Stoke-on-Trent MP wants government help for ceramics industry after Royal Stafford collapse

Stoke-on-Trent North MP David Williams in the House of Commons
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


A Stoke-on-Trent MP has called on the government to support ceramics firms following the collapse of Royal Stafford. The Burslem-based pottery brand, which dates back to 1845, closed down this week with the loss of more than 80 jobs, after being hit by rising energy costs and falling orders.

Energy-intensive industries such as ceramics have been affected particularly badly by the spike in gas prices in recent years, and have also been under pressure to undertake costly decarbonisation. Stoke-on-Trent North MP David Williams raised the plight of the sector in the House of Commons - and asked for an urgent meeting with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

Mr Williams said: "As well as residents, businesses in the ceramics sector struggle with high energy bills and face many other pressures. Sadly, only yesterday more than 80 workers in my constituency lost their jobs when Royal Stafford, a historic ceramics manufacturer for nearly 200 years, went into liquidation—a devastating blow for the workers and their families.

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READ MORE: In pictures: Royal Stafford through the years as pottery firm bites the dust

READ MORE: Royal Stafford issues statement as iconic pottery giant collapses and 83 jobs go

"Will the Secretary of State meet GMB officials, Ceramics UK and me as a matter of urgency to explain how the Government will support the ceramics sector, protect jobs, and tackle the serious difficulties that energy-intensive industries face in decarbonising?"

Inside Royal Stafford, in Burslem
Inside Royal Stafford, in Burslem

Energy minister Miatta Fahnbulleh expressed sympathy over the situation at Royal Stafford, but insisted that reducing the UK's reliance on imported fossil fuels would be the best way of protecting jobs in the future.

She said: "My honourable friend is right to point out that we need to reduce energy bills for businesses, including those in energy-intensive industries. I was sorry to hear about the job losses in his constituency, and one of the ministerial team will be happy to meet him.

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"I must add, however, that this is exactly why we are running our clean power mission. We see that the route through which we can drive down bills is breaking our dependence on global fossil fuel markets over which we have no control, in order to take ourselves off the rollercoaster of price rises and price hikes that is so damaging to businesses. While we do that, we are working with Ofgem and industry to ensure that businesses are not being locked into expensive contracts, and to ensure that they have much stronger redress when things go wrong."

Meanwhile the leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council Jane Ashworth has written to Royal Stafford's operator, RST Limited, to seek an 'urgent meeting'. The firm says its directors had 'pursued every avenue possible to save the business'.

Royal Stafford back in 2013
Royal Stafford back in 2013

A spokesman for Royal Stafford said: "It is with great sadness that the directors announce the closure of RST Limited, which trades as Royal Stafford, with immediate effect. The company has faced a dramatic reduction in orders in recent months and coupled with the increase in energy prices this has left it unable to afford to continue to trade. The company has traded as a manufacturer and retailer of tableware from its Burslem factory since 2007, when its current owners bought the business and assets of Royal Stafford Tableware Limited.

"The Royal Stafford brand was established in 1845, and the company was one of the few remaining traditional pottery manufacturers in North Staffordshire. The closure of the factory has resulted in the redundancy of 83 employees, many of whom have worked for the company since 2007 and some who worked for Royal Stafford Tableware prior to that.

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"The directors have pursued every avenue possible to save the business, but without the guarantee of a profitable forward order book, this was not possible. The directors have engaged the services of insolvency firm Moore Recovery to place the company into liquidation. Creditors of the company will be contacted by Moore Recovery in due course.

"A closing down sale is planned and further information regarding this will be provided when possible. Anyone who has orders to collect from the factory shop will also be contacted in due course."

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