--- title: "A Fresh Perspective: Q&A with Mitchell Smallwood-Rose, National Sales Manager" date: 2026-08-26T12:30:00+01:00 author: Lewis Drury canonical_url: "https://www.sbscladding.com/news/a-fresh-perspective-q-a-with-mitchell-smallwood-rose-national-sales-manager" section: News --- ![Mitchell Smallwood Rose](/uploads/generic/images/_1440x630_crop_center-center_none/93015/Mitchell-Smallwood-Rose_2026-08-25-132813_vidh.jpg) - [ Home ](https://www.sbscladding.com/) - | - [News](https://www.sbscladding.com/news) - | - [ A Fresh Perspective: Q&A with Mitchell Smallwood-Rose, National Sales Manager ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/a-fresh-perspective-q-a-with-mitchell-smallwood-rose-national-sales-manager) Guest Content 26 August 2026 Share project # A Fresh Perspective: Q&A with Mitchell Smallwood-Rose, National Sales Manager As the cladding and façade sector continues to evolve, technical expertise, strong partnerships and a clear understanding of changing industry requirements are becoming increasingly important. We sat down with Mitchell Smallwood-Rose, National Sales Manager at SBS Cladding, to find out more about his journey into the cladding and construction industry and what attracted him to his new role. Mitchell shares his experience across architecture, specification sales and technical innovation, his views on how the façade sector is changing, and what he’s looking forward to as he takes on his new role at SBS Cladding. **Hello Mitchell, can you tell us a little about your background and what led you into the cladding and construction industry?** I studied architecture at university, which first sparked my passion for the built environment and the wider construction industry. Since then, I’ve been particularly interested in how design translates into real-world delivery on site. The cladding sector stood out to me as a really dynamic area within the industry, particularly due to its ongoing product development, innovation, and evolving performance and compliance standards. Since graduating, I’ve worked in specification sales as well as for a housebuilder in a technical innovation role. These experiences have given me a strong balance of technical knowledge and practical, site-based understanding, allowing me to see how design intent, product performance, and construction delivery all come together. **What attracted you to SBS Cladding and made this role the right next step for you?** SBS Cladding has a strong reputation and customer-focused approach. Having worked within the Taylor Maxwell Group previously, I already had a good understanding of the business, its values, and the way it operates. I always felt it was a great, so when this opportunity arose, it felt like a natural next step. I'm excited by the opportunity to make a real impact, contribute to the company's continued growth, and continue developing my own career within a fantastic company. **Over your career, how have you seen the cladding and façade sector evolve?** The introduction of the Building Safety Act has significantly changed the industry, increasing the focus on product performance, certification, traceability, and accountability across the supply chain. This has reinforced the need for strong technical knowledge and customer support. At the same time, advances in façade systems, fire-resistant materials, and digital technologies have improved both building performance and installation efficiency. Sustainability has also become a key driver, with growing demand for lower-carbon products, energy-efficient solutions, and transparent environmental credentials. This evolution has meant moving beyond traditional sales to become a trusted technical partner, helping customers navigate regulatory requirements while delivering innovative and sustainable façade solutions. **How important is relationship building within the architectural, contractor and developer communities?** Relationship building is fundamental to long-term commercial success. These stakeholders are key influencers and decision-makers throughout the project lifecycle, and establishing strong, trusted relationships positions both the company and its products for specification, tender inclusion, and repeat business. A key focus for the business is on developing strategic partnerships rather than transactional sales. This involves maintaining regular engagement with architects to ensure our solutions are specified at the design stage, working closely with contractors to provide technical support and ensure successful project delivery. As well as this, collaborating with developers to understand their commercial objectives and identify opportunities to add value is a key aspect. Strong relationships also provide valuable market intelligence, helping us anticipate upcoming projects, identify industry trends, and respond proactively to customer needs. They foster trust, improve customer loyalty, and often create opportunities for cross-selling, repeat business, and referrals. Ultimately, successful sales growth in the construction industry is built on credibility, consistency, and collaboration. Investing time in building and maintaining relationships across the architectural, contractor, and developer communities is therefore a critical component of achieving sustainable revenue growth and strengthening market share. **What do you think clients value most from a supplier and partner in today’s market?** I believe clients value a supplier who acts as a true partner rather than just a material provider. Reliability, clear communication, and responsiveness are essential, but they also want a partner who understands their business, anticipates challenges, and delivers solutions that create long-term value. Competitive pricing matters, particularly in this challenging market, but trust, consistency, and the ability to support growth are what build lasting relationships. **What are your key priorities during your first year as National Sales Manager?** My initial priorities will be simple. I need to fully understand the business, strengthen customer relationships, support and develop the sales team, to deliver sustainable sales growth. I will also be looking to understand the full system offering and new opportunities, customer base, market position, and commercial strategy while building strong relationships with key customers and internal stakeholders. I would then review the sales strategy, customer portfolio, and performance data to identify opportunities for growth, improved profitability, and greater market share. Ultimately, my goal would be to build a strong foundation for long-term, profitable growth through a motivated team, stronger customer partnerships, and a clear, sales strategy. **Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth for SBS Cladding over the coming years?** The biggest growth opportunity for SBS Cladding lies in driving earlier and deeper specification across projects, where performance, compliance, and aesthetics are being defined for projects. We also see strong potential in the refurbishment and retrofit sector, driven by stricter fire safety and energy efficiency requirements across existing buildings. This is creating demand for compliant, performance driven cladding systems that can be installed with minimal disruption. In parallel, increasing emphasis on sustainability and whole-life performance is influencing material selection, with more projects requiring demonstrable environmental credentials. Working with our key suppliers on the increasing demand and requirement in this area to provide suitable solutions will be key. **What message would you like to share with SBS Cladding customers, partners and the wider industry as you go forward in this role?** I’m excited to be joining SBS Cladding at such an important time and look forward to getting my feet under the table, immersing myself in the business, and building strong relationships with our customers, supplier partners, and the wider industry. As I settle into the role, I’m looking forward to engaging with our customer and supplier base, understanding the challenges and opportunities within the market, and helping to drive sustainable growth for SBS Cladding. Together with the wider team, I’m confident we can continue to strengthen our partnerships, deliver solutions, and build on the reputation that SBS Cladding has established within the industry. In other news Industry ![DSC08711 Dx O Deep PRIME XD2s topaz sharpen](/uploads/generic/images/_406x280_crop_center-center_none/DSC08711-DxO_DeepPRIME-XD2s-topaz-sharpen.jpg) 21 Aug 2026 A Guide to Selecting the Right Cladding Material A successful façade is about much more than appearance. The right cladding system should balance aesthetics with performance. [ View article ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/a-guide-to-selecting-the-right-cladding-material) Industry ![DSC 8828 SMALL](/uploads/generic/images/_406x280_crop_center-center_none/DSC_8828-SMALL_2026-06-25-101244_xvvd.jpg) 17 Jul 2026 Fire Safety in Facade Design Successful façade design must balance architectural ambition with the highest standards of fire safety [ View article ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/fire-safety-in-facade-design) Partnerships & Events ![Bedford Academy 1](/uploads/generic/images/_406x280_crop_center-center_none/Bedford-Academy-1.jpg) 07 Jul 2026 Façade Awards UK 2026 Shortlist The Façade Awards UK has officially announced the shortlist for the 2026 awards, celebrating excellence across the façades industry. [ View article ](https://www.sbscladding.com/news/fa%C3%A7ade-awards-uk-2026-shortlist)