Family ‘heartbroken’ at prospect of Staffordshire pottery closure | EUROtoday

Sharon Yates has been working at Dunoon Mugs in Staffordshire for greater than three many years.

Four generations of her household have labored there – her mom, Irene, who has now retired, her daughter-in-law, Leian, and granddaughter, Madi.

But, the corporate, which was established 50 years in the past, is struggling. The agency mentioned its power payments had been now six occasions greater than they had been three years in the past; 20% of the workforce was made redundant and employees are working shorter hours.

Ms Yates informed the BBC she “would not be able to cope” if the pottery closed. “It’s my life,” she mentioned.

”I simply love placing the handles on the mugs. It’s laborious work, but it surely’s therapeutic,” mentioned Ms Yates.

“I’m proud to work right here, it is in my blood.”

Three Staffordshire potteries have closed this year, and Dunoon’s director Alan Smith said it was “fully potential” that Dunoon could be next.

Mr Smith said it was not just their energy bills – the rise in the minimum wage and employers’ national insurance made it feel like the company was being “bombarded by all sides”.

On Wednesday, Stoke-on-Trent’s MPs, the GMB trade union and the industry body Ceramics UK will meet Industry Minister Sarah Jones to call for urgent action to save the potteries.

Ceramics is one of the most energy intensive industries in the UK and the sector is calling on the government to subsidise what it says are “crippling” energy bills.

It also wants businesses to be temporarily exempt from carbon emissions penalties.

The directors of Moorcroft Pottery announced last month the firm has stopped trading after more than 100 years.

It was the latest blow to the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent, a city affectionately known as The Potteries.

Ms Yates’ mother, 81 year-old Irene, has lived around the industry all her life.

She said the city was once “buzzing”, with more than 45,000 people working in ceramics.

She met her husband David working on the line at the now-closed Staffordshire Pottery, and added it was “heartbreaking” to think Dunoon Mugs could close too.

“I hope the federal government steps in to assist us,” she said.

Last week, Gareth Snell, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, gave a speech in Parliament, warning the industry faced collapse.

He criticised the government’s response to what he described as a “disaster” facing the industry.

Mr Smith also added he was not confident Dunoon would get the help it needed from government.

”I don’t think they behave as if they’re interested in traditional industries,” he mentioned.

In a press release, the Department for Business and Trade mentioned: “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.”