Government pledges £120m to support ceramics firms
Summary
The UK government has announced £120 million in funding to support the country’s ceramics industry. The money will help manufacturers invest in new equipment for energy efficiency and cover operational costs to secure the industry’s future.Key Facts
- The government will provide £60 million for equipment investment and £60 million for operational expenses.
- Ceramics UK, the industry body, is working with the government on how the funding will be used.
- The ceramics sector is important to industries like aerospace, defense, clean energy, and electronics.
- The industry faces challenges like high energy costs, especially gas, which makes up 90% of energy use in ceramics manufacturing.
- The number of ceramics firms in North Staffordshire dropped from 137 in 2018 to 123 in 2024.
- Despite fewer firms, the overall value and supply chain turnover in advanced ceramics and related products have grown since 2018.
- Local reports warn that ceramics companies are vulnerable to energy price shocks due to the Ukraine war.
- The funding aims to protect thousands of jobs and ensure long-term business stability.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.