Historic Denby Pottery Announces Further 49 Redundancies as Manufacturing Operations Close
Administrators have confirmed that Denby Pottery, a major Midlands manufacturing firm with a 217-year history, is making an additional 49 workers redundant. This latest round of job cuts follows the layoff of 80 employees earlier this month, bringing the total number of affected workers to 129. The company's manufacturing and design departments are now set to close permanently after administrators failed to find a buyer for these operations.
Financial Challenges and Insolvency Process
Last month, Denby Pottery appointed FRP Advisory to oversee the insolvency process of administration. The firm has faced enormous financial challenges in recent years, compounded by difficulties in accessing business funding due to tighter financial markets. Despite extensive efforts to secure a buyer for the manufacturing operations, administrators stated it had not been possible, leading to the difficult decision to close these key departments.
Tony Wright, joint administrator of the Denby Group and partner at FRP, expressed deep regret over the situation. He emphasized that this is another very difficult day for the skilled workers at Denby and acknowledged the devastating impact on those affected and their families. Wright confirmed that administrators are supporting all affected employees with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service and remain in discussions with interested parties regarding other parts of the business.
Union Response and Community Impact
Craig Thomson, local organiser for the GMB union which represents workers at the site, strongly criticized the decision. He described Denby Pottery as a British icon that produces some of the world's finest ceramics, calling it shameful and totally avoidable that administrators are stripping the company of its most important asset—its highly skilled potters. Thomson vowed that the union will resist and fight for workers to have their voices heard throughout this challenging process.
The closure represents a significant blow to the local area, not only through the loss of skilled manufacturing jobs but also the potential erosion of a historic industrial heritage. Denby Pottery has been a cornerstone of the Midlands manufacturing sector for over two centuries, and its struggles highlight broader challenges facing traditional industries in the region.
