The British Institute of Fitted Interiors Specialists (BIFIS) hosted its fifth annual awards earlier this week, which was held in partnership with InstallerSHOW at the NEC Birmingham for the very first time.
Held on June 23 and hosted by TV presenter and writer, Philippa Forrester, the Awards followed the organisation’s annual conference earlier in the day, which returned for the first time since 2024.
The BIFIS Awards were launched in 2021, with the organisation saying the programme has seen year-on-year growth. Across this year’s 18 categories, BIFIS says it received more than 200 entries this year for both businesses and individuals.
This year’s BIFIS Award winners are:
Young Installer of the Year 2026 – Ethan Houghton, Ken Beard & Son
Community Champion of the Year 2026 – Steve Redding, SR Home Installations
Customer Service Champion of the Year 2026 – Regal Kitchens Limited
Apprentice of the Year 2026 – Skye Rayer-Chu, Miles Bathrooms & Kitchens Limited
Environmental Champion of the Year 2026 – Rehome
Industry Newcomer 2026 – Miles Bathrooms & Kitchens Limited
Bedroom Installer of the Year 2026 – Andrew Gallimore, C H Joinery Solutions Limited
Bathroom Installer of the Year 2026 – James Johnson, Johnson Design & Installation
Kitchen Installer of Year 2026 – Andy Snelson, That Kitchen Fitter
Installation Manager of the Year 2026 – Gurpreet Singh Sudan, Easy Bathrooms
Installation Business of the Year 2026 – Ken Beard & Son Limited
Installer-friendly product of the Year 2026 – Affinity Magnetic Track Lighting, Sensio Lighting Group
Independent Bathroom Retailer of the Year 2026 – Christian Andrews Interiors
Independent Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2026 – Lima Kitchens
Bedroom Retailer of the Year 2026 – JLC Interiors
National Bathroom Retailer of the Year 2026 – Easy Bathrooms
National Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2026 – Wren Kitchens Limited
Special Recognition Award 2026 – Simon Acres
“The BIFIS Awards are now an established fixture in the fitted interiors industry calendar. Recognising and rewarding the dedication, skill and professionalism of installers is essential, as they are often the driving force behind successful fitted interiors projects,” commented BIFIS CEO, Damian Walters.
“The BIFIS Awards not only celebrate excellence but also help promote higher standards across the sector and inspire the next generation of installation professionals and businesses.
“It was fantastic to see so many deserving individuals and companies receive recognition, supported by the businesses they work alongside. The level of engagement from across the industry continues to be outstanding, whether through nominations, sponsorship or attendance and last night’s event reflects the importance and growing influence of the fitted interiors installation community.”
In related news, at the BIFIS Conference earlier that same day, Walters also said he believes the fitted interiors sector is “closer than ever” to mandatory licensing for tradespeople, warning the industry it must prepare for a future in which competence is formally regulated.