Hospitality businesses and Daily Focus readers are being urged to pin their colours to the mast by backing the UK ceramics industry as part of a rescue package which goes straight to Westminster.
It’s part of a joint initiative between MPs, Ceramics UK, the biggest names in pottery manufacturing, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the trades unions.
A meeting with ministers has already taken place to ask for a sweeping set of support for the sector.
A follow up in two weeks’ time expects a positive response from the Government and energy companies.
Now the campaign, led by Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell and former MP Rob Flello, now Chief Executive of Ceramics UK, is asking the public, businesses and employees to do their bit.
There are two things to do:
• Join the Turnover Team, set up by Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell, at this link: www.garethsnell.org.uk/turnoverteam
• Post photos of Staffordshire ceramics in use in a pub, restaurant, canteen or café and use the hashtag #turnoverteam and @Daily Focus Staffordshire Business News
The Turnover Team celebrates Staffordshire pottery wherever it is used. But it also provides an opportunity to shine a light on organisations who use foreign imports instead of buying British, especially in the public sector.
One of the solutions flagged by the group driving the recovery plan is the introduction of a scrappage scheme which would enable hospitality businesses using foreign imported ceramics to receive discounted replacements made in the UK.
Companies backing the growing initiative included Steelite International, Duchess China, Denby Pottery, Burgess and Leigh, Dunoon and Emma Bridgewater.
Gareth Snell said: “Bringing together everyone with a stake in the UK ceramics industry was an historic achievement and strengthens our bargaining position with Government.
“We’ve gone into sixth gear to protect and sustain the ceramics industry at a critical time when it faces so many pressures, with rising energy and sustainability costs at home and fakes or cheap imp[orts arriving from overseas.
“We’ve asked the Government for support on costs and legislation to protect our brands.
“This week I’ve published my ‘Backstamp Bill’ which aims to acknowledge and protect the ‘Made in England’ and ‘Made in the UK’ back stamp.
“It means the issues affecting our beloved industry – the gift we give to the world – will be debated in parliament and have a good chance of influencing wider debate on protecting UK products, brands and business.
“I’m also in advanced talks with the relevant ministers and authorities to make sure when ceramics are bought for public buildings that the priority is to Buy British.”
