Task force gathers to discuss way ahead for fallen Barlaston giant's staff

A TASK force to help North Staffordshire cope with potential job cuts and a loss of business from Wedgwood was due to meet today.

Stoke-on-Trent elected mayor Mark Meredith and Stoke-on-Trent South MP Rob Flello have organised the summit of key organisations.

A ceramics task force is already in place, following earlier redundancies at other firms.

Members include the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, trade union Unity and Jobcentre Plus.

Mr Meredith said: "We very much hope a buyer can be found who will take on Wedgwood as a going concern and maintain the existing workforce.

"However, Wedgwood has lost jobs before and we do have to be ready for the possibility of further redundancies in the future.

"There may also be an impact on local companies who supply to Wedgwood."

Mr Meredith said contingency funding was already in place to extend a highly successful retraining programme for pottery workers run by Unity.