Prof David Hawkins
THERE are many reasons to be cheerful about the future of ceramics in Staffordshire. Ceramics businesses have expanded steadily for more than 10 years, through new products and markets.
The British Ceramic Confederation (BCC) says “manufacturers have made real strides out of the recession with turnover and job growth both reaching 50 per cent since 2010.”
Many of these new products will be familiar, but there are surprises – who knew that every mobile phone has hundreds of ceramic components, that aircraft engines often run on ceramic bearings, or that ceramics are used to control the release of medicines?
Many great jobs and opportunities exist in ceramics including in tableware, tiles, self-employment in art or design, or developing materials in laboratories for hightech applications.
Local businesses are seeking new talent at all levels, and recent research between Staffordshire University and the BCC highlighted skilled opportunities in production, maintenance, quality and measurement, process engineering, robotics, design and management.
The environment for business is changing, and not only because of Brexit. My recent visit to China showed that higher wages and growing wealth mean that Jingdezhen’s producers are changing from low-cost export work to selling higher quality ware to local customers.
This may open opportunities to sell higher-quality products into China, rather than competing here with low-cost imports.
The Potteries has been the UK’S largest ceramics cluster for more than 300 years and around £450 million is generated each year by the 15 largest ceramics companies.
City businesses employ almost 9,000 full-time staff, although 90 per cent of companies are SMES (under 250 employees). BCC figures show ceramics manufacturing contributes annually almost £300m (GVA) to the local economy and generates £200m of export sales.
Staffordshire University has taught ceramics for more than 100 years and we continue, through our 3D designer maker ceramics BA, and renowned ceramic design master’s to meet the new demands of industry.
Exciting courses are being developed with the direct input of many of the region’s best-known companies.