Simon Acres Group launches KBB Futures Roundtable to drive industry change

Specialist recruitment consultancy Simon Acres Group is set to host a new initiative designed to spark meaningful change across the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (KBB) sector, organised to coincide with the KBBFocus Awards & Celebration in the same building. The inaugural ‘KBB Futures’ roundtable will take place at 9am on Thursday, 4th December 2025, at The Brewery, London. The event will bring a panel of leading KBB experts together to discuss key industry challenges, explore emerging opportunities and agree tangible actions for a stronger, more sustainable future.

The event, which is set to finish in time for the start of the KBBFocus Awards & Celebration, is sponsored by BLANCO, Caesarstone, and Sensio. The session will be chaired by Andrew Gaved, editor at large, Lyrical Communications, while the expert panel represents a broad cross-section of the KBB industry including retailers, installers, builders’ merchants, manufacturers and more. The line-up is as follows:

• Andy Gamble, Consultant and former MD, RGB Building Supplies
• Damian Walters, CEO, BIFIS
• Derek Williams, Quality Director, Achieve and Partners
• Jamie Harding, CEO and Founder at Et Lorem Ltd, KBSA Board Member
• Jonathan Stanley, VP Marketing & Customer Service UK & ROI, Caesarstone
• Laura Dewhirst, MD, Quay Centre Ltd and Riverview Contracts Ltd
• Lindsey Copperwheat, Company Director, TC Kitchens Ltd
• Michael Linsky, MD, Sensio Lighting Group
• Neal Jones, MD - West Europe, BLANCO Group
• Simon Acres, MD, Simon Acres Group Ltd
• Toby Russell, Head of Sales, Blum UK
• Tony Nicolas, MD, Nicholas Anthony

Throughout the session, the panel will identify the key industry challenges and agree actions to spearhead meaningful solutions for the future of the KBB industry. To ensure the discussion reflects the wider industry’s voice, Simon Acres Group is inviting questions, insights, and ideas from KBB professionals, which can be submitted via the company's website. Selected contributions will be discussed during the roundtable, with solutions shared directly with contributors following the event. The overall outcomes will also be made available by Simon Acres Group to begin the pathway to change after the session.

As the first in a biannual series, KBB Futures marks the beginning of an ongoing dialogue aimed at shaping a more collaborative, innovative and forward-thinking KBB industry.

Simon Acres, MD, Simon Acres Group, said: “We want KBB Futures to be a catalyst for meaningful change. The challenges our industry faces won’t be solved in isolation, so by bringing leading voices together, we can share ideas, debate issues honestly and commit to actions that make a tangible difference. The KBB sector is full of passionate, talented professionals. KBB Futures is about bringing the right people together to listen, collaborate and agree practical solutions that can drive real, long-term progress. This is not just a one-off discussion, it’s the start of an ongoing journey to shape the future of our industry.”