Commercial Interiors UK held its 2026 Annual General Meeting on 24th September 2026 at the Milliken showroom in Clerkenwell, London. The meeting brought together the Board of Directors, Council members and representatives from across the membership, with an unprecedented 35 attendees.
Chaired by Stuart Taylor, the AGM provided an opportunity to reflect on CIUK’s achievements, review current progress and discuss future priorities. Managing Director Sean Halt presented the association’s 2026–2029 Strategy, while Editorial & Marketing Director Alys Bryan shared the latest Member Survey results.
The record attendance reflected CIUK’s commitment to strengthening engagement and reinforcing its message: CIUK is Your Trade Association.
CIUK extends its sincere thanks to Milliken for generously hosting the AGM and to the entire team for their support.
Reflections on 2025
Chairman Stuart Taylor opened the meeting by reflecting on a year of financial stability, membership development and continued investment in member services.
CIUK reported a profit of £25,129 for 2025, compared with £31,792 the previous year. Turnover increased to £721,203, an improvement of £43,176, while gross profit rose to £440,960.
These results remained in line with the Board’s objective of achieving at least a break-even position each year, reinvesting surpluses into membership benefits while maintaining appropriate reserves.
An important strategic decision was the closure of CIUK’s Flackwell Heath office in December 2025. The transition to a virtual working model is expected to deliver savings during 2026, providing greater flexibility to invest in member services and staff resources.
Membership remained a priority. CIUK welcomed 11 new members and recorded 10 resignations, finishing the year with 162 members and an overall increase in membership value.
Events and industry partnerships continued to provide opportunities for members to connect and raise their profiles. Highlights included the Summer Party at the Gherkin, increased attendance at the Glasgow networking event and another sell-out Annual Luncheon.
Partnerships with leading industry exhibitions, including HIX, Cruise Ship Interiors, Surface Design Show and Clerkenwell Design Week, delivered additional networking opportunities and increased member visibility.
Progress in 2026
The AGM also reviewed progress during Stuart Taylor’s first year as Chairman, with renewed emphasis on governance, membership engagement and industry representation.
CIUK has revised the roles and responsibilities of Board Directors and updated the terms of service for both the Board and Council. An open recruitment process attracted 43 Council applications, demonstrating members’ enthusiasm for contributing to the association’s future. Recruitment for new Board Directors is now underway.
The reinstatement of the Membership Manager role in January 2026 has provided additional resources to strengthen relationships with existing members and support recruitment.
CIUK’s events programme has continued to develop, with all events held so far exceeding their ticket sales targets. New initiatives included a dedicated members’ talks theatre at Clerkenwell Design Week and the Glasgow Design Exchange, creating opportunities for direct engagement with leading design practices.
Design Insider has also expanded its offering through In the Fold, a new quarterly publication showcasing selected editorial content, alongside industry discussions, panel events and sector reports.
Listening to Our Members
An important milestone in 2026 was CIUK’s first Member Survey since 2017.
Presented at the AGM by Editorial & Marketing Director Alys Bryan, the results will help shape the association’s strategic direction, ensuring that member feedback informs the development of future services, resources and opportunities.
Read the CIUK 2026 Member Survey results here.
Looking to the Future
Managing Director Sean Halt presented CIUK’s 2026–2029 Strategy, outlining the association’s ambitions for continued growth and development.
Central to the strategy is a commitment to growing membership, strengthening industry relationships and delivering greater commercial value to members.
The association also aims to extend Design Insider’s reach to new audiences in the UK and internationally, while establishing Supplier Finder as a leading resource for designers and specifiers seeking high-quality products from CIUK members.
Download the CIUK 2026–2029 Strategy here.
CIUK will continue strengthening its industry representation through the British Furniture Confederation and its involvement with FIESTA, supporting members on regulation, compliance and apprenticeships.
The remainder of 2026 includes the launch of the Build to Rent Sector Report, the Glasgow Design Exchange, the Supplier Finder Show in Dublin, the Annual Luncheon and further networking opportunities at HIX and Cruise Ship Interiors.
Your Trade Association
Closing his report, Stuart Taylor emphasised the importance of member participation in shaping CIUK’s future. This year’s unprecedented attendance represented an encouraging step towards greater engagement and accountability.
He also shared his ambition to develop the AGM into part of a larger annual event, bringing the entire membership together.
With a secure financial foundation, refreshed governance and a new three-year strategy, CIUK remains committed to supporting its members and strengthening the UK’s commercial interiors sector.
For the full AGM minutes or Chairman’s Report 2025, please email sean@commercial-interiorsuk.com.