Trainspotters

At Trainspotters, we're incredibly proud to be a certified B Corporation. As a B Corp, we're part of a global community of businesses that meet high standards of social and environmental impact. This means that we're leading a global movement for an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

Our Story

Our journey began in 2003, a dark age of the lighting industry which was largely uninspiring and generic. The industrial lighting aesthetic was a mere twinkle in a few forward-thinking designers' eyes. Trainspotters' co-founder, Jesse Carrington, had been a Director at architectural salvage pioneers Lassco and had been spending his days scouring the underbelly of London for interesting reclamation, filling a crumbling warehouse with piles of Victorian and Georgian fixtures and fittings.

Alongside this architectural reclamation, there was a fledgling interest in industrial lighting. Initially, this was relatively inexpensive, but actually, not many people really wanted it, so it ultimately remained Jesse's labour of love until 2003 when Jesse decided to go it alone. He packed up his things, moved back to Stroud and Trainspotters was born.

Setting the Scene

Setting up Trainspotters meant a break away from the generalised salvage model and a shift toward the idea of carefully considered industrial salvage. Initially, this was fixtures, fittings, and some furniture, but Jesse soon recognised that his passion for lighting was growing in others too and in 2005 he took the plunge and incorporated Trainspotters Limited.

Fast Forward

Fast forward to 2023, and Trainspotters is now one of the leading suppliers in salvaged vintage lighting worldwide. Perennially committed to minimising the impact of our business activities socially and environmentally, our mantra of "Buy Once Buy Well" has always been at the heart of who we are and what we do.

Becoming a B Corp

To be able to recognise this through the B Corp assessment process and be officially recognised is an incredible moment in our story. It gives us a solid foundation on which to take the business forward, using it as a force for good.

Benefits for Customers

For customers, this means buying lighting that will last a lifetime, all with the confidence that people and planet are being considered equally alongside profit. All your purchases are linked directly with our giving - we have made a formal commitment to give 2% of turnover each year, and you can find out more about this on our Social & Environmental page.

Our Purpose

At Trainspotters, we're committed to creating a more sustainable and responsible approach to lighting design and production. We believe that by creating beautiful, high-quality lighting that is designed to last, we can make a positive impact on the environment.

Why Trainspotters?

There is indeed a railway-related provenance to the name. Going back to the time when co-founder Jesse Carrington would commute daily in and out of London Bridge station. With standing room only, he'd grab hold of the overhead luggage racks and admire their stylish design. At the same time, these 1950's carriages were gradually being taken out of service and scrapped. After some persistent investigation, it was established that the racks, mostly flanking each first-class compartment, were being scrapped at two facilities, one in Immingham and the other at the MOD base in Shoeburyness.