KBIS USA REVEALS SKILLS SHORTAGE

KBIS USA REVEALS SKILL SHORTAGE SIMILAR TO UK

BiKBBI CEO, Damian Walters, was invited to attend The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) as a guest of the North American Trade Association, The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) in January.

KBIS, which was held at The Las Vegas Convention Centre, is North America's largest trade show dedicated to all aspects of kitchen and bath design. This extensive exhibition showcased the freshest designs from over 600 leading brands, it is a one-stop shop providing attendees and exhibitors the ultimate destination to network, exchange ideas and build their businesses.

The, event, which welcomed a staggering 30,000+ visitors, attracts an international delegate and was preceded by a visit from the Americans to Cheshire last year to discuss their Global Connect programme.

The purpose of the BiKBBI’s attendance was to better understand the global skills gap crisis and how the Americans are tackling the subject. Speaking at the event, Damian Walters said, “It’s clear that the global skills shortage is reaching critical levels. For all the many challenges the American industry faces, the ‘critical and well documented’ one is that of a skills shortage, and this topic certainly played centre stage on their agenda for the show. 

Damian continued, “I was surprised at how much emphasis there was on the skills shortage over there. But what surprised me most, was that there was a clear plan on how to tackle the problem and an acceptance from the entire industry that the situation exists and indeed needs addressing. The UK needs to pay close attention to how this state of affairs is being handled by the Americans if we’ve any chance to deal with our own problem”.

The NKBA have created a ‘Next Up’ initiative which aims to address the skills shortage across the industry. KBIS welcomed over 300 students from across the United States to introduce them to the best of the industry, to include manufacture, design and installation, which plays just part of their strategy to attract the next generation of school leavers to the industry.

Speaking at their State of the Association talk at KBIS, NKBA CEO Bill Darcy Jr. said that the Association would focus on a three prong strategy that would in the first instance provide high-school students with a handson exposure to design and construction. Secondly, they aim to change the dialogue about the various pathways into a lucrative career within the industry and thirdly, they aim to connect interest to action.

I was surprised at how much emphasis there was on the skills shortage over there. But what surprised me most, was that there was a clear plan on how to tackle the problem and an acceptance from the entire industry that the situation exists and indeed needs addressing."

At the centre of the programme they aim to introduce is ‘Career Test Drives’, an initiative that brings the industry to high-school students, introducing them to all aspects of the industry from design to installation. The NKBA bring the industry to school gymnasiums, like a mini-exhibition, where students get actual hands on experience designing and installing product.

“This is a real proactive initiative that takes the industry to the schools. The industry unites and is tacking this challenge head on. The BiKBBI has created a new, but special bond with the NKBA which will collaboratively approach the skills shortage on both sides of the pond” said Walters.

Despite being thousands of miles from home, The British were well represented at KBIS in Nevada with many representatives from the UK attending the show including BiKBBI members Liberty Fitting Services attending as well as BiKBBI Sponsors Classic Marble and Compusoft (pictured).

KBIS is back next year, in Florida – to find out more, please visit

www.kbis.com

Bill Darcy Jr, CEO, NKBA

The Association would focus on a three prong strategy that would in the first instance provide high-school students with a hands-on exposure to design and construction. Secondly, they aim to change the dialogue about the various pathways into a lucrative career within the industry and thirdly, they aim to connect interest to action.

To watch The State of Association address by NKBA CEO Bill Darcy, please click on 'play' above.

300 students get to tour the KBIS show floor with the #NKBANextUp program. They’ll get the chance to meet industry leaders, ask questions, and learn about exciting design and construction career options in kitchen and bath. Careers aren’t “one size fits all” so why do we have to treat them that way?