POTTERY manufacturers and suppliers have joined forces to revitalise the sector and help the ceramics industry survive the recession.
In the wake of famous names such as Wedgwood and Spode falling into administration, the Made in Staffordshire event aimed to help shore up the industry's supply chain.
Representatives from around 100 firms gathered at the King's Hall in Stoke yesterday for the event, co-ordinated by the British Ceramic Confederation, North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership and North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.
BCC president Ian Dudson, chief executive of Tunstall tableware manufacturer Dudson, said: "There are still more than 200 ceramic companies in Staffordshire and dozens, if not hundreds of firms supplying them.
"On the back of some high-profile administrations it was clear to a number of us that we're not just a collection of manufacturers – we're a collective that depends absolutely on the supply chain.
"The life-blood of our sector comes through partnerships, working with suppliers who are experts in their particular area.
"North Staffordshire is still leading the world in ceramic technology. We've lived through a period where we lost a lot of manufacturing jobs, but that doesn't mean we've lost the ceramic industry.
"We thought it was a good time to hold an event like this – as part of the regeneration efforts we should be focusing on trying to help businesses locally."
Industry experts have warned of a vicious circle where North Staffordshire output drops as companies close or move production overseas, forcing raw materials and specialised services suppliers out of business.
This in turn, they believe, could lead to more pottery manufacturers shutting or moving as the supplies they need locally become more and more scarce.
John Whitehurst is technical sales director at Etruria-based bone ash supplier Jesse Shirley & Son, which was bought out of administration earlier this year after being hit by the collapse of Wedgwood.
He said: "It's not really about raising our profile because most people around here know what we do, but we want to support the local industry, get it moving and get it making money.
"It would be great if someone came over and said they were interested in working with us, but it's good just to talk to people."
Managing director Mike Shirley added: "For the industry in general it's got to be beneficial getting people talking.
"There used to be the Interceramex event in Stoke, which was moved to Trentham, then Telford then the NEC in Birmingham.
"It was a great shame when that stopped because it was an opportunity for the potters to meet suppliers. The last one must have been about eight years ago."
Kevin Oakes, chief executive of Middleport tableware manufacturer Steelite International, said: "As manufacturers we want to ensure we have a strong, reliable supply base. We wanted to hold this event so manufacturers could come together, engage with suppliers and hopefully meet new people and share ideas about how to best develop the industry.
"We've got quite a large contingent of people here, not just from the manufacturing side but from finance, HR and engineering who want to meet with their counterparts to share ideas."
Pottery designer Alex Shimwell, who runs Alex Shimwell Ceramics out of the Potclays factory in Etruria, was at the event with his potter's wheel.
He said: "I've spoken to quite a few people who are interested in the ideas I'm trying to get off the ground.
I think it's important especially with the recession that people start getting together to help each other rather than being so competitive.
"We're competing with the mass production in places like China and India an some of the major factories have closed down, but we've still got the skills in the city.
We need to find a way of bringing it all together and reinvigorating the city."
In the wake of famous names such as Wedgwood and Spode falling into administration, the Made in Staffordshire event aimed to help shore up the industry's supply chain.
Representatives from around 100 firms gathered at the King's Hall in Stoke yesterday for the event, co-ordinated by the British Ceramic Confederation, North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership and North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce.
BCC president Ian Dudson, chief executive of Tunstall tableware manufacturer Dudson, said: "There are still more than 200 ceramic companies in Staffordshire and dozens, if not hundreds of firms supplying them.
"On the back of some high-profile administrations it was clear to a number of us that we're not just a collection of manufacturers – we're a collective that depends absolutely on the supply chain.
"The life-blood of our sector comes through partnerships, working with suppliers who are experts in their particular area.
"North Staffordshire is still leading the world in ceramic technology. We've lived through a period where we lost a lot of manufacturing jobs, but that doesn't mean we've lost the ceramic industry.
"We thought it was a good time to hold an event like this – as part of the regeneration efforts we should be focusing on trying to help businesses locally."
Industry experts have warned of a vicious circle where North Staffordshire output drops as companies close or move production overseas, forcing raw materials and specialised services suppliers out of business.
This in turn, they believe, could lead to more pottery manufacturers shutting or moving as the supplies they need locally become more and more scarce.
John Whitehurst is technical sales director at Etruria-based bone ash supplier Jesse Shirley & Son, which was bought out of administration earlier this year after being hit by the collapse of Wedgwood.
He said: "It's not really about raising our profile because most people around here know what we do, but we want to support the local industry, get it moving and get it making money.
"It would be great if someone came over and said they were interested in working with us, but it's good just to talk to people."
Managing director Mike Shirley added: "For the industry in general it's got to be beneficial getting people talking.
"There used to be the Interceramex event in Stoke, which was moved to Trentham, then Telford then the NEC in Birmingham.
"It was a great shame when that stopped because it was an opportunity for the potters to meet suppliers. The last one must have been about eight years ago."
Kevin Oakes, chief executive of Middleport tableware manufacturer Steelite International, said: "As manufacturers we want to ensure we have a strong, reliable supply base. We wanted to hold this event so manufacturers could come together, engage with suppliers and hopefully meet new people and share ideas about how to best develop the industry.
"We've got quite a large contingent of people here, not just from the manufacturing side but from finance, HR and engineering who want to meet with their counterparts to share ideas."
Pottery designer Alex Shimwell, who runs Alex Shimwell Ceramics out of the Potclays factory in Etruria, was at the event with his potter's wheel.
He said: "I've spoken to quite a few people who are interested in the ideas I'm trying to get off the ground.
I think it's important especially with the recession that people start getting together to help each other rather than being so competitive.
"We're competing with the mass production in places like China and India an some of the major factories have closed down, but we've still got the skills in the city.
We need to find a way of bringing it all together and reinvigorating the city."
Resouce: Pottery industry shows its collective strength
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2 comments:
With this move being done by the team of manufacturers suppliers china, this will help others to stay on the business even though recession is on its rise.
It's nice source
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