Stoke-on-Trent council demands urgent action to secure Burleigh Pottery's future

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is calling for immediate government intervention to secure the future of Burleigh Pottery, as its parent company, Denby Pottery, navigates financial difficulties.

Council leader Jane Ashworth highlighted the pottery's historical significance and its potential for continued success, saying, "We will continue to press the case that the ceramics industry must be recognised as vital to the country’s future."

Amid Denby Pottery's administration, brought on by rising costs and reduced consumer confidence, administrators FRP Advisory have confirmed no redundancies are currently planned at Burleigh Pottery, ensuring stability for the workforce.

Ashworth expressed her determination to protect Burleigh: "We are fully aware of the situation and have been working closely with Burgess and Leigh Pottery. We believe that Burleigh remains viable and has a full order book."

She underscored the broader challenges affecting the ceramics sector: "Global and national factors like high energy prices and cheap overseas imports are making it very difficult for manufacturers."

Craig Thomson, GMB Organiser, added, "This is the human cost of Government inaction; communities let down and workers laid off by companies that can't keep up with the cost of energy."

Burleigh Pottery, founded over 160 years ago, is deeply embedded in Stoke-on-Trent’s cultural heritage. Ensuring its survival involves addressing larger industry issues and seeking strategic government-supported solutions.

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