Exclusive: Government pledges to help pottery firms 'modernise' to cut energy bills

The Education Secretary, Ed Miliband, has exclusively revealed to us that he is determined to do more to support Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramics industry.

A recent report highlighted that pottery businesses in the region are in crisis and grappling with "crippling" energy bills. Without further government intervention, businesses fear they will not survive. In 2025 alone, companies such as Royal Stafford, Heraldic Pottery, and Moorcroft Pottery were forced to close, although Moorcroft Pottery was subsequently acquired by the grandson of its founder.

Government action on energy pressures

Ed Miliband reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aiding the sector, which has continued to call for subsidies to ease financial strain.

"We have taken action with the expansion of the supercharger. Next year, we've got the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, but I know there's more to do," Miliband said.

He acknowledged the unique pressures faced by the ceramics industry, particularly the reliance on coal and gas for production, and stressed the need to support the transition to cleaner energy sources.

“Part of clean power and getting energy bills down is to help industries like ceramics. But I know that there's particular pressures facing the ceramics industry and it's something we're looking at across government," Miliband added.

Plans to help the ceramics industry

Miliband addressed concerns about how the ceramics sector would shift away from traditional energy sources towards more sustainable alternatives.

"We have to make it possible for the ceramics industry to convert away from gas. We are currently at the mercy of petrostates and dictators that control these fossil fuel markets," Miliband said.

He emphasised the government's determination to provide the necessary support for pottery firms to modernise and to tap into the benefits of clean energy.

A future for British ceramics

The ceramics industry is a strategically significant contributor to the UK economy, particularly in areas like Stoke-on-Trent, widely recognised as the home of British pottery. Industry leaders and unions have urged the government to take decisive action to prevent the sector’s further decline, arguing that without intervention to cut energy costs, address unfair trade practices, and fund large-scale modernisation, the highly skilled jobs in ceramics manufacturing could vanish.

With the upcoming British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme in 2026 and recent advancements in energy efficiency measures like the supercharger, the government is taking steps to address these concerns.

However, as Miliband noted, “There’s more to do. We are absolutely determined to help them modernise and transition to cleaner energy sources. We want to do more to enable companies to make that transition and get the benefit of clean electricity. It’s a work in progress.”

For the ceramics industry in Stoke-on-Trent, the hope remains that these promises will materialise into concrete action in the near future.

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