An innovative product design company is lighting up business in the district with help from Bradford University.

Ardent Products aims to revolutionise the lighting industry in the UK after launching its first product a unique range of architectural lights.

The Garnett Street company was established in 2004 by Bradford University graduate Toks Adeniji. Last September, Adrian Wise, former head of industrial design at the university also came on board.

Mr Adeniji, 36, previously UK general manager of Duve Components, a supplier of exhaust and gear systems, believes Bradford is a great place to do business.

"Bradford is an excellent place to be based. We have great transport links with the motorways and Leeds-Bradford Airport nearby," he said.

"There is a lot of development going on and Bradford is certainly a city on the up. The business and enterprise climate is very good and Bradford Chamber has been extremely helpful."

Mr Adeniji has also been impressed by the calibre of the university's graduates, employing several for his research and development team.

However, like many other business people in the district, Mr Adeniji is keen to see a direct rail link to London.

"It would be great to have a direct link because most of the big boys are based down there," he said. "We work with a lot of architects and designers based in London and trying to get them up here and change at Leeds is not the best."

The architectural lighting range, the culmination of two years work, is named the Zinc Collection. The lights use coloured lenses to dramatic effect.

Clayton Heights resident Mr Adeniji believes it emulates more stylish lighting available only on the Continent and is now particularly keen to see it used by public sector bodies in the UK.

"Why should public sector lighting always be so dull if you can source far more attractive lights for marginally more than most entry-level institutional models cost?" he asked.

"We would certainly like to see some of Bradford's hospitals and schools take up our affordability challenge."

The collection features a groundbreaking "click together" design with interchangeable parts that can be easily replaced or updated without having to change the whole fitting.

The company is working with Newmason Properties to provide lighting for luxury apartments at the Victoria Mills site in Shipley.

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk