Leading shower enclosure brand Lakes has appointed a new finance director to support the company’s long-term growth plans.
Tim Lloyd brings over two decades of senior financial leadership experience to Lakes and has worked across a diverse range of sectors including manufacturing, engineering, construction and software. Having qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in 2005, Tim has worked in both UK-based and international roles, building a strong track record of strategic financial management in complex environments.
At Lakes, he will oversee all aspects of the financial planning and analysis, establishing processes, guiding strategic decision-making and ensuring the company remains well-positioned for further expansion and hitting its ambitious goals.
Speaking of his new role, Tim said: “I’m looking forward to my time at Lakes. It’s an exciting time to be joining the team, who have all been incredibly welcoming and supportive.
“I’m thrilled to bring my knowledge and experience to the role and look forward to helping Lakes drive growth, achieve targets and expand its presence across the KBB sector even further.”
Lakes managing director Mike Gahir said: “We are delighted to welcome Tim to the Lakes team.
“We look forward to seeing how his strong financial acumen will help Lakes build on its success and streamline process so we can become an even more efficient company that delivers the best for its customers every time.”
Bristan Group CEO, Jen Cassidy, has been named as the new chair of the Construction Inclusion Coalition (CIC), as the coalition continues its advocacy for greater inclusivity and diversity across the construction sector.
The CIC was established in 2023 by leading organisations across the construction industry, collaborating to enhance the positive impact of their individual equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives and to work together to create a more inclusive industry for all.
Jen takes over the role from coalition founder and first chair, Angela Rushforth, who is retiring. Jen has been the CEO of taps, showers and bathroom plumbing manufacturer Bristan Group since January 2025, having joined the group in 2021 as Chief Marketing Officer, following senior roles at Wolseley, Kohler Mira and Linn Products during her career.
Bristan Group is one of the 13 founding partners of the coalition committed to nurturing talent through positive change and help turn the industry’s skills shortage around.
Jen Cassidy, construction inclusion coalition chair, said: “I’m enormously proud to be taking on the role of Chair of the CIC. The progress the CIC and its members have made in the past two years is inspiring, and whilst there is still much to do, I am genuinely optimistic that together we can continue to drive real change for the industry. Inclusion starts with every one of us already in the industry, and I am passionate about making the construction sector a place where everyone feels they belong.
“I would also like to recognise and thank Angela for her time, energy and vision in creating the CIC. Her passion and determination to, as she says, ‘put the ladder down for those who come next’ has made the coalition what it is today, and it is an honour to carry on her work.”
The coalition now boasts 39 companies and trade organisations across building materials manufacturers, merchants and supply chain services to the construction sector. During 2025 companies including Norcros Group, Etex, Volution Group, Mira Showers, Selco and Specialist Driver Resourcing have joined the CIC.
CIC plans for 2025 into 2026 includes a continued focus on gender inclusion and creating inclusive workplaces, the promotion of more family-friendly policies and initiatives and enlisting more male colleagues as Inclusion Champions.
To coincide with its major new product launch, Utopia has introduced a digital brochure detailing its latest innovations. Available to view online or download from the Utopia website, the brochure introduces HeyU, a brand new modular concept which Utopia believes is its most exciting and flexible collection yet. Centred around four distinct and tactile design styles, HeyU is offered in 14 finishes including two brand new metallic effects.
Through a series of beautiful lifestyle settings, the brochure highlights the visual and sensory appeal of the four different styles and outlines other HeyU options such as slabtop or sit-on basins and the choice of handles or handleless push to open.
In addition, it showcases a brand new GlowLux mirror collection, available as a standalone mirror offering or with co-ordinating backboards in each HeyU design style and finish, plus the stunning new Metalux sit-on basins offered in Brushed Gunmetal Black, Brushed Stainless Steel and Brushed Brass
Also new for Autumn 2025 are two beautiful new finishes for Utopia’s glass fronted Lustre range along with a wider handle colour choice too. Sophisticated Rift Black and soothing Sandy Ecru further extend the design possibilities of this elegant modular collection.
Utopia is proud to design and manufacture its extensive range of furniture collections at its purpose-built headquarters in the Midlands.
eco-cistem™ has been awarded Global Winner in the ‘Contract Product of the Year’ category at the prestigious Society of British Interior Designers (SBID) International Design Awards 2025. The award recognises design excellence, evaluated by judges from leading businesses in the fields of design, property, and hospitality.
The award event was held at the Royal Lancaster in London on the 24th October, and Paul Crossley, Managing Director for eco-cistem, was in attendance to receive the award.
“We have been blown away by the attention our toilet cistern is getting at many award events this year, and the established SBID awards are particularly special. At a time when everyone is aware of the need to save water, and that it will undoubtedly increase in price over the next few years, I think eco-cistem is resonating with many in the construction industry. We may be in the early stages of our journey as a business, but the product is already making large-scale water savings, and we are forecasting substantial growth for this sustainable product innovation.”
eco-cistem is a concealed toilet cistern that can be installed with any brand of toilet. It has been designed to prioritise using condensate water from neighbouring air conditioning units to flush toilets. Even the smallest 1.75 kW air conditioning unit produces around 1 litre of condensate water each hour, which is normally piped directly into the waste. In an eco-cistem installation, this condensate is piped into the top chamber of the toilet cistern and is used to flush the toilet. Mains water is only used if there is not enough condensate to flush the toilet, so there is never a reduction in performance.
Paul continues, “Whilst the eco-cistem can be retrofitted in both domestic homes and commercial premises, our initial focus is on hotel refurbishments for which it is particularly suited. Our completed contracts are monitored and show an average of 64% mains water savings. The product gives free flushing water, so it is probably the most conscientious guest upgrade a hotel could offer.”
From guest bathrooms to city apartments and family bathrooms through to individually designed rooms that make their own statement, the Duravit bathroom furniture collection offers maximum design freedom and high-quality craftsmanship. With an extensive range of materials, finishes, and formats, Duravit offers solutions that work in a variety of decor styles and spatial situations.
Whether it’s premium wood decor, elegant marble look, glossy varnish, or structural glass: The wide selection of high-quality furniture finishes work in perfect combination with their bathroom sinks and mirrors, maintaining their beauty and durability even under high levels of humidity and heavy daily use.
Longevity and comfort with reliability
When choosing bathroom furniture, you expect more than just a pretty design. It’s about everyday practicality, comfort, and confidence in the selection of materials. Furniture from Duravit stands out with well-thought-out details: Doors and drawers are tested with up to 80,000 opening cycles, which corresponds to about 43 years of daily use.
Duravit sets the standard for sustainability in production; our furniture is 100 per cent PEFC*-certified and manufactured in the Black Forest. That means that the wood they use only comes from responsibly managed forests.
Compact and functional: Design that creates space
You don’t need to compromise on style, even in small spaces. Bathroom furniture for compact bathrooms unites sophisticated functionality with high-quality design and is ideal for city apartments, guest bathrooms, or narrow floor plans. Intelligent storage space solutions, narrow proportions, and clever details, such as full pull-outs or wall-mounted elements, will allow you to get the most out of every last inch. The coordinated combinations of furniture, bathroom sinks, and mirrors create a cohesive overall look that will make the room appear larger than it really is.
Made for every day: Family bathrooms with style and substance
For daily family use, a bathroom needs to withstand quite a bit, and Duravit furniture is made precisely for this. Vanity cabinets, tall and medium-height cabinets, and mirror cabinets provide generous storage space for all your daily necessities. The robust materials, resistant finishes, and durable fittings that they use allow them to reliably withstand even the heaviest of use. Doors and drawers will still function flawlessly even after years of use. Whilst the design remains clean and timeless – a functional family bathroom should also be aesthetically pleasing.
Make a statement: Bathroom furniture for individuals
Many rooms need to be more than just functional; you want them to show your personality. Duravit statement pieces are perfect for people who want to design their bathroom with intention, placing value on shapes, materials, and details. Distinctive fronts, exceptional finishes, and generous furniture with a clear presence create specific accents and will transform your sink area into a personal statement. The design here remains timeless because true Individuality does not follow short-lived trends, but rather a clear approach.
Utopia opened the doors at its Wolverhampton headquarters earlier this month for an exclusive preview event for its new HeyU Collection, described by the company as its most ambitious and versatile modular collection to date, and other new product innovations.
Centred around four distinct and irresistibly tactile design styles in 14 colourways, HeyU is designed to be touched, and visitors did exactly that as they toured the company’s extensive showroom viewing the latest new products.
On display alongside the new lifestyle room settings featuring HeyU were other product developments, including two exciting new finishes for the Lustre Collection. Rift Black and Sandy Ecru greatly extend the design potential of this luxurious glass fronted range, now available in 18 different finish and handle trim combinations.
The showroom, which houses over 60 inspirational displays, showcases Utopia’s entire collection and retailers are most welcome to visit it with their customers by appointment.
Following the four-day event, Helen Clark, head of marketing at Utopia, said, “We were delighted to host this exclusive preview event to unveil our new Autumn Collection. The response from our customers was overwhelmingly positive, reaffirming our belief that HeyU brings something truly special to the marketplace, together with the other exciting new products we’re proud to offer.”
Hyatt Hotels Corporation and La Compañía Hotels & Resorts, today announced the grand opening of Elysium Spa & Wellness House – a 22,000 sq. ft. wellness sanctuary at Hotel La Compañía del Valle set inside the crater of an extinct volcano in Panama’s El Valle de Antón. Inspired by Roman bathhouses and the region’s dramatic volcanic landscape, the spa combines natural materials, sensory design, and local craftsmanship to create a restorative environment deeply rooted in its setting.
Design Concept
Elysium’s interiors feature volcanic stone, carved marble, raw timber, and oxidised metals – materials that mirror the surrounding terrain. Arched passageways and vaulted ceilings introduce light and scale, while soft cove lighting and flickering sconces evoke the atmosphere of an ancient ritual space. Every detail, from the scent of eucalyptus to the hand-laid mosaic tiles, reinforces a connection to nature and the region’s raw beauty.
Key Features
Thermal Pools & Hammam-Inspired Steam Rooms: Reflecting the area’s geothermal character, these spaces invite guests into a rhythm of purification and renewal.
Signature Treatments: The spa menu highlights local ingredients such as cacao, pomegranate, and bamboo, featuring experiences like Wine Therapy, Cacao Experience Wrap, and the Lavender Ritual.
Sensory & Thermal Rooms: Facilities include a Himalayan salt room, aromatherapy steam room, mud therapy room, and the Sensory Deprivation Pool, the spa’s centrepiece of stillness and calm.
Wellness Experience
Elysium’s treatment philosophy draws on the elemental balance of earth, water, wind, and metal. Guests can choose from tailored massages – Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, and sports – alongside restorative wraps and facials that channel the natural potency of Panama’s highland flora.
Integration with Hotel Design
Surrounded by the peaks of La India Dormida, El Gaital, and Las Tres Marías, Hotel La Compañía del Valle complements the spa’s ethos with Tuscan-inspired architecture and a sculpture park of over 200 works in marble, steel, granite, and bronze. Together, the hotel and spa form a seamless dialogue between art, nature, and wellbeing.
Conclusion
With Elysium Spa & Wellness House, Hyatt and La Compañía Hotels & Resorts have realised a tranquil, sensory-led space that redefines wellness through design. By drawing on the materials, energy, and spirit of its volcanic setting, it offers guests a transformative connection to Panama’s highland landscape.
When a historic Derbyshire almshouse charity needed a faster, safer way to modernise its bathrooms, Kinedo’s Kinemagic walk-in shower cubicle from Saniflo provided the perfect solution.
The Etwall Almshouses, founded in the 1500s by Sir John Port, are managed by a charitable trust that provides homes for residents aged over 50. To minimise disruption during refurbishments, the trustees wanted a shower solution that could be installed quickly and safely, with grab rails and a seat included as standard, but they wanted one that was also aesthetically pleasing.
Working with local plumbers’ merchant Willbond and installer Etta Plumbing, the trust selected the Kinemagic Serenity. Thanks to its striking design, integrated tray, glass panels and door system, Kinemagic delivers a watertight, low-maintenance showering solution with no need for tiles, grout or silicone, making it ideal for rapid installations with minimal mess.
The first installation was completed in just one day with support from Saniflo’s technical team. A second, smaller model followed soon after.
Trustee Graham Wale said: “Our tenants love the Kinemagic units and they save us valuable time during refurbishments – it’s a win-win.”
VitrA has unveiled two new product ranges – the S2 furniture range and the Minimax tap range. The S20 furniture and ceramics washbasin range is designed to optimise space and storage in compact or family bathrooms. Complementing this, the new Minimax range of taps reimagines classic silhouettes in a variety of finishes with refined proportions, ergonomic levers and water efficiency.
The versatile S20 furniture range emphasises thoughtful details, such as soft-close drawers, tactile finishes, and durable materials, to create bathrooms that feel both personal and purposeful. The accessible priced range is available in square or round forms, creating either a striking architectural statement or a softer, more organic look and feel.
Featuring slimmer, smarter taps, the Minimax range has been updated with refined proportions, a wider selection of contemporary finishes, and round and square options. The taps combine efficient water use with ergonomic controls and deliver a steady five litres per minute with a hidden aerator.
With a bold palette of durable, scratch-resistant finishes – Chrome, Matt Black, Brushed Copper, Brushed Gold, and Brushed Nickel – the Minimax range transforms everyday fixtures into design statements. This choice of warm metallics and sleek matt tones ensures a stylish look can be achieved without compromising on performance, sustainability or investment.
Prices for the S20 furniture range start from £265 for the 45cm square washbasin unit, and prices for the Minimax taps start from £135.
National bathroom, tile and paint retailer Fired Earth has been placed into administration, with Dane O’Hara and Alex Cadwallader of Leonard Curtis in London appointed as joint administrators on October 31, 2025.
Located in Oxfordshire, Fired Earth sells luxury, high-end interior design products and design services specialising in tiles. It operated 20 showrooms across the UK, with a further 22 independent stockists selling Fired Earth products and employed 133 people.
The Joint Administrators can confirm that negotiations are ongoing on a sale of the business assets to an undisclosed third party via an accelerated M & A (AMA) process, but that did not include staff, and regrettably, all 133 employees will be made redundant.
EVOLVE is assisting staff affected by redundancy and advisers on the Employment Rights Act who have been instructed to help with employee claims.
O’ Hara commented: “Fired Earth has been loss-making for some time. In the last three years the company has been supported by its shareholder via substantial working capital loans, while efforts were made to return the business to profitability.
“Unfortunately, the company has continued to incur trading losses, and its investor was not prepared to provide further funding to the business in the absence of a viable turnaround strategy.”
Leonard Curtis was approached in late September 2025 to undertake an initial review of the business and explore potential options. Unfortunately, the business was incapable of being restructured in its current form and the decision was made to seek a buyer.
Dane said: “We had multiple offers on an asset-only basis, but we have not received a proceedable offer that preserves any of the locations or staff as a consequence.”
As a result, all the company’s stores are being closed, except the head office and warehouse premises in Banbury, which will remain open for a period to fulfil outstanding customer orders.
Leonard Curtis will continue trading the business in Administration in a limited capacity and fulfilling customer orders from inventory, pending completion of an asset-only sale.
Customers with outstanding orders will be contacted shortly by representatives of the Fired Earth team.
