Ceramics UK

What Ceramics UK does

Ceramics UK, legally known as British Ceramic Confederation Ltd, is the trade association representing ceramic manufacturers across the United Kingdom. The association was established with the launch of its Ceramic Sector Health and Safety Pledge Scheme in 2000 and rebranded from the British Ceramic Confederation to Ceramics UK around 2021. Headquartered at Commerce House, Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Ceramics UK serves over 90 member companies operating more than 150 manufacturing sites, collectively representing over 90% of the UK's ceramics manufacturing capacity. Approximately 75% of members are small and medium-sized enterprises.

The association operates a community-led go-to-market model, generating revenue through membership dues on a subscription/recurring basis. Its core offerings include industry representation and policy advocacy, the 25-year-old Pledge Scheme for health and safety, flagship events such as the Pledge Conference & Awards and the Brick Awards (now in its 50th year), and knowledge resources including the Decarbonising UK Ceramic Manufacturing Roadmap. Membership spans four primary segments: construction and heavy clay (clay bricks, roof tiles), tableware and consumer ceramics (brands such as Emma Bridgewater and Denby), advanced and technical ceramics (aerospace, defence, medical, electronics), and refractories. The association holds formal government relationships, including an All-Party Parliamentary Group for ceramics and co-management of the Pledge Scheme with the Health and Safety Executive.

Ceramics UK supports members across policy, trade, energy costs, decarbonisation, and skills development. It maintains strategic partnerships with the AMRICC Centre (managed by Lucideon) for advanced ceramics research, UKRI for funding support, Scottish Power for decarbonisation events, and the Brick Development Association for shared events and staff. The Deputy CEO serves as Chair of the Energy Intensive Users Group, extending the association's influence across a broader £29 billion GAV energy-intensive industrial base. The UK ceramics sector contributes £1.5-2 billion annually to the national economy, with £600-650 million in exports reaching 150+ countries and approximately 20,000 direct jobs.

Name

Ceramics UK

Legal name

British Ceramic Confederation Ltd

Website

https://ceramfed.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ceramics UK is the trade association representing over 90 UK ceramic manufacturers spanning heavy clay, tableware, advanced ceramics, and refractories. It provides policy advocacy, health and safety programs (Pledge Scheme), events, and knowledge resources to members representing over 90% of UK ceramics manufacturing capacity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (327110), Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing (3271)

SIC

Pottery & Related Products (3260)

akta.pro primary industry

Ceramic, Porcelain & Natural Stone Tile Flooring (IMADAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ceramic Powders & Slurries (IMAAABAG)

Keywords

• Ceramics trade association
• Ceramic industry advocacy
• Ceramic manufacturer membership
• Industrial ceramics policy
• Ceramic sector health safety

Headquarters

HQ city

Stoke-on-trent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership dues and services: Ceramics UK generates revenue through membership fees from ceramic manufacturers across the UK. The association provides representation, advocacy, knowledge sharing, events, training, and member services in exchange for membership dues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ceramics UK is the UK trade association representing ceramic manufacturers, providing industry representation, policy advocacy, knowledge sharing, networking events, and member services including the long-running Ceramic Sector Health and Safety Pledge Scheme. Membership spans heavy clay, tableware, refractories, advanced ceramics, and industry suppliers, collectively covering more than 90% of UK ceramics manufacturing capacity.

Product overview

Ceramics UK is a trade association representing ceramic manufacturers across the UK. The organization provides membership services including industry representation, policy advocacy, knowledge sharing, and networking opportunities. Key programs include the Pledge Scheme (health and safety excellence), the annual Pledge Conference & Awards, and the Brick Awards. The association also offers knowledge resources including the Decarbonising UK Ceramic Manufacturing Roadmap, maintains an events calendar, and publishes industry news and insights. As a trade association, Ceramics UK does not offer a product platform but provides advocacy, networking, and educational services to its members representing over 90% of the UK's ceramics manufacturing capacity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Services Paid trade association membership providing UK ceramic manufacturers with industry representation, policy influence, knowledge sharing, networking, expert guidance, and access to member services such as the Pledge Scheme.
• Pledge Scheme Ceramic Sector Health and Safety Pledge Scheme, a member program celebrating 25 years of collaboration between the ceramics industry, HSE, and trade unions to drive safer, healthier workplaces.
• Pledge Conference & Awards Annual event dedicated to celebrating excellence in health and safety within the UK ceramics sector, including the Pledge Awards recognising outstanding contributions to workplace safety.
• Brick Awards Major industry awards celebrating excellence in brick manufacturing and design, marking 50 years of the awards as of 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members represent more than 90% of UK's ceramics manufacturing capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The AMRICC CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe AMRICC Centre (Applied Materials Research, Innovation & Commercialisation Company) in Staffordshire is the UK's Centre of Excellence for advanced ceramic technologies. Ceramics UK works with AMRICC on events including the International Day of Ceramics showcase and collaborative research initiatives.
• LucideoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLucideon manages The AMRICC Centre and collaborates with Ceramics UK on sustainability research, decarbonisation initiatives, and advanced ceramics development including the Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium.
• Morgan Advanced MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorgan Advanced Materials is a key member and collaborator with Ceramics UK, contributing to research initiatives including digital twin models for ceramic manufacturing through The AMRICC Centre.
• Brick Development AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClosely aligned organization representing brick manufacturers. The two associations share staff and collaborate on events including the Brick Awards, with Ceramics UK Marketing & Events Coordinator Sally Clarke working across both organizations.
• Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeramics UK Deputy CEO Dr Andrew McDermott serves as Chair of EIUG, an umbrella organization representing major UK energy intensive industrial consumers including steel, fertilisers, paper, glass, cement, lime, industrial gases, and ceramics. EIUG members contribute £29 billion gross added value annually.
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment health and safety regulator that co-founded the Ceramic Sector Health and Safety Pledge Scheme with Ceramics UK in 2000. HSE continues to participate in Pledge events and conferences.
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body providing funding support for ceramics research through the Strength in Places Fund Programme, supporting projects at The AMRICC Centre.
• Scottish PowerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor of Ceramics UK's Delivering Net Zero Conference, supporting industry engagement on decarbonisation and sustainable practices.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mineral Products Association: UK trade association representing cement, aggregates, concrete and other heavy mineral products. Closely comparable to Ceramics UK in operating model: membership-funded body representing energy-intensive UK manufacturers, engaged in decarbonisation, energy policy and HSE-facing advocacy.
• British Glass: UK trade association representing glass manufacturers. Highly comparable structurally: similar-sized team, similar advocacy on energy costs and decarbonisation, and membership drawn from energy-intensive UK industrial manufacturers competing with imports.
• Cerame-Unie: The European Ceramic Industry Association, the EU-level counterpart advocating for European ceramics manufacturers on trade, energy and environmental policy. Directly comparable mission and member types to Ceramics UK but operating at EU rather than UK level.
• British Plastics Federation: UK trade association for the plastics industry. Similar membership-funded advocacy model covering energy costs, sustainability, skills and trade defence, with comparable scale of UK manufacturer representation.

Broad incumbents

• UK Steel: UK trade association for the steel sector. Larger established industrial trade body operating in the same energy-intensive industrial cluster as ceramics, sharing the same decarbonisation and energy-cost policy agenda via EIUG.
• Make UK: UK manufacturers' organisation providing broad-based representation across all manufacturing sectors. Overlaps with Ceramics UK on industrial policy, energy and skills, but does not specialise in ceramics.
• Confederation of British Industry (CBI): Premier UK cross-industry business lobby engaging with government on energy, trade and industrial strategy. Comparable as a UK advocacy body, but with a much broader remit than Ceramics UK's sector-specific focus.

Regional players

• The American Ceramic Society: US-based professional and industry society for ceramics, focused on technical knowledge, standards and events. Comparable in serving the ceramics community but primarily North American and more research-oriented than Ceramics UK's UK advocacy mandate.

Others

• Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IOM3): UK professional body covering materials, minerals and mining including a ceramics community. Comparable adjacent institution offering technical standards, qualifications and events rather than direct trade advocacy.
• Energy Intensive Users Group (EIUG): Umbrella group for UK energy-intensive industries (steel, cement, glass, ceramics). Ceramics UK's Deputy CEO chairs EIUG. It is an adjacent coalition partner rather than a competitor, but engages in the same energy and decarbonisation policy arena.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ceramics UK