Denby petitions government for support following administration

Denby Pottery is calling for the government to include ceramics in a business support scheme after its recent entry into administration.

The Derbyshire-based crockery brand, which serves both the hospitality and retail sectors, appointed FRP Advisory as administrators on 31 March following a period of challenging financial circumstances.

Now the company wants the government to apply the British Industry Supercharger scheme to the ceramics industry to help cut soaring industrial energy costs and support ceramics businesses like Denby which are at the risk of imminent collapse without urgent intervention.

The Supercharger scheme already provides relief from electricity costs for firms in sectors like steel and chemicals.

Former Denby worker Hayley Baddiley filed a petition calling for ceramics manufacturers to be included in the scheme and for the government to produce a statement about its policy to protect and support industry and jobs. The government’s petitions committee has approved the campaign to go live.

Already, more than 50,000 people have supported the appeal – at 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Denby has been handmaking crockery at its Derbyshire headquarters since 1809, and currently employs more than 500 staff.

In the hospitality sector, Denby supplies customers including the José Pizarro Group and Morston Hall.

Last year, Denby created a specialist sales manager for hospitality role, covering Denby and Burleigh Pottery. It recruited Jo Derbyshire into the position, who has more than 25 years of experience in the sector working with both Steelite and Churchill and more recently as head of sales for William Edwards.