Ceramics UK rebukes Government for ‘misleading’ the UK’s ceramics sector in Industrial Strategy

The trade body representing UK ceramics manufacturers says the sector has been misled by the Government in its Modern Industrial Strategy. 

Ceramics UK says the promises of support for the multi-billion industry in the months leading up to both the Spending Review earlier this month and now the Industrial Strategy have not materialised. 

And the association, which represents the interests of manufacturers across all sectors of the industry, says Ministers and MPs have completely misunderstood the fundamental operations of the vital sector.

Rob Flello, Chief Executive of Ceramics UK, said: “We are deeply disappointed with the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and feel misled. 

“Where is the promised support either in the Government’s recent Spending Review or the Industrial Strategy?

“Instead, we have an Industrial Strategy that fails to meaningfully support or understand the UK ceramics sector, despite previous public recognition by Government of its challenges and national importance.

“This represents a missed opportunity to back one of the UK’s most enduring and strategically important manufacturing industries.”

The UK ceramics sector is a world-leader in the production of both traditional and advanced ceramic materials, supporting industries ranging from giftware through to aerospace, defence, construction, clean energy and electronics. 

It contributes more than £2 billion directly to the UK economy annually and directly employs approximately 20,000 people as well as enabling tens of thousands of other jobs from advanced manufacturing, through steel and glass workers, to bricklayers and more besides.

Ceramics UK is now urging the Government to take immediate action to rebalance its strategy and ensure critical manufacturing sectors are not left behind.

Rob Flello added: “We find it incredulous that the Department for Business, the Department for Energy, and the Treasury still do not seem to understand that energy-intensive doesn’t just mean electro-intensive. Ceramics needs help with gas prices.

“Ministers and MPs, including Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds, have publicly acknowledged that ceramics is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. 

“However, when the Industrial Strategy was released, ceramics was barely mentioned and, even then, the reference failed to recognise that this is a national industry, not a regional footnote. 

“Our members have more than 150 operating sites across the UK and the sector is already an essential part of Britain’s industrial future - but we cannot do that if government continues to misunderstand the fundamentals of our industry.”

Date Posted: 26th June 2025