Grand Designs Live opened by Kevin McCloud and competition winners at Birmingham's NEC

Grand Designs Live is set to return to Birmingham from October 19 to 23, promising to break down conventional limitations to home building and showcase an array of innovative home improvement options – from building tools, materials, exquisite furniture, technology and dining options.

Visitors can look forward to a multitude of talks from design experts across different mediums with the options to ask them their own burning questions.

TV salvagers Harry Dwyer and Charlie Waller are set to unveil their latest upcycling challenge alongside Kevin McCloud as well as the Grand Brexit Debate and its effects on the housing market to be chaired by Mary Rhodes.

Speakers include Grand Designs contestants Jon Martin and Noreen Jaafar, Ed and Vicky Versluys, James Strangeways and Angelo Mastropietro who talk about their own inspiring products, the trials and tribulations they have put them through and how they have achieved their goals.

Over the five days, over 500 exhibitors will make their way to the event covering build, kitchens, bathrooms, technology, gardens and interiors with all stalls manned by approachable and knowledgeable staff happy to trial their products and answer all of your questions.

The exhibition will play host to various innovative new product launches such as the Miele Artline collection of built-in cooking appliances, Designer Mirror TV, LC 500 Lexus and many more for visitors to catch a sneak peek of.

Design guru and presenter of the Channel 4 show Kevin McCloud attended todays opening ceremony and will also be hosting the five day run at the NEC, bringing his well-renowned expertise and distinctive style approach to the event.

Today, McCloud received a little bit of help from an unlikely source to open the event, three winners of the Mini McCloud Design Initiative competition.

McCloud said; "I have always had a passion for design and architecture since a very young age, so it is absolutely great to see the potential designers of the future!"

The children were challenged to create a concept of what they think the future of design will be.

Year 6 pupil, Joseph Hands, took the prize in his age category with his detailed Jurassic Park themed design with the Year 4 prize then taken by deserving winner Rawhah Usama's beautifully crafted Princess House. Nyla Abraham took the year 1 spot for her super contemporary Rocket House design.

One of Oaks Primary School's winners said, "I was very excited to design my own grand house for the competition. My favourite bit of my design is the rug that my cat would be able to turn on through pressure sensors. I got to go to the Grand Designs Live show and meet Kevin McCloud and showed him my ideas!"

The children sat down with McCloud prior to the event for breakfast and to talk him through their designs, before heading down to the exhibits entrance to help cut the ribbon and mark the event as open.

Grand Designs Live takes place from 19-23 October 2016 at Birmingham's NEC. Order your tickets online:www.granddesignslive.com or call the booking hotline on 0844 854 1348.

By Becci Stanley