The Bathroom Association’s 2026 Connect Conference has raised £5,685.96 for CRASH, the construction industry charity supporting homelessness charities and hospices with vital building projects.

The money was raised during the gala dinner at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, following the Association’s annual conference on 8 October.

Vipesh Mistry, head of projects at CRASH, gave a short but powerful presentation during the evening, explaining how the charity draws on the expertise, products and generosity of the construction industry to create safe and caring places for people experiencing homelessness and those receiving hospice care.

His presentation brought the purpose of the fundraising into sharp focus and encouraged guests to support the raffle and auction generously.

Businesses and individuals who donated prizes, along with everyone who bought raffle tickets and placed bids during the evening, made the final total possible.

Daphne Doody-Green, chief executive at the Bathroom Association, said: “Vipesh’s presentation proved to be a powerful moment of the gala dinner. He explained CRASH’s work and helped everyone in the room understand where their money would go and the difference their support could make.

“The response was immediate. Our guests bought raffle tickets, bid generously in the auction and helped us reach a final total of £5,685.96.

“That result also depended on the businesses and individuals who donated such an impressive selection of prizes. Every donation, ticket and bid contributed, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part.”

Trisha Pickersgill, chief executive at CRASH, said: “A huge thank you to the Bathroom Association, its members, supporters and gala dinner guests for raising £5,685.96 for CRASH.

“Vipesh sees first-hand the challenges facing the homelessness charities and hospices we support, and we are grateful that he had the opportunity to share the importance of this work with guests at the dinner.

“The money raised will help us provide charities with access to the specialist expertise, construction products and financial support they need to improve their buildings and create places that care for people.”

CRASH has been the UK construction industry’s charity since 1996. It helps charities navigate the complex and costly process of construction by bringing together professional expertise, building products and donations from across the industry.

The Bathroom Association’s Connect Conference brought together professionals from across the bathroom supply chain for a day of insight, discussion and networking. The gala dinner also hosted the 2026 Thirty-under-Thirty Awards, sponsored by Ideal Bathrooms, recognising talented young people making an impact across the sector.

Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Budget Statement yesterday, Damian Walters, CEO of the British Institute of the Fitted Interiors Specialists (BIFIS), warned that ongoing business cost pressures, tightening margins and the rising cost of living could hamper growth across the fitted interiors sector.

The Budget delivered a mixed outlook for manufacturers, independent retailers and sole-trader installers, with concerns remaining over the costs of running a business.

“Yesterday’s Budget presents a mixed bag for the fitted interiors industry.” He commented. “We recognise the Chancellor’s efforts to offer stability and ease immediate overheads on our high streets through business rate relief, while keeping capital investment incentives in play for British manufacturing.

“However, the reality on the ground is that our sector is an interconnected ecosystem. A showroom cannot deliver without reliable UK manufacturing, and neither can trade successfully without skilled, accredited installers to bring projects across the finish line.

“While fuel duty freezes and capital allowances help with the margins, this Budget falls short of addressing the systemic skills bottleneck and administrative weight carried by our self-employed installation community. Without targeted support to recruit, upskill, and retain technical talent, or meaningful incentives for homeowners investing in energy-efficient domestic upgrades, independent KBB businesses will once again have to rely on their own resilience rather than direct fiscal momentum.

“I am also concerned about the effective tax rise created by fiscal drag. When income tax thresholds remain frozen whilst earnings rise, people can pay a greater share of their income in tax, even when those increases merely keep pace with inflation. Unchanged headline tax rates do not mean an unchanged tax burden. My concern is that this leaves households with less spending power for major purchases such as kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms, whilst self-employed installers whose taxable profits rise can also face a higher effective tax burden. For a sector already operating on tight margins, the risk is a further squeeze on both customer demand and livelihoods.

“BIFIS will continue working closely with policymakers, industry partners, and our members to ensure professional installation standards and vocational trades remain central to the UK’s broader built-environment agenda.”

Key sector takeaways: How the Budget impacts fitted interiors:

Retail Showrooms & Independent Design Studios: Measures addressing business rate structures offer targeted breathing room for high street design studios navigating cautious consumer spending on major home improvements. However, the broader squeeze on household discretionary income means showroom footfall and conversion cycles will remain fiercely competitive heading into 2027.

UK cabinet, worktop & component manufacturers: The confirmation of plant and machinery capital investment incentives and support addressing high industrial energy tariffs provides tangible relief for UK-based production lines. Despite this, tight margins, high raw material logistics, and corporation tax obligations continue to restrict domestic manufacturers’ capital reserves for extensive workforce expansion.

Self-employed fitters & sub-contract installers: Installers, who make up the backbone of project delivery, face continued day-to-day margin strain. Extended freezes on vehicle fuel duties provide welcome day-to-day transport relief for mobile trades, but the absence of structural interventions on vocational upskilling pathways and rising compliance overheads leaves self-employed tradespeople bearing disproportionate operational pressure. Some good news regarding parental leave/pay for the self-employed is also welcomed by BIFIS.