‘Body blow’ as historic UK pottery agency proclaims mass job losses | UK | News | EUROtoday

Iconic pottery agency Wedgwood has introduced job losses in a “body blow” for Britain’s historic pottery business. The firm is alleged to be making redundancies on the Barlaston manufacturing facility, close to Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, though the precise variety of potential job losses is but to be confirmed. A 30-day session is predicted to get underway shortly.

News of the job losses comes after manufacturing facility manufacturing was halted for 90 days from September 9, 2025, to January 5 this 12 months. A complete of 70 employees have been positioned on “temporary leave” to “lower consumer demand”.

GMB union organiser Chris Hoofe mentioned: “This is another body blow for ceramics in Staffordshire and more evidence, if any was needed, to meet GMB’s demands of the Government to act and support the sector.

“GMB will likely be coming into into session over the proposed redundancies and preventing to mitigate any obligatory job losses. The employees at Wedgwood are extremely expert and devoted workers who’re affected by circumstances past their management. GMB Union will do the whole lot we will to assist them at this extremely tough time.”

Pottery has been made at the Barlaston site since the 1940s.

In a statement on Thursday, Wedgwood owner Fiskars Group said it was “dedicated to persevering with this iconic model’s legacy” but also needed to take “measured steps to align manufacturing with demand, manufacturing prices and provide chain evolution”.

The company told the BBC that it had been “proud to assist protect the custom of pottery-making in Staffordshire by main Wedgwood by means of some immensely difficult and complicated international market dynamics since our acquisition”.

The statement added: “As a part of our ongoing operational overview, manufacturing at our Barlaston manufacturing facility is to give attention to high-end, hand-crafted merchandise, together with Jasperware and Prestige Bone China, sustaining distinctive, native expertise.

“Sadly, this will necessitate a reduction in the number of roles at Barlaston. We are commencing a standard 30-day consultation and will work closely with the workforce and trade unions to ensure that those affected receive correct support.

“By taking this step, we’re making certain the well-known Wedgwood identify and the Staffordshire craftsmanship related to it proceed.”

GMB has been calling on Labour for help to futureproof the pottery industry after a torrid 2025 saw the collapse of Royal Stafford, Heraldic Pottery and Moorcroft, which was later bought by the grandson of the firm’s founder.

Wedgwood owner Fiskars Group told StokeonTrentLive in September that production was being paused ‘to address elevated inventory levels caused by lower consumer demand in some key markets’.

It added: “Barlaston and its neighborhood are of key significance to Fiskars Group and Wedgwood. The web site serves as a hub for our high-end and bespoke product, together with handcrafted items in superb bone china and our signature Jasperware.”