The Bathroom Association has named the 30 winners of its Thirty-under-Thirty Awards 2026, recognising young professionals from across the bathroom sector, including kbbreview News and Features Writer George Dean.
The winners received their awards at the Association’s Gala Evening on 8 October at The Grand Hotel, Birmingham, following its annual Connect Conference.
The awards recognise professionals aged 29 and under who have demonstrated achievement, ambition and potential within the industry. Entries were assessed against three criteria: growth and achievement within the business, future potential and approach to personal development, and recognition among colleagues and peers.
The 2026 winners represent businesses across the bathroom supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors and service providers. They include Sam Griffiths-Clarke of Adroit Services | Amazing Bathrooms, Jaychel Barlet of GROHE, Ellie Williams of Lecico Bathrooms, Holly Towler of VADO, Daniel Riordan of Bristan Group and Tayla Dolman of Villeroy & Boch.
Maddalin Cordell of Ideal Bathrooms was named the 2026 Outstanding Achiever, an accolade introduced to recognise the individual whose submission particularly stood out to the judges. Matthew Edwards of Villeroy & Boch and Aidan Mellon of Classic Marble (Showers) Ltd received Highly Commended recognition.
Bathroom Association chief executive Daphne Doody-Green said: “The quality of this year’s Thirty-under-Thirty entries demonstrated just how much talent we have coming through our industry.
“What stood out was not simply what these young professionals have already achieved, but their attitude, ambition and willingness to keep learning and developing.
“Our sector will continue to change enormously over the coming years, and we need talented people who are prepared to bring new ideas, challenge established thinking and grow into its future leaders. Every one of our 30 winners should be enormously proud of this recognition.”
The independent judging panel comprised Henk Gieskens, director of client success at Nineteen Group; Sharon Southcott, managing director of Strategic Professionals; and Lee Cartwright, managing director of the Unified Water Label Association. The judges brought experience spanning leadership and people development, communications, commercial strategy, sustainability, design and water efficiency.
Lisa Carnwell, communications manager and organiser of the Thirty-under-Thirty Awards at the Bathroom Association, added: “Seeing the final 30 receive their awards is always the best part of organising Thirty-under-Thirty.
“Behind every nomination is a colleague, manager or business that has taken the time to say, ‘this person deserves to be recognised’, and I think that matters.
“The nominations this year gave us a fascinating snapshot of the talent coming through the sector. There were people progressing incredibly quickly, taking on significant responsibility, developing new ideas and earning the respect of customers and colleagues very early in their careers.
“A huge thank you must also go to Henk, Sharon and Lee. They took the judging incredibly seriously and brought different perspectives and considerable industry experience to the process. And, most importantly, congratulations to all 30 winners.
“I hope being part of the 2026 cohort gives them confidence in what they have already achieved and encourages them to keep pushing forward.”
The Thirty-under-Thirty Awards form part of the Bathroom Association’s wider commitment to recognising and developing talent across the industry. The awards were presented during the black-tie Gala Dinner, which followed a day of insight, discussion and networking at the Connect Conference.
Full list of winners
Sam Griffiths-Clarke – Adroit Services | Amazing Bathrooms
George Dean – kbbreview
Jaychel Barlet – GROHE Ltd
Orlando Pauza – Perrin & Rowe (Fortune Brands Innovations)
Scarlett Jenkins – Fortune Brands Innovations
Ellie Williams – Lecico Bathrooms
Ben Bavister – Delabie DVS
Derbhaile Boyle – SONAS Bathrooms
Emma Mahon – SONAS Bathrooms
Lauren Saunders – SONAS Bathrooms
Barry McGrath – SONAS Bathrooms
Ruben Ellis – Triton Showers
Jarryd Littlejohn – Triton Showers
Liam Marshall – Triton Showers
Holly Towler – VADO
Luca Holmes – VADO
Joshua Weston – VADO
Jack Buckland – VADO
Daniel Riordan – Bristan Group Limited
Rosie Masterman – Bristan Group Limited
Liam Innes – Kohler Mira Ltd
Nathan Sawyer – Kohler Mira Ltd
Connor Fenton – Kohler Mira
Hal Woodward – Kohler Mira Ltd
Damien Goepfert – Kohler Mira
Tayla Dolman – Villeroy & Boch
Dominic Walton – Villeroy & Boch
Matthew Edwards – Villeroy & Boch
Aidan Mellon – Classic Marble (Showers) Ltd
Maddalin Cordell – Ideal Bathrooms