Simon Acres
Group Managing Director, Simon Acres Group Ltd
Simon Acres is a highly respected UK business executive and industry leader with over 35 years of collective experience across the Kitchen, Bedroom, and Bathroom (KBB), builders' merchant, and construction sectors. As the founder and Managing Director of Simon Acres Group Ltd, he has pioneered specialised services in executive recruitment, accredited sales training, digital media, and strategic corporate consultancy.
A passionate advocate for professional development and training, Simon has dedicated much of his career to bridging the industry skills gap and championing vocational paths through apprenticeships.
Career & Business Milestones
Founder & Managing Director
2018 – PresentSimon Acres Group Ltd
Established the premier services ecosystem for the KBB, merchant, and construction markets. Under his leadership, the group has scaled rapidly, driving modernisation in trade talent acquisition and professional development.
Acquisition of KBB Recruitment
November 2019Spearheaded the acquisition of online recruitment specialist KBB Recruitment under Acres Consultancy, successfully extending the group's digital reach, geographical footprint, and specialist jobseeker network for the home interiors market.
Strategic Growth & Acquisition of Oval Deene
September 2024 – PresentSpearheaded the acquisition of Oval Deene Recruitment Limited to further expand the group's market reach. This strategic alignment culminated in opening a dedicated southern branch in Royal Tunbridge Wells in May 2025 to service an accelerating corporate client base.
Group Sales Director
1998 – 2018Omega PLC
Spent 20 highly successful years directing the B2B commercial strategy for one of the UK’s premier, largest-scale kitchen manufacturers.
Industry Leadership & Advisory Boards
Retail Corporate Chairman
KBSA (Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association)
Dedicated a decade (2010–2020) to steering retail standards, corporate engagement, and member growth strategies for the leading UK trade association.
Strategic Advisory Board Member
BiKBBI (British Institute of KBB Installation)
Appointed to the strategic board to actively tackle the industry-wide installation crisis, helping reshape installer pipelines and standards.
End Point Assessor
Occupational Awards Limited (OAL) & Achieve & Partners
Maintains active, hands-on roles evaluating the technical proficiencies and skills of incoming trade professionals across multiple awarding bodies to ensure rigorous quality control and high industry standards.
Committee Member
Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers
Serves on the Training and Education Committee to influence nationwide learning standards and heritage trade skills preservation.
Ambassador & Trainer
Builders Merchants Federation (BMF)
Delivers accredited sales training frameworks designed to uplift operational efficiency and profit margins across independent and national merchant groups.
Awards & Accolades
Special Recognition Award
June 2026BIFIS Awards
Honoured at the NEC Birmingham for an exceptional, enduring commitment to multi-sector market development, talent building, and driving forward the KBB Futures roundtable initiatives.
Best SME Engagement Award
July 2025East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (EMAAN)
Awarded to Simon Acres Group under his leadership for outstanding corporate dedication to onboarding, funding, and mentoring apprentices across regional trade frameworks.
The David Caulfield Outstanding Contribution Award
June 2025BKU Awards
Recognised at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London for consistently going "above and beyond" to champion vocational apprenticeships, career pathways, and structural business support for the next generation of KBB talent.
Testimonial:
Malcolm Scott (The KBSA) about Simon
Simon personally and all staff at Omega PLC are very strong supports of the Independent Kitchen Specialist. For any Kitchen Specialist, the Omega PLC showrooms in Doncaster are well worth a visit. Simon and his team are easy to deal with, the brands are strong and the product is robust, innovative and designer friendly.
