Government urged to support Burleigh Pottery and ceramics industry after Denby files notice of intention to appoint administrators Calls have been made for government support for the ceramics industry after the owners of Burleigh Pottery confirmed they have filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
The Denby Group, which owns both Denby Pottery and Stoke-on-Trent-based Burgess & Leigh, the makers of Burleigh Pottery, confirmed the move as a precautionary step while it continues to explore funding and restructuring options.
Despite the announcement, the company said that Denby, Burgess & Leigh and its international subsidiaries will continue to trade while discussions continue with potential investors.
Founded in 1809 during the reign of King George III, Denby Pottery has produced ceramics for more than two centuries and exports its products around the world, including to markets in South Korea, the United States, Canada, Ireland and China, alongside more than twenty other countries.
In a statement, the company said the business has faced increasingly difficult trading conditions in recent years. Reduced consumer confidence has softened demand for premium homeware products, while rising employment costs and significant increases in industrial energy prices have placed additional pressure on the business.
The company also said it had been unable to secure a suitable investment partner so far, partly due to tighter financial markets. Filing the notice of intention to appoint administrators provides short-term protection while the search for a strategic partner continues, either for the Denby Group as a whole or for its individual brands.
In Stoke-on-Trent, the news has prompted concern about the future of the historic Burleigh Pottery factory in Middleport. Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the business remains viable and called for government support for the sector.
“We believe that Burleigh Pottery, the Stoke-on-Trent business owned by Denby, is viable and has a full order book. The management has detailed plans ready to invest to transform the business performance in the next 12 months in response to this growing order book. We will do all we can to assist the firm in lobbying the government to provide necessary support."
— Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council
“This is a difficult time for the ceramics industry. While we welcome the renewed pledge from the Prime Minister to look at support for the ceramics industry, in response to Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove MP David Williams' question, now it is time for the government to act rapidly and drive investment on energy costs to support sustainable businesses like Burleigh. This will not only respect our industrial heritage but provide investment in our future.”
Union representatives have also described the situation as concerning for workers. GMB union organiser Craig Thomson said the announcement would be worrying for employees but emphasised the importance of the ceramics sector to Britain’s manufacturing heritage.
He said Britain’s ceramics industry is respected worldwide and called for urgent government intervention on energy costs to support the sector through what he described as a turbulent period.
Meanwhile, Amber Valley MP Linsey Farnsworth said she had already held an urgent meeting with the company and was working with government departments to explore all possible options to secure a positive outcome for the business.
She said Denby remains a world-class manufacturer that continues to meet demand, and she will continue to act as a link between the company and the Department for Business and Trade while potential solutions are explored.
For Stoke-on-Trent, the situation highlights the wider pressures currently facing the ceramics industry, where manufacturers are balancing rising costs with the need to protect skills, jobs and a globally recognised heritage that has defined the region for generations.
Photos by - Natalee Trowbridge, The Staffordshire Signal
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