What are the Thirty-under-Thirty Awards?
As the leading voice for the bathroom industry in the UK, the Bathroom Association is committed to fostering innovation, excellence, and talent development. The Thirty-under-Thirty Awards embody this commitment by spotlighting individuals under the age of thirty who have demonstrated exceptional skills, leadership, and dedication in their respective roles.
Open to all Association member companies, including affiliates and partners, these awards, judged by an independent panel, showcase the remarkable contributions of young talent shaping the future of the entire bathroom industry. From finance, sales and marketing to innovative design concepts and career advancements, the awards honour those driving positive change and pushing the boundaries of excellence in the industry.
How do I enter?
Nominations for 2026 are now live, and each Association member company or partner can enter as many individuals as it chooses, or you may even nominate yourself for an award.
We’ll also accept any nomination made in a previous year’s awards, provided you meet the rules set out below. For instance, if your nominee won in 2025, they may be entered again for 2026!
You must submit a statement detailing why the nominee deserves an award as part of your nomination. This should be up to 500 words.
Should they be shortlisted, a high-resolution portrait photo of the nominee will be requested. A photo taken on a phone is fine!
To enter, click here to fill out a simple form.
What are the rules for nomination?
Just three rules:
- Every nominee must be 29 years old or under on 8 October 2026 (born on or after 9 October 1996).
- You must provide a statement detailing why the nominee should be considered.
- Nominations must be received by the end of business on Friday, July 17, 2026.
The judging process
An independent judging panel will oversee the nominations.
They will score the entries based on the following:
- Nominee’s growth within the business, including their work achievements
- Future potential and attitude to work and personal development
- Recognition among their peers. Testimonials from customers and colleagues are welcome
We’ll confirm a shortlist to all entrants.
The final winners will be announced at our Annual Conference 2026 gala dinner on October 8 at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham. This year, we will also recognise an outstanding achiever from our 2026 cohort with a special award.
Get your nominations in now and celebrate the opportunity to recognise and applaud the outstanding achievements of our young professionals.
How to submit a winning nomination
A strong nomination is specific, evidence-led, and clearly mapped to the three judging criteria.
- Explain how the nominee has grown within the business by highlighting concrete achievements: what they did, how they did it, and the results (figures, project outcomes, customer impact, efficiencies, new ideas delivered, responsibilities taken on).
- Then show their future potential and attitude by describing how they approach their work: initiative, problem-solving, leadership, learning and development, resilience, and how they seek feedback or build skills.
- Finally, demonstrate recognition among peers with credible examples. This could include being trusted to mentor others, being nominated internally, being praised by colleagues or customers, or being consistently relied upon across teams, ideally backed by short testimonials that confirm their impact and reputation.
In short, a strong nomination should avoid general praise and instead use real examples that show measurable contribution, clear potential, and genuine respect from others.
Contact Lisa Carnwell with any queries via Lisa.Carnwell@bathroom-association.org.uk