimonial RAP Spiderweb LTD, Manchester

From start to finish Dave and his colleagues were fantastic to deal with. Very straight forward and completely transparent about the service. We are extremely pleased with the outcome and would happily recommend Airis to anyone who is interested. We had no disruption to our very busy factory and the fitters could not do enough. All in all, an excellent job!

James Tattum, RAP Spiderweb LTD, Manchester
Testimonial McDonald's

As a business owner, I’m always trying to save money. It wasn’t until I worked with Airis Energy Solutions that I realised just how much money I was needlessly spending on energy. Thank-you.

Christian Sandoval, McDonald's Owner Operator
Testimonial Athertons Carpets, Blackpool

I would be more than happy to recommend the Airis scheme and service. We have had all our lighting replaced with the Airis scheme, with this we have had no outlay or cost to ourselves.We are delighted with the results and would therefore recommend Airis to other businesses like ourselves.

Clark Shaw, Athertons Carpets, Blackpool
Testimonial Chiltern Railways, London Marylebone Railway Station

This is fantastic. Well done to everyone especially Andy S, Kathy, Chris, Paul and the Airis team on the ground. You have all worked really hard to get the lights in and I am conscious that you have worked across the Easter weekend to get this done, thank you I appreciate this. There has been minimal disruption to our customers and our teams. Great work really pleased with the results!

Debbie Osbourne, Chiltern Railways, London Marylebone Railway Station
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