Manufacturing is to cease at renowned pottery firm Denby (Image: Getty)
Manufacturing is to cease at renowned pottery firm Denby, and a further 49 workers have been made redundant, administrators have said. The decision means more than 100 jobs have now been lost at the historic company, which has been in business since 1809.
Denby Pottery appointed administrators on March 31 after struggling with rising energy and labour costs and weaker consumer spending. Administrators from FRP Advisory said it had “not been possible to secure a buyer for the manufacturing operations” and that a “difficult decision to close the business’s making and design departments” had been made.
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Denby Pottery appointed administrators on March 31 (Image: Getty)
Around 80 workers were laid off earlier this month, according to the BBC. The additional 49 redundancies take the total number of job losses to well over 100.
Tony Wright, joint administrator of the Denby Group and partner at FRP, said: “This is another very difficult day for the skilled workers at Denby and we understand how devastating this news will be for those affected and their families.
“Unfortunately, despite extensive efforts, we have been unable to find a buyer for the manufacturing operations and have had to take this difficult decision.
“We remain in discussions with interested parties regarding other parts of the business and continue to do everything we can to support affected employees through this process.”
Administrators said they are supporting all affected employees with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.
Denby Pottery has been described as ‘a British icon’ (Image: Getty)
The move follows a notice of intention to appoint administrators that was filed on March 11, after what the company described as “a period of challenging financial circumstances brought about by soaring costs and low consumer confidence”.
The formal appointment came on March 31.
Former chief executive Sebastian Lazell previously said rising energy costs had left the company operating at a loss.
Craig Thomson, local organiser for the GMB union, which represents workers at the site, told the BBC: “Denby Pottery is a British icon, producing some of the world’s finest ceramics.
“It is shameful, totally avoidable, that administrators are stripping this company of its most important asset, its highly skilled potters.
“We will resist and fight for workers for their voice to be heard.”
Administrators said they are supporting all affected employees (Image: Getty)
More than 40,000 people have signed a petition calling for Denby to be included in the Government’s British Industry Supercharger financial support scheme, which provides relief from electricity costs for firms in sectors such as steel and chemicals.
Despite the closure of manufacturing, administrators said discussions are continuing about the possible sale of other parts of the business.
Denby has produced ceramics in Derbyshire since 1809 and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s best-known pottery brands.
Many customers reacted to the news online. One person wrote: “This is terrible news. How can a company that’s so amazing (from the quality of the products to the amazing customer service) and with such an incredible heritage be under such threat! Will share far and wide and make some purchases now.”
Another said: “Denby are the best of British. They must be saved,” while a third added: “We can’t let this happen! I love Denby’s beautiful pieces.”