Whilst we have always been a company that prefers not to comment on political matters - concentrating instead on what we do best, which is making pottery - it is impossible to sit by and watch as fellow craftspeople across the city of Stoke-on-Trent lose their jobs, and great pottery names are lost to the ether.
We wish to express our sincere sadness to all those connected with Moorcroft Pottery. This was a true icon of pottery making and had become one of the most well-known names in the city.
Our company has witnessed the ebbs and flows, the peaks and troughs, of an industry in constant change. The city of Stoke-on-Trent has become used to factories closing, and to the shift of ceramic production overseas. This has been the story for more than 50 years. In recent times, only a small number of potteries have continued in the area, each doing something different - something very special. The competition of the past is long gone; each area within the city now contains only a handful of specialists. Like our company, which has specialised in the art of ‘underglaze tissue transfer printing’ a technique now exclusive to Burleigh. Using this technique we have become the pre-eminent luxury pottery brand making all of our pottery in one factory in the heart of the Staffordshire potteries.
It has become painfully clear in recent months that the losses are accelerating. With the closure of Royal Stafford - the last working pottery company in the town of Burslem - and now Moorcroft, the last pottery in Cobridge, these were once areas filled with hundreds of factories and allied tradespeople. That is 400 years of history wiped out. But more importantly, it is the jobs of real people lost. These are incredibly skilled craftspeople, some of whom possess skills that are literally irreplaceable. In some instances, they are the last people in the world capable of carrying out certain techniques.
At Burleigh, we are incredibly fortunate to have received the support and investment of Hilco Capital Ltd since 2010. For us, Hilco alongside our sister company Denby Pottery provided a team who allowed us autonomy, listened and understood that we are a unique pottery manufacturer, producing a desirable and saleable product, with a fantastic story to tell. We have spent the last two decades telling that story, finding new customers and caring for longstanding ones. We have nurtured young people into our industry, and we have never been afraid to make changes where these result in a better finished product.
We are extremely grateful for the support shown by our customers - some close to home, many from the furthest corners of the world. We continue to make the very best pottery we can for shops, restaurants, and hotels globally, all seeking a truly British-made product.
However, it is a constant battle. Energy bills and rising manufacturing costs remain serious threats to our industry. Cheap imports and companies that obscure the origins of their products do not just irritate - they genuinely damage the sales and future of businesses like ours. A label saying “Designed in England”, or sticking a Union Jack on something, does not create or protect jobs in the UK.
Recent calls for government action - regarding energy costs and taxation - are a real cry for help, underscored by these most recent closures. The message from Burleigh is twofold: firstly, we impress the urgency of these calls to government. Secondly, we issue a call to action for the British public.
A standard Burleigh mug costs £43. While this may not be affordable for everyone, consider how many cupboards are full of mugs costing just a few pounds each - cheaply made, imported items. The time for paying lip service to supporting British jobs and skills is over. There is great irony in mourning the “good old days” of British manufacturing while buying a £3 imported mug.
This applies not just to ceramics, but across industries. Be aware. Ask where something is made. Support British manufacturing. We still have great brands in this country. Let’s keep them.