Pottery workers are calling on the government to help keep kilns lit following the production of a new industrial strategy which aims to tackle electricity costs in energy-intensive sectors.

However, so far action has only been taken on high electricity prices, not gas, which fuels the industry.

For the first time Stoke-on-Trent has been named in the industrial strategy, which backs eight high potential industries – one of those industries is the ceramics industry in Stoke-on-Trent. However the plan aims to tackle high electricity prices from 2027 onwards.

The key cost for much of the industry is the price of gas, which is now six times higher than it was in 2022. Now pottery workers and the GMB Union are calling on the government to increase support for the sector.

Pottery worker for 33 years, Sharon Yates, said: "We're calling on central government to help us with gas prices, it's gas that is the central one we need help with. Helping us with electricity in 2027 isn't going to work.

"My belief is that if the government helped us with gas prices then the factories in Stoke-on-Trent could stabilise more."

She said that without support on gas prices the industry will continue to suffer. She said that immediate help with the standing charges, which are two thirds higher than gas prices, would be welcomed.

Sharon continued: "We're haemorrhaging at the moment and we need to basically put a plug in to stop that haemorrhage happening any more. A lot of people say the pottery industry is dead – it's not.

"There are thousands who still work in the pottery industry. What people see is Royal Doulton and Aynsley China, all that's gone.

"We need to concentrate on what's happening now and the government needs to support the factories in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire with gas prices."  

Speaking on the new industrial strategy Sharon added: "It's the first time the pottery industry has been recognised in the industrial strategy, which is something to be very proud of as it specifically names Stoke-on-Trent as manufacturing essential for the UK.

"We've made a big step being recognised in the strategy but now we've got to take those steps to build on that so that we're supported by the government"

Ceramics UK, the trade body which represents the industry has also claimed that the sector has been misled over the industrial strategy. They claim support promised for the pottery industry have not materialised.

Rob Flello, Chief Executive of Ceramics UK, said: "We are deeply disappointed with the Government's Modern Industrial Strategy and feel misled. Where is the promised support either in the Government's recent Spending Review or the Industrial Strategy?

"Instead, we have an Industrial Strategy that fails to meaningfully support or understand the UK ceramics sector, despite previous public recognition by Government of its challenges and national importance.

"This represents a missed opportunity to back one of the UK's most enduring and strategically important manufacturing industries."