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| Moorcroft Pottery firm goes bust in Burslem after more than 100 years | Moorcroft Pottery firm goes bust in Burslem after more than 100 years |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Moorcroft Pottery became known for its colourful depictions of wildlife and geometric patterns | Moorcroft Pottery became known for its colourful depictions of wildlife and geometric patterns |
| The directors of Moorcroft Pottery have announced the firm has stopped trading after more than 100 years, which the GMB Union says means the loss of 57 jobs. | The directors of Moorcroft Pottery have announced the firm has stopped trading after more than 100 years, which the GMB Union says means the loss of 57 jobs. |
| In a post on social media on Wednesday, bosses at the Stoke-on-Trent firm, based in Burslem, said they had told insolvency business Moore Recovery to help with voluntarily liquidating the company. | In a post on social media on Wednesday, bosses at the Stoke-on-Trent firm, based in Burslem, said they had told insolvency business Moore Recovery to help with voluntarily liquidating the company. |
| They said Moore would contact creditors in due course but did not give an explanation for the firm's closure. However, industry commentators have blamed an increase in energy costs. | They said Moore would contact creditors in due course but did not give an explanation for the firm's closure. However, industry commentators have blamed an increase in energy costs. |
| Moorcroft had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling sales. | Moorcroft had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling sales. |
| The news of Moorcroft's collapse is the latest blow to the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, a city affectionately known as The Potteries. | The news of Moorcroft's collapse is the latest blow to the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, a city affectionately known as The Potteries. |
| The city is recognised for its global influence with pottery - having been granted a World Craft City Status just last year. | The city is recognised for its global influence with pottery - having been granted a World Craft City Status just last year. |
| Its official tourist website proudly states: "We are the World Capital of Ceramics." | Its official tourist website proudly states: "We are the World Capital of Ceramics." |
| However, 2025 has proved to be a disastrous year for the city's pottery industry. | However, 2025 has proved to be a disastrous year for the city's pottery industry. |
| In February, Royal Stafford, also based in Burslem, called in administrators. | In February, Royal Stafford, also based in Burslem, called in administrators. |
| The firm's collapse followed the closure of Dudson in 2019, Wade in Longton two years ago and Johnsons Tiles in 2024. | The firm's collapse followed the closure of Dudson in 2019, Wade in Longton two years ago and Johnsons Tiles in 2024. |
| The business is one of several in the sector to close in recent years in Staffordshire | The business is one of several in the sector to close in recent years in Staffordshire |
| In March, Moorcroft warned of the threat of redundancies, stating their energy costs had gone up almost £250,000 over the past two years. | In March, Moorcroft warned of the threat of redundancies, stating their energy costs had gone up almost £250,000 over the past two years. |
| Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones said no business could sustain such an increase. | Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones said no business could sustain such an increase. |
| "It's incredibly sad news," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "We've been crying out for support for the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent as a whole for years. | "It's incredibly sad news," he told BBC Radio Stoke. "We've been crying out for support for the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent as a whole for years. |
| "It's never been considered a major industry in this country." | "It's never been considered a major industry in this country." |
| Rob Flello, the chief executive of Ceramics UK, which is based in the city, called for the government to step in and support the sector. | Rob Flello, the chief executive of Ceramics UK, which is based in the city, called for the government to step in and support the sector. |
| "Successive governments have just hammered the UK ceramics industry with things like carbon taxes and a whole raft of other taxes that these cheap imports just don't have to worry about," he said. | "Successive governments have just hammered the UK ceramics industry with things like carbon taxes and a whole raft of other taxes that these cheap imports just don't have to worry about," he said. |
| Chris Hoofe, GMB organiser, also urged the government to act, adding high energy costs were "crippling" the sector. | Chris Hoofe, GMB organiser, also urged the government to act, adding high energy costs were "crippling" the sector. |
| "The closure of Moorcroft is devastating news for workers and their families, but unfortunately it's not a surprise," he said. | "The closure of Moorcroft is devastating news for workers and their families, but unfortunately it's not a surprise," he said. |
| A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We know this will be a concerning time for Moorcroft Pottery workers and their families. | A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: "We know this will be a concerning time for Moorcroft Pottery workers and their families. |
| "Ministers continue to engage closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and provide support, ensuring the industry is globally competitive as part of our Plan for Change." | "Ministers continue to engage closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and provide support, ensuring the industry is globally competitive as part of our Plan for Change." |
| "We've been crying out for support for the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent as a whole for years," Keith Brymer Jones told the BBC | "We've been crying out for support for the ceramics industry and Stoke-on-Trent as a whole for years," Keith Brymer Jones told the BBC |
| Speaking about the impact of the loss on the city, Brymer Jones said it was about more than just 57 jobs. | Speaking about the impact of the loss on the city, Brymer Jones said it was about more than just 57 jobs. |
| "It's 57 families that are connected to those jobs and the surrounding area, the support network, the shops the cafes that all go with it. | "It's 57 families that are connected to those jobs and the surrounding area, the support network, the shops the cafes that all go with it. |
| "We're bloody good at making stuff here, there's a longstanding tradition of ceramics and we sell ceramics all over the world and we literally can't afford to lose this skillset." | "We're bloody good at making stuff here, there's a longstanding tradition of ceramics and we sell ceramics all over the world and we literally can't afford to lose this skillset." |
| Moorcroft has been producing pottery at its site in Burslem for more than 100 years | Moorcroft has been producing pottery at its site in Burslem for more than 100 years |
| Moorcroft Pottery traces its roots back to 1897 and has been based at its current site in Sandbach Road since 1913. | Moorcroft Pottery traces its roots back to 1897 and has been based at its current site in Sandbach Road since 1913. |
| According to its website, the firm's founder, William Moorcroft, was able to produce pottery from its current site thanks to the support of London department store Liberty. | |
| After winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as Potter to HM The Queen in 1928. | After winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as Potter to HM The Queen in 1928. |
| The firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal Collection. | The firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal Collection. |
| The brand was also popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, according to the firm. | The brand was also popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, according to the firm. |
| Listen on BBC Sounds: Another blow for Stoke-on-Trent | Listen on BBC Sounds: Another blow for Stoke-on-Trent |
| City council leader Jane Ashworth said Moorcroft had been a major part of Stoke-on-Trent's heritage in ceramics. | City council leader Jane Ashworth said Moorcroft had been a major part of Stoke-on-Trent's heritage in ceramics. |
| "Our teams have been working closely and intensively with Moorcroft to try to find a solution but unfortunately this has not been possible," she said. | "Our teams have been working closely and intensively with Moorcroft to try to find a solution but unfortunately this has not been possible," she said. |
| "The fact is global and national headwinds - including high energy prices and a rash of cheap, illegal forgeries from overseas - have made life very difficult for manufacturers. | "The fact is global and national headwinds - including high energy prices and a rash of cheap, illegal forgeries from overseas - have made life very difficult for manufacturers. |
| "We have lobbied - and will continue to lobby - the government to provide specific support for this vital and valuable sector." | "We have lobbied - and will continue to lobby - the government to provide specific support for this vital and valuable sector." |
| She added the authority would provide support for affected employees to help them find new jobs. | She added the authority would provide support for affected employees to help them find new jobs. |
| 'I feel adrift' | |
| Beverly Berry worked at Moorcroft as a painter and part-time decorator for 36 years, and told the BBC that she felt "adrift" and shell-shocked. | |
| "We had a board meeting with the bosses and we were told that was the end of the line, really, and to get our stuff and go," she said. | |
| "The management were really upset, and we have got redundancy pay." | |
| She said that staff had sensed that "something was not right" for a couple of years before the news. | |
| "It was just a sixth sense that things weren't going very well," she said. | |
| "It wasn't a thriving business like it used to be." | |
| Ms Berry said she had since registered with the job centre but did not know what she would do next. | |
| "Because I've worked there for so long, I'm not really qualified for anything else, so I don't know what the future holds really." | |
| Gareth Snell said the city's ceramic sector was "on life-support" | |
| Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Gareth Snell submitted an urgent question to the secretary of state for energy and net zero on Thursday, in relation to the firm's collapse. | |
| He said the ceramic sector in Stoke-on-Trent "is on life support". | |
| Snell asked the secretary to look at changing the way that subsidies and energy are done for energy intensive industries in the short-term. | |
| He also asked her to rule out moving policy costs onto gas costs, and asked for investment soon. | |
| In response, Sarah Jones said: "We will not put extra costs on the ceramic industry, and we are looking to see how we can help and support." | |
| She added that she could not make promise, but understood the need to act quickly. | |
| "The package of suggested policy reforms that Ceramics UK has put forward, we are working on every single one," she said. | |
| Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |
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