Meet the team: Ceramics UK’s Senior Events & Marketing Manager, Louise Stevenson
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I attended the same school in Cambridgeshire for both GCSEs and A-levels, choosing to study art and graphic design after deciding university wasn’t for me.
After finishing school, I completed an office administration apprenticeship at a playground manufacturing company before moving into sales and marketing, where I began a marketing apprenticeship and built the foundation of my career.
It was a chain of events stemming from this first job that eventually led me to the Brick Development Association. While at the playground company, I met my fiancé, Gavin; together, we then became involved with the national construction charity, Band of Builders. What started as helping on a single project in 2017 grew into a long-term commitment, and I have served as a Trustee since 2018, alongiside planning the charities annual fundraising events and gala dinner.
It was Band of Builders that brought everything full circle in 2022. While volunteering at the Brick Awards, I met the then-CEO of the BDA and discovered an open vacancy. Joining as Marketing Manager felt like the natural fit for me bringing my professional skills and connection to the construction industry together.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
What I enjoy most is the variety, building relationships, collaborating with the Ceramics UK team, and seeing ideas through to completion. The industry is far more fascinating than I ever expected, and with no two days the same, there’s always something new to learn.
Can you describe a typical day?
A typical day can quickly shift from carefully planned to completely reactive. It might involve preparing reports for senior leadership, reviewing social media and website analytics, or responding to government announcements or new legislation by coordinating with our PR agency on immediate press releases. While I plan my schedule, priorities can change, for example, responding to multiple time-critical media enquiries at short notice.
Alongside this, I also manage events ranging from smaller networking gatherings of around 50–60 guests to large-scale, high-profile industry awards with up to 600 attendees.
Is there a project or moment you’re most proud?
One of the first projects I took on at the BDA was launching a national campaign. Joining the sector at that stage meant a steep learning curve, I had to quickly build an understanding of the clay brick industry. Delivering it successfully in a short timeframe, and seeing it remain active three years later, is one of my proudest achievements.
Another highlight came as the BDA evolved and merged with Ceramics UK. Expanding the team and recognising the importance of bringing in the right skills to support growth was a significant milestone which is something I’m particularly proud of.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career so far?
The biggest limits are often the ones you place on yourself. If you want to achieve something, confidence and willingness to put yourself forward make a huge difference. I’m also a strong advocate for alternative career paths. You don’t have to go to university to be successful, apprenticeships and vocational routes can be just as valuable and rewarding.
What's your favourite thing about working for Ceramics UK?
How small yet mighty we are as a team. Everyone is supportive, approachable, and willing to help, no question ever feels like too much. Everybody pulls together which makes it a very supportive organisation.
What exciting events or projects do you have coming up?
For Ceramics UK, we're in plans for an industry ceramics summit, which we will be looking to launch in 2027. It’s an exciting time for the association as it will be something that we've never done before and an opportunity to raise the profile of the ceramics industry. We have the 50th celebratory anniversary of the Brick Awards which is a key driver for 2026 for the association.
Describe the team three words?
Impactful.
Supportive.
Mighty.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
I’ve appeared on TV a couple of times. One was on Reunion Hotel on the BBC, which gave people a unique opportunity to reconnect with someone who had made a significant impact on their lives, this was through the charity. I was also involved in the DIY SOS 20th Anniversary programme, working with Band of Builders, and in the clip you can see me helping with some of the demolition work.
Do you have a fun fact about the industry?
How vast and diverse the world of ceramics is. From the bricks that build our homes to the microchips in our phones, ceramics play a crucial role in everyday life. I didn’t fully appreciate before how much we rely on them, without ceramics, so much of modern life, from communication to technology, simply wouldn’t function.
Posted: 24th February 2026