Latest news with #ClaireSpate
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ex-Moorcroft pottery workers 'overwhelmed' after firm bought
Former workers have said they felt "overwhelmed" after collapsed pottery firm Moorcroft was bought by the founder's Stoke-on-Trent-based company went out of business in April after more than 100 years, leaving its 57-strong workforce without Saturday, it emerged that Will Moorcroft, grandson of founder William Moorcroft, had purchased the company and was hoping to restart operations at its Cobridge to the news, Claire Spate, who worked at Moorcroft for 27 years, told BBC Radio Stoke: "I was so happy that it had gone to Will… I was overwhelmed." She said everyone who had worked there was "so chuffed" the company was back with the founder's family."It means so much to us all," she added. "If you cut my heart open, Moorcroft is in the middle, as it is with all the staff who have ever worked there." Mr Moorcroft said he was considering moving production away from its site in Burslem and focusing solely on the Cobridge said he hoped to bring back at least 30 of the 57 workers who lost their jobs in Spate said she would be "ecstatic" if she was one of those who was asked to return."Every single person who goes back is going to be 100% behind Will and we've got to make it work," she said."The product is so beautiful and I'm so determined when we go back that it will be more popular than ever." 'Emotional rollercoaster' Beverly Berry, a former painter and designer who worked at Moorcroft for 36 years, said the last few weeks since she lost her job there had been "horrendous" and she had applied for multiple said hearing the news of the firm being purchased was "absolutely amazing"."It's back where it belongs, back in the Moorcroft family. That's where it should always be," she added."It's been an emotional rollercoaster and it's gone up to the top at the moment." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Workers say Stoke-on-Trent pottery industry could die with them
Former workers at a collapsed pottery firm have said the industry could die with them as they met for the first time since losing their Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, recently announced it had gone into liquidation, with its 57 employees all made was the third ceramics company to shut since the start of the year, sparking further concerns over the future of an industry beset by rising costs, largely caused by increased energy Dale, who worked at Moorcroft for 27 years, was one of the former employees at the meeting held at the GMB union's office in Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday. She told BBC Radio Stoke she "could not believe it" when the announcement was made and that the news came as a shock."I never wanted it to end, I never wanted to work anywhere else… I'm nearly 59 and I never thought I'd have to get another job at my age after being there for so long," she said."The industry will die with us and none of us want that." Former worker Claire Spate said she had never "felt a loss like that" in her life."I don't think I'm ready to get another job yet. In my head, I'm not ready. My heart's still with Moorcroft," she firm's announcement came about a month after it warned of possible redundancies, citing rising costs and falling ceramics companies to have collapsed include Royal Stafford, which also put its struggles down to rising energy costs and a decrease in product orders. Earlier on Wednesday, the government met with Stoke-on-Trent's three MPs and unions to see if they could agree a deal to help with spiralling energy North MP David Williams said he was "absolutely gutted" about Moorcroft's collapse, adding: "Enough is enough."He said: "We cannot allow the skills and talent to be lost from our city, we've got to fight for it…now is the time for the government to act."Mr Williams said ideas had been put forward to ministers, adding that the government's spending review in June would be "critical"."It [the industry] is in our DNA as a city, it made us who we are. We are going to keep fighting and we're going to do all we can to get an outcome as quickly as we can," he added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
