KBB FUTURES EDITION 2

2.1: Connect with modular build companies to supply Kbb products.

UK modular build statistics show growing adoption, with around 5,000-15,000 units built yearly, representing a small but increasing slice of total housing, aiming for significant growth (e.g., 400% by 2025) to meet housing targets, with benefits like faster builds (up to 30% quicker) and reduced waste, though challenges remain in skills and financing.

2.2: Consider your own social media strategy – you will have a greater personal reach than most associations or installers.

Many buyers prefer to purchase from leaders who use social media. It allows businesses to share their values, get direct feedback, and compete in a digital-first world, making authentic connections that drive loyalty and sales.

2.3: Join together to work smarter not harder with the knowledge shared to access funding

To access funds, employers must set up an account on the Apprenticeship Service, agree to a payment schedule with a training provider, and for non-levy payers, reserve funds for co-investment. Certain employers and apprentices may also be eligible for additional funding incentives.

Add to your showroom pitch about multigenerational living i.e consider your design for the future for when we age. This consideration could result in higher order values e.g more pull out storage and additional sales conversations because you have considered this where competitors may not.

Multigenerational kitchen design focuses on universal accessibility, flexibility, and clear zoning to accommodate all ages and abilities, featuring elements like varied counter heights, induction cooktops, lever-handle faucets, pull-out pantry systems, quiet appliances, soft lighting, and designated zones for different users (kids, seniors, cooks) to promote independence and reduce clutter, making the kitchen a comfortable hub for the whole family.

4.1: In a flat market consider your market share opportunities – what do you do differently (USP`s) to your competition and offer training your team to shout about it.

In a flat market, the primary business strategy shifts from seeking overall market expansion to aggressively increasing market share by taking customers from competitors

4.2: Legislation – in addition to the levy funding, offer other direct taxation relief (corporation/ greater PAYE incentives) to businesses to encourage additional apprenticeship hires.

In the UK, businesses currently receive several incentives for hiring apprentices, but these generally do not involve a direct corporation tax deduction or a separate, greater PAYE incentive beyond existing schemes.

4.3: The industry needs to raise their profiles to make highly attractive processes to ensure a better, qualified route to market.

To raise KBB (Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom) profiles for a strong market entry, you need a customer-centric strategy focusing on deep market research, building a strong digital presence with valuable content, fostering trust through expertise and reviews, and crafting a seamless customer journey from awareness to loyalty, leveraging targeted marketing like SEO, social media, and influencer collaborations for qualified leads and brand reputation.

4.4: Review who should be lobbying the government with your KBB Soft Skills to support specific education needs.

The Kitchen, Bedroom, and Bathroom (KBB) industry can leverage its members’ inherent communication, negotiation, relationship-building, and problem-solving soft skills to lobby the government effectively for specific education needs. These skills are essential for navigating the political landscape, building alliances, and presenting compelling, evidence-based arguments for change.

Review how AI can support your supply chain efficiencies, design options and installation processes.

AI can support a KBB (Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom) retailer by optimising supply chains through data-driven forecasting, enhancing design processes with visualisation and space planning tools, and streamlining installation through predictive analytics and project management. 

Encourage more KBB businesses to visit schools to provide information to education leavers that the industry has multiple roles and is well paid. Ensure we simplify apprenticeship communication.

Working in kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom (KBB) sales and design can be comparatively well paid, particularly for experienced professionals due to significant commission opportunities. While entry-level salaries are average, the total earning potential, driven by sales performance, can exceed many other general sales or interior design roles.

Use AI to forecast your business with accurate data to provide transparency to allow adjustments for business success and collaboration with this group and the wider industry.

AI enhances demand forecasting by integrating historical sales data, seasonality, and external factors like weather or economic trends. Sales teams can anticipate future demand predictions across regions and channels, allowing them to adjust their supply chain and inventory strategies.

Paint a better picture of what we do to consumers – over communicate that we are service led with quality products choices. The media can help with what we actually do as an industry and the worth.

To help a Kbb retailer “paint a better picture” of what they do, the business should focus on a multi-faceted approach that engages potential customers visually, emotionally, and practically, demonstrating expertise and value.

We should engage with consumer groups more and ask them exactly what they want. i.e identify needs.

Kitchen and bathroom manufacturers can effectively engage with consumer groups to identify their needs through a multi-channel approach that combines direct feedback, observational research, and data analysis.

The industry should be less fragmented and more professional with accreditation or certification of designers and installers.

The kbb industry can be less fragmented and more professional through the widespread adoption and standardisation of professional certification for both designers and installers. This creates common standards of expertise, improves quality, and builds consumer confidence.

Could the KBSA package `how to hire` an apprentice and support the signposting of funding routes.

The KBSA (Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom Specialists Association) could provide guidance or resources, but the core system involves using the government’s Apprenticeship Service to find courses, providers, manage funds (like Levy transfers), and follow rules for funding eligibility (residency, age) and contribution (5% for most non-levy payers).

To improve standards, the KBB industry should have a government body like RIBA architects.

For the Kbb industry to have a government-sanctioned regulatory body similar to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB), it would require a significant shift in legal and public perception.

It’s our responsibility to promote the Kbb industry to school leavers to offer

a framework of what we do.

To promote the KBB industry to school leavers, kbb businesses should offer structured work experience, showcase diverse career paths (design, installation, tech, sales), highlight earning potential, run engaging workshops in schools, create relatable content (social media, videos) featuring young professionals, and partner with local schools/colleges for career fairs, making the industry exciting and tangible by demystifying the day-to-day, emphasizing creativity and technology, and demonstrating real-world success stories.

We should all have a deep commitment to this group and continue to share advice .

A KBB (Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom) group needs deep commitment and advice-sharing for better collaboration, innovation, problem-solving, and shared ownership, leading to improved employee engagement, customer satisfaction, and achievement of common goals, especially as it fosters trust, reduces blame, and allows for diverse perspectives to create effective, sustainable solutions in a competitive market.