Latest news with #MoorcroftPottery
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grandson of Moorcroft founder buys bust firm
Moorcroft Pottery, which stopped trading at the end of April after more than 100 years in business, has been returned to family ownership. The company has been bought by Will Moorcroft, whose grandfather William Moorcroft built the factory on Sandbach Road in Cobridge in 1913, with support from London department store Liberty. The firm had remained in the family until 2006 when Mr Moorcroft's father retired. "It's nice to have the opportunity to bring it back into the family fold," Mr Moorcroft said. "I'm very proud to have been able to pick up the keys." Mr Moorcroft said he would like to see "as many of the staff as we can bring back" but that he was unable to guarantee all 57 workers would be able to return. "We'll do our best to make it work, and get everybody back who wants to come back doing what they do best, which is producing beautiful Moorcroft," he said. He added that they were considering moving production away from the site in Burslem, moving the firm solely to the original factory on Sandbach Road. The brand was popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, and has a following among collectors around the world. After winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as potter to Queen Mary in 1928. The firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal Collection. In March, bosses at the firm warned of redundancies, stating their energy costs had gone up by almost £250,000 over the past two years. On 30 April they issued a statement that the company was to be liquidated. Mr Moorcroft said issues such as energy costs and global markets did weigh heavily on his mind, and that refreshing the brand would take hard work. "The faith in the product is there," he said, "we just have to ensure that we can get the collectors – new and old – to keep the faith." He added that he felt it was a family firm, not only in terms of his personal connection, but also through that of the skilled pottery workers who were part of the company. The company's local roots are also an integral part of its heritage, he said. "It's made in Stoke-on-Trent, it's got the backstamp to show that, all the staff are local, it stays local and for the city it's fantastic news for it to be continuing." He said his plan was to resume production, ensuring the brand and its products continued to be made along with the potential for new designs and new products. "It's all handmade, it's an iconic brand that over time has reached every corner of the world," he said. "I think to have such a product, to carry on its existence, is tremendous for everybody." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Pottery firm goes bust after more than 100 years Minister pledges support to pottery industry Pottery firm plea to help industry 'on its knees' Pottery boss 'optimistic' for industry's future Moorcroft
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Grandson of Moorcroft founder buys bust Stoke-on-Trent firm
Moorcroft Pottery, which stopped trading at the end of April after more than 100 years in business, has been returned to family company has been bought by Will Moorcroft, whose grandfather William Moorcroft built the factory on Sandbach Road in Cobridge in 1913, with support from London department store firm had remained in the family until 2006 when Mr Moorcroft's father retired."It's nice to have the opportunity to bring it back into the family fold," Mr Moorcroft said. "I'm very proud to have been able to pick up the keys." Mr Moorcroft said he would like to see "as many of the staff as we can bring back" but that he was unable to guarantee all 57 workers would be able to return."We'll do our best to make it work, and get everybody back who wants to come back doing what the do best, which is producing beautiful Moorcroft," he added that they were considering moving production away from the site in Burslem, moving the firm solely to the original factory on Sandbach Road. The brand was popular with US presidents and British prime ministers, and has a following among collectors around the winning a number of prestigious international awards, Moorcroft was appointed as potter to Queen Mary in firm's royal patronage continued when the late Queen Elizabeth II added Moorcroft designs into the Royal March, bosses at the firm warned of redundancies, stating their energy costs had gone up by almost £250,000 over the past two 30 April they issued a statement that the company was to be liquidated. Mr Moorcroft said issues such as energy costs and global markets did weigh heavily on his mind, and that refreshing the brand would take hard work."The faith in the product is there," he said, "we just have to ensure that we can get the collectors – new and old – to keep the faith."He added that he felt it was a family firm, not only in terms of his personal connection, but also through that of the skilled pottery workers who were part of the company. The company's local roots are also an integral part of its heritage, he said."It's made in Stoke-on-Trent, it's got the backstamp to show that, all the staff are local, it stays local and for the city it's fantastic news for it to be continuing."He said his plan was to resume production, ensuring the brand and its products continued to be made along with the potential for new designs and new products."It's all handmade, it's an iconic brand that over time has reached every corner of the world," he said."I think to have such a product, to carry on its existence, is tremendous for everybody." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Moorcroft Pottery workers get IT lessons to help job search
Former Moorcroft Pottery workers are being given laptops and IT lessons to help them get back into Burslem-based firm went bust in May, with the loss of 57 women are being helped to improve their digital skills with the help of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and training service Wavemaker."It's all around empowering people with the confidence, kit and skills," said Wavemaker co-founder Ben McManus. Many of the workers had been at the pottery company since leaving school, said Louise Edwards, who was painter for 21 years."So we don't have the skills for the future jobs market," she laptops and lessons are being paid for through government funding, and the course is being run at the GMB Union's offices in Hanley. Just turning the computer on had been a "big thing when you've painted pots for 38 years," said Hayley Moore."When you're in your fifties, you don't really want to start learning something new, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes," she hunger to learn new skills, and the worker's resilience during stressful circumstances had been "infectious," said Mr McManus. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pottery workers blame energy bills for factory collapse
Pottery workers campaigning to save a factory which has gone into liquidation have said soaring energy prices are to blame. Moorcroft Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ceased trading at the end of April with the loss of 57 jobs, following 112 years of trading. Former workers have said the jobs represented a total of 1,500 years of combined service and skills, and hope a takeover bid will be accepted by the deadline on 4 June. Beverley Berry, who has worked as a painter and designer at Moorcroft for 36 years, blamed the rising cost of fuel for the collapse. "What's been the death of Moorcroft has been basically the fuel costs," she said. "I heard a rumour that the bills went from £60,000 a year to £340,000 a year and that's why we just couldn't sustain things." Ms Berry, who joined the firm after leaving school, said the loss felt "like a bereavement". "All my friends worked there, we were all very close and I just feel lost and I know in the end we'll all move on whether we go back to Moorcroft or not but I just feel really lost," she said. Employees are being offered support with finding new jobs by the GMB Union, with dozens of workers recently attending a meeting at the union's headquarters in Hanley to discuss next steps. Louise Edwards, who has worked for Moorcroft for 21 years, said the news was a shock and had "completely blown us out the water". "It's horrific, people have sat there, incredibly skilled painters, tube liners, casters, all these different skills that they've done and devoted themselves to for that length of time and now they're just sitting waiting, not knowing what they're going to do," she said. Moorcroft was the third pottery firm to collapse since the start of the year, following Royal Stafford and Heraldic Pottery. It had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling sales. Chris Hoofe, GMB organiser, said it was calling on central government to "act now" to support the ceramics industry. "Unless the government supports this sector with the cost of energy, unfortunately we're going to see more Royal Staffords and more Moorcrofts," he said. Following the collapse of the firm, a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade previously said: "We know this will be a concerning time for Moorcroft Pottery workers and their families. "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." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Pottery firm goes bust after more than 100 years Moorcroft Pottery can be saved - ceramics boss Tile factory set to close with 105 jobs at risk Axed staff from failed pottery to go back to work Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent: Moorcroft pottery workers blame energy bills for collapse
Pottery workers campaigning to save a factory which has gone into liquidation have said soaring energy prices are to Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, ceased trading at the end of April with the loss of 57 jobs, following 112 years of workers have said the jobs represented a total of 1,500 years of combined service and skills, and hope a takeover bid will be accepted by the deadline on 4 Berry, who has worked as a painter and designer at Moorcroft for 36 years, blamed the rising cost of fuel for the collapse. "What's been the death of Moorcroft has been basically the fuel costs," she said."I heard a rumour that the bills went from £60,000 a year to £340,000 a year and that's why we just couldn't sustain things." Ms Berry, who joined the firm after leaving school, said the loss felt "like a bereavement"."All my friends worked there, we were all very close and I just feel lost and I know in the end we'll all move on whether we go back to Moorcroft or not but I just feel really lost," she are being offered support with finding new jobs by the GMB Union, with dozens of workers recently attending a meeting at the union's headquarters in Hanley to discuss next Edwards, who has worked for Moorcroft for 21 years, said the news was a shock and had "completely blown us out the water"."It's horrific, people have sat there, incredibly skilled painters, tube liners, casters, all these different skills that they've done and devoted themselves to for that length of time and now they're just sitting waiting, not knowing what they're going to do," she said. Moorcroft was the third pottery firm to collapse since the start of the year, following Royal Stafford and Heraldic had warned in March of possible redundancies and at the time cited rising costs and falling Hoofe, GMB organiser, said it was calling on central government to "act now" to support the ceramics industry."Unless the government supports this sector with the cost of energy, unfortunately we're going to see more Royal Staffords and more Moorcrofts," he the collapse of the firm, a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade previously said: "We know this will be a concerning time for Moorcroft Pottery workers and their families."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." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
