New ceramics apprenticeship targets specialist skills gap
Traditional craft techniques are being combined with materials knowledge and digital design to prepare apprentices for modern ceramics manufacturing.
The Craft Technician apprenticeship, delivered by Creative Alliance, was developed alongside other Stoke-on-Trent manufacturers, Ceramics UK and Skills England.
The first three apprentices on the programme have so far trained in hand building, sculpting, throwing and casting, alongside an intensive placement in plaster and mould-making.
They have also taken part in workshops on ceramic raw materials hosted by Saint Gobain Formula, Global Ceramics Materials, Valentine Clays and Vibrantz Performance Coatings.
Future training will cover computer-aided design, tile cutting, sponging and stamping, as well as safe equipment use and quality assurance procedures.
Ceramics UK says the sector has not had a dedicated training scheme covering such a broad range of manufacturing skills since the Youth Training Scheme closed in 1990. A second cohort is planned for April 2027.
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