7:20am Saturday 11th April 2009
THE loss of Royal Worcester will be a blow to city industry according to a leading business chief.
Chris Harvey, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce’s head of policy and representation, said Royal Worcester had allowed the skills of city workers to go on show around the world.
“We’re very sorry to hear of any losses. When the losses are the likes of Royal Worcester which has had such a long association with the city, bringing the skills of Worcester people to customers across the world, it will be a big psychological blow to the Worcester.
“One thing we are pleased about is that the Worcester Porcelain Museum will continue. It is a key city tourist attraction.”
He said the “skill and commitment” of the site’s workers would be a credit to any employer.
Regardless of what happens to the site, the name of Royal Worcester & Spode is still valuable as a global brand associated with quality.
Worcester MP Mike Foster said: “Clearly if no buyer can be found by the administrator and what’s left of the retail and production side of Royal Worcester leaves the city then it will be an impossible hole to fill.
“Not just for the visitors who come to Worcester but because of a long heritage of association with the city. The news is thoroughly disappointing for all those workers affected.”
Mr Foster ruled out any Government help for the company, explaining comparisons with the banking bail-out were unrealistic.
“If the banking sector had collapsed that would affect every household in the UK,” he said.
He pointed out the recent money from the European Investment Bank for Jaguar Land Rover was for investment in developing greener cars for the future.
“The ceramics industry has been in decline for a number of years and it’s always a difficult position to support an industry in decline – albeit not through the fault of the workforce,” he said. Simon Geraghty, representing Worcester City Council on the city’s tourist body VisitWorcester, said the loss of the firm was sad but urged visitors to support the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum.
“I think one of the key points to make is that the museum is still there as a great tourist attraction.
“Worcester itself is still on the tourist map because we have pulls like the cathedral, The Commandery and the riverside.”
He added the Diglis area was undergoing something of a “renaissance”.
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