Potters win 120m rescue as government finally backs Britain's ceramics heartland

A £120 million government support package has been announced for the UK ceramics industry after prolonged lobbying. The funding is split evenly between £60 million in capital grants for new equipment, energy efficiency, and decarbonisation, and £60 million to reduce punishing operational costs. Eligible firms across refractory products, clay building materials, household ceramics, and technical ceramics can apply when the scheme opens later this summer. Trade body Ceramics UK welcomed the decision and said it had been asked to work directly with civil servants on scheme design and delivery. Some firms have already been harmed by delays, but the funding is described as a hard-won breakthrough intended to be spent wisely and sustain manufacturers for the long term.

"The government has unveiled a £120 million support package for the UK ceramics industry, ending a prolonged lobbying campaign by manufacturers and trade bodies who had warned that one of Britain's oldest industrial sectors was being allowed to slip away."

"The funding, announced by business secretary Peter Kyle alongside chancellor Rachel Reeves, is split evenly: £60 million in capital grants to help manufacturers invest in new equipment, energy efficiency and decarbonisation, and a further £60 million to ease the punishing operational costs that have brought several household names to their knees."

"Eligible firms across refractory products, clay building materials, household ceramics and technical ceramics will be able to apply when the scheme opens later this summer, according to the official announcement from the Department for Business and Trade."

"“We’ve got manufacturers that have been around for many hundreds of years,” Flello added. “We want to have manufacturers that are around for the next few hundred years. It’s really about making sure this money is spent wisely and well, and achieves the maximum potential it can.”"

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