The kbb industry has a duty of care to attract the next generation of kitchen and bathroom professionals, is the message from experts.

In an exclusive column for Kitchens & Bathrooms News, founder of specialist recruitment agency Foyne Jones, Peter Jones wrote: “Put frankly, the sooner the kbb industry steps up and reaches out to Generation Z the better.”

Speaking in an accompanying video, he said: “We all have a duty of care to work harder and smarter at attracting the next generation of Kbb professionals.

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“That may be designers, it may be showroom managers, it may be the skilled trades who actually turn those projects and designs into reality.”

The kbb industry is already struggling with a well-publicised trade skills gap, with not enough installers to meet the high demand for kitchen and bathroom fits.

Director of award-winning installation company Liberty Fitting Service Mark Conacher expressed trades are valuable and offer a “fantastic” living.

The experts agreed the kbb industry needs to promote itself to young people through social media, to make it appealing.

Peter Jones explained why retailers should become more involved, adding: “It’s about your business utilising the power of apprenticeships…and going out of your way to train, develop and bring through our stars of the future. “

Mark Conacher agreed and said he was taking on young people using the Government’s Kickstart scheme.

He stated: “It’s a different world, now, for kids. With social media everybody wants to be an influencer.

“We need to create role models and people to look up to” and said the kbb industry, including retailers must “up their social media game and find those youngsters and show them the role models, show them about the trades and make it interesting.”