Turnaround specialist saves china firm from cracking up

A STOKE-ON-TRENT pottery firm has been saved from the brink after being bought out of administration by turnaround investors.

Hudson and Middleton (t/a Hudson of England), which went into administration last month, has been acquired by BID Group.

The pottery firm, which makes fine bone china, employed 45 people and while the deal secures part of the workforce its new owner has been unable to specify exactly how many workers will still have jobs.

BID Group said the acquisition demonstrated its faith in the UK economy despite the vote to leave the EU.

Lee Smith, managing director of BID Group, said: “The acquisition of Hudsons fits perfectly into our portfolio and with our track record of making companies successful, Hudsons will be a huge success, not only for the local community, but for the UK economy as a whole.”

Hudsons, which dates back to 1875, sells its fine china products to high-end customers across the UK and also has license agreements in place with companies in China and across the world.

The firm recently underwent a £171,000 facelift to create a visitor centre that allows people to view the factory floor and to watch demonstrations of products being made.

The failure of the business was blamed on a lack of orders.

It had tried to stave off administration by partnering with a large firm in China, although the deal would still have seen the firm retain its UK manufacturing base.

BID Group specialises in turnaround and investment solutions for the SME sector.