Connect Conference 2026 brings bathroom industry together to confront shared challenges

The Bathroom Association brought businesses from across the bathroom sector together at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham, on 8th October for its annual Connect Conference.

Held under the theme Stronger Together, the event welcomed more than 120 delegates representing manufacturers, distributors, merchants, retailers, installers and industry partners. The programme combined an honest assessment of current market conditions with broader discussions about resilience, innovation, customer needs and the skills required to support the sector’s future.

Daphne Doody-Green, chief executive of the Bathroom Association, said: “Connect demonstrated the value of bringing different parts of our industry into the same room. The market remains challenging, and there are no simple answers to the issues businesses are facing, but the day showed that our sector has an enormous depth of knowledge, experience and determination.

“Our theme, Stronger Together, was reflected not only in the presentations and panel discussion, but also in the conversations taking place throughout the day. Those relationships give us a stronger foundation from which to share insight, influence decisions and turn common concerns into collective action.”

Opening keynote speaker Jez Rose combined humour with a thought-provoking examination of behaviour, change and resilience. Rebecca Larkin, head of construction research at the Construction Products Association provided a candid assessment of the UK economy and construction market. Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, founder and chief executive of the Society of British and International Interior Design, explored how closer cooperation between designers, manufacturers and specifiers could support innovation and market growth.

Skills and competence took centre stage during an industry panel chaired by Bathroom Association technical director Andrew McLean, who was joined by Steve Collinge, MD of Insights Retail Group, Simon Acres, Julie McLean, UK marketing director at Hansgrohe and the Association’s new president, and Jonathan Samuel, MD of Water Regs UK.

The daytime programme concluded with a presentation from Rob Law MBE, inventor of the Trunki ride-on suitcase, whose story demonstrated how rejection, commercial setbacks and unexpected crises can become catalysts for innovation.

Daphne Doody-Green concluded: “The success of Connect was created by the people who took part, our speakers, panellists, sponsors, members, partners and guests. The challenge now is to carry that energy beyond the conference and continue working together on the issues that matter to our businesses, our customers and the future of the bathroom industry.”