Blum on.. Rising Stars
Ben Cullum, Blum UK sales director reveals why the brand is proudly supporting the Rising Star category at this year’s kbbreview Retail & Design Awards.
Why is Blum supporting this category specifically?
The Rising Star award is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding contributions made by young people in our industry. Investing in young people has been at the centre of our organisation since we started our apprentice programme in the 1970’s, and this philosophy has made Blum who we are today.
Why does the industry need to encourage young people to enter the industry?
Our industry directly impacts peoples’ lives and yet I still believe that the KBB industry, with its potential for a rewarding career, is a relatively well-kept secret. It’s a consistent theme that our average demographic is ageing. Without encouraging more young people, we will not only lose the opportunity to train and develop the necessary skills and experience to deliver living spaces of the future, but we will also miss out on a generation of knowledge that has the ability to move our industry forward.
Put simply, we believe innovation is our future and developing young talent that challenges our norms ensures the sustainability of businesses and our industry for the long term. Of course, young people are not just future colleagues, they bring the thought processes of this industry’s future customers as well. If we ignore the younger generations, we risk not understanding the very people we will depend upon for our livelihood.
What can we learn from these Rising Stars?
The inspiration and talent showcased by these Rising Stars demonstrates that with the right opportunity and environment, the sky is the limit of what can be achieved. By investing in and harnessing this younger generation’s creativity, diversity of thought and inspiration we will truly build sustainable businesses fit for the future.