- Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade joined Jack Brereton at Valentine Clays in Fenton to showcase Stoke-on-Trent South’s appetite for exports.
- Jack was joined by Valentine Clays Director Hannah Ault as they toured their new factory premises in Fenton.
Jack Brereton welcomed the Minister for International Trade, Nigel Huddleston to Valentine Clays in Stoke-on-Trent South on Friday as they toured the new factory premises in Fenton.
As the business continues to grow, Valentine Clays welcomed the visit by the Minister for International Trade as they look to increase exports internationally, expanding their footprint in the historic yet modernised clay supplying industry.
Valentine Clays feature in the heart of the potteries as a world-leading manufacturer of clay products, supplying consumers and businesses all around the world, from Europe, India, Australia and beyond.
Commenting, Jack Brereton said:
I was pleased to welcome Minister Huddleston to help showcase just some of the fantastic both traditional and cutting-edge pottery trade we have in the area.
“Increasing exports of the fantastic products we produce in Stoke-on-Trent around the world is continuing to help our local area prosper, and Valentine Clays have demonstrated how well a traditional ceramics business can continue to thrive within the UK and beyond. There is nowhere in the world you will find better quality than some of the amazing products produced by our local industries across North Staffordshire.
“Stoke-on-Trent should continue to be a top choice for business start-ups and those wanting to grow local enterprise, like we have seen at Valentine Clays. A key part of levelling up Stoke-on-Trent is through helping support our industries to increase the number of skilled, well-paid employment opportunities, so everyone can achieve their full potential.
Commenting, Minister Huddleston said:
I was delighted to visit Valentines Clays in Stoke-on-Trent alongside local MP, Jack Brereton. For over forty years Valentines Clays has supplied high quality material to the ceramics industry, and it was a pleasure to meet Hannah and the team to discuss how the Government can continue to support businesses looking to increase exports.
The UK’s pending accession to the CPTPP as well recent Free Trade Agreements with Australia and New Zealand all contain packages to support SMEs and to positively impact their ability to export. As the Minister for International Trade I remain committed to maximising export opportunities so that fantastic businesses such as those in Stoke-on-Trent South can reach their full potential.
Commenting, Hannah Ault added:
We appreciated the opportunity to host Minister Huddleston and showcase our new factory facilities. The visit provided an invaluable opportunity to engage in insightful discussions regarding the ceramics industry and explore avenues for expanding our export offerings.
As we showcased our cutting-edge facilities and highlighted the artistry behind our clay production, it was evident that Minister Huddleston recognized the immense potential of our products in global markets. With 22% of our revenue currently coming from exports, we are committed to further enhancing our international presence.
This visit served as a catalyst to raise awareness of the ceramics industry's potential and for our ongoing efforts to strengthen our export strategies, foster new partnerships, and solidify our position as a leading player in the clay manufacturing sector. We are excited about the future prospects of our industry and look forward to realising our vision of becoming a global leader in ceramic exports.
