The Mayor of the East Midlands and MP Linsey Farnsworth have tonight renewed calls to save Denby Pottery.
Mayor Claire Ward has today issued a joint statement with the Denby workers’ trade union and Amber Valley MP Ms Farnsworth, who has been leading the campaign to save Denby, urging administrators FRP Advisory to pause any planned shutdowns, job losses and brand-only sale deals.
The call comes after the Government announced a £120 million package of support for the UK ceramic sector, a change which campaigners say changes the reality for those making decisions about Denby’s future.
Mayor Claire said: “Denby is part of the fabric of our region and the people who work there deserve every chance.
“The Government’s £120m package for British ceramics has changed the picture. There is fresh hope and interest in Denby’s future, and it would be wrong to let irreversible decisions be made now.
“I’m calling on the administrators to show restraint, pause the next steps, and give serious buyers the time they need.”
Ms Farnsworth said: “Denby Pottery is the historic heart of our community, and we owe it to the generations of local workers who built this iconic brand to exhaust every single avenue to protect it.
“That is why, having fought relentlessly at the highest levels of government to secure this vital £120 million rescue framework, we are calling on the administrators to pause any scheduled shutdown or redundancy operations.
“This ensures any new investor interest generated by that hard-won support package is given the time it deserves to save our local factory floor.”
Craig Thomson, GMB organiser, said: “We are talking about a British icon, producing world class ceramics right here in Derbyshire.
“Company administrators owe it to the high-skilled Denby workforce to pause planned shutdowns and redundancies while all avenues are explored.
“We cannot sit back and allow administrate pressure and pointless timelines set the agenda – it’s jobs and British manufacturing that must come first.”
The letter reads:
Dear FRP Advisory,
We are writing regarding the urgent situation facing Denby Pottery, which entered administration under your management on 31 March 2026. Since then, you have overseen continued production to utilise existing materials and focused on selling remaining stock. However, we understand production is nearing its end, with closure of the factory and further significant redundancies appearing imminent.
Linsey has been working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury to identify potential investors capable of acquiring Denby Pottery as a going concern, preserving both production and the workforce at its historic site of over 200 years. The Chancellor’s £120 million support package for the UK ceramics sector has made Denby Pottery a more attractive prospect, and this in turn has led to increased commercial interest.
As you are aware, the primary objective of administration is to rescue the company as a going concern, or alternatively to achieve a better outcome for creditors than immediate liquidation. We believe there is a clear obligation to ensure that any further expressions of interest which have arisen since the Chancellor’s statement are properly explored.
We therefore urge you to pause any scheduled shutdown, redundancy process, or brand-only deal (as currently reported by media) to allow sufficient time for these potential investors to conduct due diligence, and for you to fully assess their proposals.
Yours sincerely,
Linsey Farnsworth MP
GMB
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands
@mayor.claire Have you joined the campaign to #SaveDenby yet? @Denby Pottery
Published on: 3 June 2026
Categories: News, Skills and Employment