Our Dedicated Technical Team
Based at our headquarters in Leeds, our technical team comprises two highly experienced professionals: Martyn Sutcliffe, our Design and Technical Manager, and Ian Yates, our Design and Technical Assistant.
Martyn has been a vital part of Sycamore for an impressive 21 years. His extensive knowledge of KBB (kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom) lighting is unparalleled—if Martyn doesn’t know it, it’s not worth knowing! Ian, who has been with us for 11 years, is equally valued, particularly by our retailers, who often seek his expert advice on lighting designs for showrooms and clients’ homes.
A Typical Day
Martyn and Ian manage a wide variety of tasks, including:
- Answering our dedicated technical helpline: Offering fast and clear responses to client and installer queries.
- Designing bespoke lighting schemes: Whether it’s for a showroom or a private kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom project, they provide tailored solutions.
- Customer education: This can involve on-site product demonstrations or virtual Teams meetings to guide designers through our offerings.
Our Popular Technical Helpline
Since its launch, our technical helpline has been a vital resource for clients and their installation teams. Lighting is a complex subject, and having dedicated experts available ensures that clients choose the correct products during the planning stages and receive the support they need during installation.
Adding Value for Clients
Martyn and Ian’s expertise doesn’t just resolve queries—it enhances client offerings. By recommending the most suitable lighting solutions, they help clients create schemes that impress customers while providing upselling opportunities. For example, introducing simple lighting control systems can boost revenue while delivering exceptional results for the end user.
Three-Step Design Service
Our three-step design service is another cornerstone of our technical support. Upon receiving a brief, the team meticulously reviews the requirements and produces a comprehensive quotation, complete with product codes. This not only saves our clients time but also ensures they receive the best products for their projects.
Technical Training
Martyn and Ian also provide essential training, empowering clients with knowledge to maximize the potential of lighting in their projects. Training options include:
- In-person visits: Featuring product samples to demonstrate functionality and project applications.
- Online courses: Using slideshows to deliver in-depth education remotely.
This education helps clients significantly boost project revenue through effective lighting design and installation.
Product Testing
In addition to their customer-facing roles, the team also runs our testing laboratory. Here, they rigorously test all our products to ensure compliance with relevant regulations and performance standards, such as lumen output and colour temperature. This guarantees that every product meets our clients’ expectations and upholds Sycamore’s reputation for excellence.