Blum UK to host live industry insight talks at KBB Birmingham 2026

Fittings manufacturer Blum has revealed it will be hosting a series of live talks at this year’s KBB Birmingham. Throughout the four-day event, which takes place at the NEC from 1st - 4th March, the brand will host 30-minute industry conversations at the KBB Innovation Awards stand in the format of live Q&As. Attendees will be encouraged to participate in the discussions, which include: 

* From Order Taker to Strategic Partner: How Distribution Had to Reinvent Itself – This talk will look at how the role of distributors has transformed with Blum’s Ben Muirhead and LDL Components’ Josh Penrice.

* Beyond Recycling: What Sustainable Kitchen Design Actually Means in 2026 – The discussion between Blum and Nested Living will examine what trade professionals should actually be telling clients about sustainability, which features deliver real environmental impact versus marketing theatre, and how designing for decades rather than trends changes specification choices.

* Where Your Timber Actually Comes From (And Why It Matters More Than You Think) – For this talk, Blum’s Isabel Noy will be joined by Joseph Bray from national charity Sylva Foundation to discuss the potential for homegrown timber supply in kitchen and bedroom manufacturing. 

* Designing for Real Life: Kitchens That Work for Changing Bodies and Minds – Blum’s Samantha Thompson and Roundhouse Design’s Francesca Fender will cover practical design thinking that accommodates aging bodies, neurodivergent processing, fluctuating mobility, and multigenerational households sharing one space. The focus will be on discussing specification choices that serve everyone better, from families with young children to aging-in-place homeowners, without compromising aesthetics or requiring specialised expertise.

Krystyna Threlfall, marketing manager for Blum UK, said: "Innovation that genuinely improves quality of living has always been at the heart of what Blum stands for. That's why we're delighted to continue our partnership with KBB Birmingham and The Innovation Awards – it's a natural alignment with our values. Through these live industry conversations, we want to move beyond product features and explore the bigger questions shaping our industry: what sustainable design really means, how we create kitchens that work for real people throughout their lives and how the entire supply chain needs to evolve to deliver more value. These are the conversations that drive meaningful innovation forward and we're pleased to create a space for the industry to explore them together."

Blum is also a sponsor of KBB Birmingham’s 40th birthday alongside this year’s Innovation Awards. Celebrating the most groundbreaking products and ideas that push boundaries, redefining industry standards and championing sustainability in KBB, the awards recognise exceptional achievements and showcase the creativity driving the future of KBB innovation.