The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has announced the appointment of Member of Parliament Calvin Bailey MBE MP as an honorary patron of the organisation.
BiKBBI is a government sanctioned institute dedicated to driving positive change in the fitted interiors sector. Bailey’s appointment will be instrumental in amplifying BiKBBI’s voice as it tackles key challenges facing the sector including the skills shortage – working towards improving standards, education and training in order to encourage more young people from diverse backgrounds and ex-military personnel into the industry.
Born in Zambia, Bailey was raised in South-East London and attended a local comprehensive school. He went on to graduate with a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Exeter and was commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 1999 as a Pilot Officer. Following a highly decorated Royal Air Force career spanning 24 years, during which he completed a Master of Arts degree in war studies, was awarded the Air Medal by the US Government and was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Bailey was elected as Member of Parliament Leyton and Wanstead in July 2024.
As well as supporting local priorities within his constituency, Bailey’s political focus on national issues includes empowering young people, supporting veterans and championing diversity, all in precise synergy with BiKBBI’s aims and objectives to build a sustainable future workforce to meet the needs of UK homeowners and help achieve the Government’s recently announced construction targets.
Damian Walters, CEO of the British Institute of KBB Installation commented “BiKBBI is entering a transformational period in its near 20-year history, as we work even more closely with Government and other areas of the construction sector to meet the needs of the UK in terms of construction targets, consumer demand and improved health and safety. Calvin Bailey’s extensive experience, success and his passion for diversity and championing young people to succeed, along with his dedication to serving the British public and continuous efforts to have a positive impact on society is extraordinary and his patronage is invaluable to BiKBBI as we strive for positive change”.
Calvin Bailey said “I am excited to officially become a patron of BiKBBI. It plays a vital role in setting industry standards, supporting professional development, and promoting consumer confidence. BiKBBI’s commitment to standards and education – necessary to bring on a new generation of installation specialists – and in helping small businesses to grow, is admirable. I’m excited to support their mission.”
Bailey delivered an inspirational speech at BiKBBI’s Annual Conference in Westminster in 2024, then a serving Wing Commander in The Royal Air Force. He called upon the KBB industry to foster a collaborative approach to its challenges, using his first-hand operational military experience as a guiding example.
CEO Damian Walters added: “Calvin is an incredibly inspirational person, although he will not accept credit for that. His appointment makes perfect sense as we share the same passion and values for collaboration, diversity and supporting the next generation to embark on meaningful careers.”
