Ceramics jobs at risk without support, MPs say

More factories and jobs could be lost if the government does not help the ceramics industry with energy costs, MPs have warned.

Labour members representing Stoke-on-Trent said industrial support announced by ministers would not help pottery firms and action was not being taken quickly enough.

Their comments came in response to a statement made by Peter Kyle, secretary of state for business and trade, on expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (Bics), created to support companies with energy costs.

Kyle said support might be available for a "minority" of ceramics firms but the sector as a whole needed a "very focused" and comprehensive look.

The government said Bics would help to cut electricity bills by up to £40 per megawatt-hour for more than 10,000 companies from April 2027.

However, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell said it would help "some sectors" but most of the ceramics industry was not included due to it being gas-intensive.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Snell said firms that would not receive support included those making giftware, ceramic tiles, clay pipes and clay tiles.

"This is a sector that pays half a million pounds in exports, employs 20,000 people directly across the supply chain – it puts a billion pounds back into the UK economy," he added.

He said ministers had long been making promises of support for the industry but what was announced so far had not been good enough.

"There are factories that are going to close as a result of this announcement," Snell said. "There are jobs that will be lost as a result of this announcement."

He added: "How many job losses will it take? How many factory closures, how many brick kilns need to be mothballed before the government steps in to do something for the ceramics sector?

"Or is it now the policy objective of this government to oversee the end of a domestic UK ceramic production?"

Stoke-on-Trent North MP David Williams said he believed the government understood the issues faced by ceramics firms.

"But at the moment, the action isn't coming forward quickly enough and our companies are at risk. They're on the brink and they need support now," he said.

Responding to the concerns raised, Kyle said he was "willing" to visit Stoke-on-Trent and "a minority" of pottery firms might be eligible for support through Bics.

He said there needed to be "a very, very focused look, a comprehensive look" at the ceramics sector.

The concerns came after companies including Royal Stafford and Heraldic Pottery collapsed in 2025. Moorcroft also went bust but was later bought by the founder's grandson.

Wedgwood also announced in February that a number of jobs would be cut at its Stoke-on-Trent factory.

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.