Latest news with #Moorcroft
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke pottery firm's plea to help industry 'on its knees'
Ahead of the government spending review on Wednesday, pottery bosses are not holding out hope for it to contain support with spiralling energy or employment costs. "Our industry is on its knees," said fifth generation ceramicist Emily Johnson, from one of the oldest traditional Stoke-on-Trent manufacturing families - the Johnson brothers. "There is a lot of hope and opportunity, however, we need help. If our industry fails, where do people work?"The Department for Business and Trade said: "Ministers continue to engage closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and provide support, ensuring the industry is globally competitive as part of our Plan for Change." In 2011, Ms Johnson established 1882 Ltd, one of the youngest ceramics firms in Staffordshire. She said she did not believe ministers would step in: Although the pottery industry has been in decline for decades, 2025 has seen a quick succession of three Stoke-on-Trent manufacturers going bump, citing energy bills as the events included:The February collapse of historic firm Royal Stafford along with the loss of 70 jobs, followed by Heraldic Pottery going into liquidation, and other firms working on reduced hours. Moorcroft's trading end in April. The company stated its energy costs had gone up almost £250,000 over the past two March, in between the events, industry bosses and unions pitched a rescue plan to ministers in "make or break" meetings, including Labour Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell who said help could not come fast Ms Johnson said she believed that while "our local MPs are doing all they can", they were just "getting lip service" from ministerial colleagues."We don't need lip service," she said, "we need help." Without it, she added, the future of factories, and the industry itself, were in jeopardy. The 1882 Ltd firm has a factory within the Wedgwood site in Barlaston, employs 23 potters, and operates ten electric kilns for firing products, as opposed to the traditional gas operator Nathan Platt said that insulating kilns with bricks made them more efficient, however they still used a lot of energy. "The gas kilns, it's a lot of money. Electric, it's a lot of money. But I'd say electric kilns are smaller, easier to fill, easier to empty quicker," he said. With an ageing workforce within the industry, there are fears those with specialised skills will literally die out. Andrew Henshall, a potter for 50 years, and one of only a handful of ceramic modellers left, said he was positive there remained a demand for handmade despite a changing market, he likes an approach that prioritises the potential of the craft."It's not who can make the cheapest mug or who can make the cheapest teapot now," he said. "It's often guided by designers who say they want to create a new range, or create something beautiful." Rob Flello, chief executive of Ceramics UK, said he believed the government was listening, but whether the message cut through to the treasury remained to be seen."All we're asking really is that some of the burdens that are placed on our industry are lifted, so those taxes, those levies - get those lifted off."
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stoke-on-Trent potteries urged to look to future amid closures
Firms in the pottery industry in Stoke-on-Trent have been urged to move to new technology in the wake of the closure of several high-profile Kinsella, at science consultancy firm Lucideon, which is based in the city, called on people to focus on the future, so the city, known as The Potteries, did not become "a museum".His plea follows a series of pottery firms going out of business, with Moorcroft the latest to announce its collapse, and Mr Kinsella said energy costs were "bringing the industry to its knees".However, Ceramics UK, a trade organisation that represents companies of all sizes in the industry, said the idea the industry was in decline was exaggerated. Mr Kinsella said new uses for ceramics included components in mobile phones, cars, aircraft engines, and even knee and hip joints, as well as dental products such as an example, he said Lucideon put ceramic tiles on Nasa's Perseverance rover, which landed on Mars in 2021, as its cameras used the tiles as a colour palette. A centre of excellence is run by the firm in Stone, Staffordshire, which has carried out research looking at using hydrogen to power kilns, to create what staff call a "green burn".Over the years, kilns have moved from coal energy to natural gas and are now switching to electricity but Mr Kinsella said that was the most expensive energy source. He called for government support for the ceramics industry in the UK. Museum fears for city However, Robert Flello, chief executive of Ceramics UK, said while the industry faced the pressure of going greener, the organisation's members continued to invest in new plant and machinery, to reduce their carbon footprint."With the right support from government, the UK ceramics sector, which is highly respected at home and internationally, can continue to thrive and grow," he the Department for Business & Trade, a spokeswoman said: "Ministers continue to engage closely with the ceramics sector to understand the challenges and provide support, ensuring the industry is globally competitive as part of our Plan for Change." Mr Kinsella also criticised a focus on the history of the potteries in Stoke-on-Trent and said it had led to a "crazy feeling of turning Stoke-on-Trent into a museum".Last year, calls were made for Stoke-on-Trent to be designated a world heritage site after it was granted World Craft City Kinsella questioned why there were 50 listed bottle kilns in Stoke-on-Trent and said some could be given new uses.A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokeswoman said Historic England was responsible for adding buildings to the National Heritage said listing a building did not mean it could never be changed or re-purposed but it did present significant challenges, and any proposed schemes needed to be appropriate and sustainable."We are working closely with a range of partners to ensure we not only protect our heritage assets but, where appropriate, bring them back into sustainable use," she said. This autumn, Stoke-on-Trent will host the British Ceramics Biennial 2025, with six weeks of exhibitions, screenings, talks and events at the former Spode Wood, the event's artistic director and chief executive, said staging it helped to maintain national and international interest in the city, which was important for the industry and people working in it. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Drug dealer told police officers 'it took you five years lad' as he was eventually brought to justice
A drug dealer told police 'it took you five years lad' when officers brought him to justice. EncroChat trafficker Jake Moorcroft was finally outed as the user behind the anonymous username 'InvincibleHound' on the communications system, often subbed as 'WhatsApp for criminals'. Messaging within the encrypted system, infiltrated by police in 2020, showed that he had been involved in supplying heroin, cocaine and cannabis with another EncroChat user named 'BigD***'. The Liverpool Echo reports that he was said to have "thrown away the best years of his life for a small amount of money" as his incarceration sparked tears among his family. Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Friday, that messages exchanged via the InvincibleHound handle during the spring of 2020 showed that Moorcroft, of St Julien Drive in Everton, already had a "well established business" in class A and B drugs. The now 25-year-old had a total of 54 contacts stored on his Encro phone and was found to have been in contact with 33 of these over a three-month period. READ MORE: Police step up patrols after building smashed up in 'anti-Semitic attack' READ MORE: Teenage boys arrested on suspicion of arson after huge moorland blaze Stella Hayden, prosecuting, described how he was shown to have "worked closely" with the user BigD***, with the two having "operated principally by sourcing kilograms or half kilograms and selling them in smaller denominations". Their contact also included discussions on the production of crack cocaine and cutting their product with adulterants in order to achieve greater profits. Overall, Moorcroft was evidenced to have been involved in the supply of 5.5kg of cocaine, 2.25kg of heroin and 6kg of cannabis. He was eventually arrested at his home address on February 6 this year, at which stage he told PCs: "It took you five years lad." An extendable baton was seized by Merseyside Police following a search of the house, with £15,600 in cash also being discovered in an "associated property". Moorcroft has a total of four previous convictions for seven offences, including being concerned in the supply of drugs and possession of drugs in Belgium in 2018 and 2019 respectively and receiving six months suspended for 18 months in this country in 2019 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply. Anthony Barraclough, defending, told the court: "He comes from a loving family. The fact that they love him and his behaviour perhaps makes it worse. "A man being involved at a low level is suddenly organising his own business and having all of these contacts at the age of 20. It might not be so simple and straight forward as the prosecution say. "There is room for the possibility that he did not just come into this kind of world. We have a young man here who did not suddenly become an expert, got himself an Encro phone, was the sole user of it and had all of these contacts without having surrounding influence. "If he is a young man who is susceptible to influence, that is something your honour can take into account. He was the user of the phone and he did all of those transactions, but he did not suddenly come upon this phone and invent this business. He has thrown away his life, or the best years of it, for a small amount of money." Moorcroft admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine and cannabis, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and breaching a suspended sentence order. Appearing in the dock wearing a blue Nike t-shirt and sporting mid length brown hair, he was jailed for eight years and eight months. One woman in the public gallery was seen in tears and blew him a kiss as he was led down to the cells. Sentencing, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "The trade that you were involved in brings destruction and misery to many. Drugs wreck lives. "You only need to spend a few days in these courts to see the devastating impact that drugs have in this city. You were motivated by greed and had a complete disregard for the wellbeing of others and the impact that your dealing would have on the fabric of society. "You, like so many, thought that you were protected by the use of such a phone, but that has proved to be your downfall. There was no hiding place, and the contents of those messages and notes revealed what you were up to. "I have read with care a number of references on your behalf. You are clearly well thought of by those in your community. Your grandmother speaks of the important role that you have played in her life. You are obviously well thought of by your family, and your incarceration will clearly have a devastating impact on them. "There is clearly another side to you. It is sad to see a young man who clearly does have the ability to do good for others before these courts facing a lengthy custodial sentence. The fact is that the only person to blame is you."
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Antiques Road Trip expert 'hits rival' in tense auction clash as profits soar
BBC Antiques Road Trip experts James Braxton and Raj Bisram went head to head in the latest episode of the show as they tried to score the biggest profit in the auction Antiques Road Trip stars James Braxton and Raj Bisram were in fierce competition during a memorable episode, which saw them journeying separately throughout Somerset before a heated auction kicked off in Woking. While James became one with the Morris Men, Raj braved life in a tank, only to meet later for a showdown with their quirky finds. The treasure hunt had them almost on par by the halfway mark, but James placed his bets on some slightly damaged Staffordshire figures, whereas Raj hoped for a win with his unique Moorcroft vase. The true game-changer was James revealing to a stunned Raj a Sir William Russell Flint print he'd cleverly bagged for just £8 - a piece adorned with the artist's signature. "I think James has done extremely well. He bought a Sir William Russell Flint print - signed - £8!" remarked an impressed Raj, unable to hide his shock at the low price: "£8? I can't believe it!" Excitement peaked at the auction as bids flew in both online and from the floor, culminating with the print going under the hammer for an impressive £150, leaving James over the moon with his lucrative find. James was positively buzzing after the auction delivered a smashing result, beaming as he declared: "Top estimate! £150. Put it there Raj. Come on," reports the Express. Raj, just as chuffed with how things turned out, gleefully agreed to a celebratory handshake, saying: "Top estimate. That is a good profit. That's worth a shake of the hand. Well done, well done James." In high spirits, Raj playfully tapped an elated James on the head with his papers in a fun show of camaraderie. The host, Tim Wonnacott, couldn't hold back his delight, laughing as he said: "Yes, that's a great result for print and it's profits all round." In another episode of the BBC show, Christina Trevanion and Mark Stacey were left astounded when a humble vegetable barrow they snapped up for a mere £10 transformed into a treasure at auction, commanding an unexpectedly high price. Renowned for their prowess in the world of collectables, the duo watched in disbelief as the bids for what was nearly dismissed as mere firewood skyrocketed during a frenzied bidding session among eager collectors. At the peak of the excitement, a shell-shocked Mark couldn't help exclaiming: "Good Lord. Why?" while Christina, equally puzzled, replied, "I have no idea." As the numbers soared higher, Mark could only jest: "Can I go home now?" but Christina, basking in the success of her find, quickly responded: "No! Stay here and hold my hand!" The sale of the vegetable barrow concluded at an impressive £130.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Workers say Stoke-on-Trent pottery industry could die with them
Former workers at a collapsed pottery firm have said the industry could die with them as they met for the first time since losing their Pottery in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, recently announced it had gone into liquidation, with its 57 employees all made was the third ceramics company to shut since the start of the year, sparking further concerns over the future of an industry beset by rising costs, largely caused by increased energy Dale, who worked at Moorcroft for 27 years, was one of the former employees at the meeting held at the GMB union's office in Stoke-on-Trent on Wednesday. She told BBC Radio Stoke she "could not believe it" when the announcement was made and that the news came as a shock."I never wanted it to end, I never wanted to work anywhere else… I'm nearly 59 and I never thought I'd have to get another job at my age after being there for so long," she said."The industry will die with us and none of us want that." Former worker Claire Spate said she had never "felt a loss like that" in her life."I don't think I'm ready to get another job yet. In my head, I'm not ready. My heart's still with Moorcroft," she firm's announcement came about a month after it warned of possible redundancies, citing rising costs and falling ceramics companies to have collapsed include Royal Stafford, which also put its struggles down to rising energy costs and a decrease in product orders. Earlier on Wednesday, the government met with Stoke-on-Trent's three MPs and unions to see if they could agree a deal to help with spiralling energy North MP David Williams said he was "absolutely gutted" about Moorcroft's collapse, adding: "Enough is enough."He said: "We cannot allow the skills and talent to be lost from our city, we've got to fight for it…now is the time for the government to act."Mr Williams said ideas had been put forward to ministers, adding that the government's spending review in June would be "critical"."It [the industry] is in our DNA as a city, it made us who we are. We are going to keep fighting and we're going to do all we can to get an outcome as quickly as we can," he added. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
