Staffordshire-based trade organisation Ceramics UK took centre stage at the heart of government as industry leaders met with MPs at a special parliamentary dinner to discuss challenges and opportunities for the sector.
Held at the House of Commons and hosted by Gareth Snell MP, the event brought together representatives from across the UK ceramics industry – including tableware, sanitaryware, refractories and advanced ceramics – to engage directly with members of parliament.
Guests included President of Ceramics UK Hannah Ault, Chief Executive Rob Flello, and MPs David Williams, Linsey Farnsworth and Amanda Hack, who attended with members from their constituencies.
The event was sponsored by AMRICC and is the second parliamentary gathering to be held this year. Key issues raised on the night included spiralling energy costs and the need for a level playing field with international competitors.
Rob Flello, Chief Executive of Ceramics UK, said: “The evening offered a unique opportunity for members to state really clearly the challenges that our industry faces, as well as the opportunities.
“They set out the situation where government can step up and put in place the infrastructure, the support, the help, the guidance needed to thrive.
“With these measures in place, our UK ceramic sector can go from strength-to-strength, building a platform for national and international growth to enable this vital industry to thrive.”
Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, chair of the Business and Trade Select Committee and guest speaker on the night, said: “Events like this are absolutely critical in bringing frontline realities from the private sector, together with politicians who can make an impact here in Parliament.
“We cannot get the legislation right without conversations like those held here. We’ve heard loud and clear some really strong messages from industry leaders.
“Energy costs are absolutely top of the list, but we’ve also heard about the need to level the playing field and address unfair competition from abroad.
“We also discussed the real opportunities for the industry to innovate, to grow and to contribute to our economic security and help us project that UK soft power around the world for brands that people love.”
Sebastian Lazell, CEO of the Denby Group, added: “There are always many messages to share, but at the heart of it, we’re a 200-year-old brand and business that is a key part of the government’s growth agenda, exporting ‘Made in England’ products to countries all across the world.
“However, in these challenging economic times, we really need help and support on the very high cost of energy, both electricity and gas, so that there is a level playing field with competitors across the world who are better supported and subsidised in their ceramics and tableware industry by their governments.
“If we have a level playing field with that level of support, our goods will win day after day, achieving more customers, more business and more growth for Britain, but we need that help and we need it now because we have the most expensive industry energy costs anywhere in the world and it’s really hurting.”
Ceramics UK has previously expressed disappointment that the multi-billion-pound sector was overlooked in the Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Rob Flello said: “We need to get the message across about the sector’s huge significance to the UK economy and this event in parliament offered a unique opportunity for members to state really clearly the challenges that our industry faces, as well as the opportunities.
“They set out the situation where government can step up and put in place the infrastructure, the support, the help, the guidance needed to thrive.
“With these measures in place, our UK ceramic sector can go from strength-to-strength, building a platform for national and international growth to enable this vital industry to thrive.”
