Portmeirion to cut jobs amid ongoing uncertainty

Portmeirion, the manufacturer, designer and distributor of homewares is looking to cut 35 staff as it expects 2024 to be a “challenging year”.

Staff will be axed from its Stoke operations team due to “ongoing macro uncertainty with customers remaining cautious” particularly in the US and Korean markets, despite experiencing a “positive Christmas”.

The firm also expects to incur higher interest and therefore is looking to reduce its operating costs to balance inventory levels.

The redundancy news comes after Stoke pottery firm Emma Bridgewater also announced job cuts to combat challenging trading conditions and rising costs.

A consultation period has begun with GMB Union which said: “This is yet another crack appearing in our vital pottery and ceramics industry. The spiralling cost of energy and years of Government inaction is having a real work impact on the lives and jobs of working people here in Stoke.

“Our potteries provide thousands of high skills jobs, creating products that are the envy of the world.

“This must be an urgent wake up call; we owe it to our grandchildren and future generations to safeguard our potteries.

“Government decision makers are running out of time to act before we see even more uncertainty in the industry.”