Million Plus

The area of Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire has long been a world centre for fine ceramics. Staffordshire University has been supporting local ceramics-based businesses, which make up 32% of all UK ceramics employers and 60% of ceramics employees17, through its BA 3D Design: Ceramics and MA Ceramic Design. With the ceramic sector worth around £650m in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy, and generating £207m from tourism for the Stoke-on-Trent economy, maintaining the supply of highly skilled employees is integral to sustaining the sector locally.

The MA Ceramic Design course, in addition to providing the next generation, also provided the creative genesis for both The New English ceramics design brand, and Flux, the University’s own ceramics design business. Since 2010, Flux has been producing award-winning blue and white fine bone china, drawing on the talents of ceramics students, and is now sold in 20 countries worldwide.