The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) held its annual conference, Excellence in the Home, on the 6th of May at City St George’s, University of London, bringing together industry leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the future of the UK home appliance sector.
The conference featured three themed sessions covering sustainability and innovation, inclusive design and consumer trust, and addressing industry skills shortages.
The opening session, Excellence by Design, with Chris George (Electrolux), Professor Mark Miodownik (UCL Big Repair Project) and Dr Catherine Menon (University of Hertfordshire), explored how manufacturers are advancing sustainability through recycled materials, efficient product design and low‑carbon logistics, alongside the growing importance of designing appliances for repairability and longevity. Speakers also examined the opportunities and safety considerations surrounding the integration of AI in home appliances.
The second session, Powering Inclusion, with Adam Carter (Consumer Friend), Sue Flowers (BSH Home Appliances) and Steve Lineton (GAP Renew) focused on how transparent communication, inclusive design and appliance refurbishment and reuse can help empower consumers, support communities and extend product lifecycles.
The final session, Tomorrow’s Talent Today, with Kevin Brown (Pacifica), Gavin White (The Autotech Group), Maggie Philbin OBE and TeenTech Alumni addressed the challenge of attracting and developing new talent, with insights from the appliance and automotive sectors, alongside a young person’s perspective on entering the technical workforce.
Commenting on the event, Stefan Hay, CEO of AMDEA, said:
“Our conference highlighted how the home appliance sector is evolving, from driving sustainability and circularity, to designing products that work for everyone and building the skilled workforce we need for the future. These conversations are vital as our industry continues to deliver innovation, safety and value for UK households.”
The day concluded with an inspirational keynote from Dr Roz Savage MP, followed by the AMDEA Excellence Awards, celebrating leadership and best practice across the sector. Awards were presented in the categories of Contribution to Communities, Training and Development, and Contribution to the Circular Economy, with Pacifica, BSH Home Appliances, Beko and Euronics (CIH) among this year’s highly commended and award winners. The awards were sponsored by British Gas, AEG (Electrolux Group) and Pacifica.
AMDEA will be publishing a full conference report in the next few weeks. The report will be available on our website and highlighted in our digital communications with members.