UK Construction Journal - Issue 1 - April 2026 - Flipbook - Page 50
Darwen Terracotta Transitions to
Employee Ownership, Securing the
Future of British Craftsmanship
Darwen Terracotta Limited has proudly announced its transition to employee ownership through
an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey and
reaffirming its commitment to people, heritage, and long-term sustainability.
The move comes as the business celebrated a decade of
continuous growth in 2025, following its remarkable rebirth
from the closure of a long-established ceramic manufacturer
whose architectural division ceased trading in 2015. That
closure resulted in the redundancy of over 40 skilled
craftspeople, putting centuries-old British ceramic expertise
at risk.
only British-owned company producing both architectural
terracotta and fireclay sinks, and the third-largest global
leader in terracotta restoration. The company continues to
support major restoration and new-build projects, supplying
high-quality architectural ceramics worldwide.
Using the same premium locally sourced clay, the business
expanded into manufacturing luxury fireclay sinks trading as
Whitebirk Sink Company, backed by a lifetime warranty and
trusted by customers nationally and internationally.
Determined to protect these rare skills and safeguard the
legacy of architectural ceramics in the UK, former colleagues
Jon Wilson and Steve Allen—both personally impacted by
the company’s closure—stepped in. Driven by a deep passion
for the craft and a strong sense of responsibility towards their
colleagues and friends, they rebuilt the business from the
ground up, rehiring many of those affected and establishing
Darwen Terracotta as a new force in the industry.
Today, with the transition to employee ownership, the founders
have once again placed people at the heart of the business.
Through the EOT structure, ownership passes to employees,
ensuring that those who have contributed to the company’s
success will share in its future.
Over the past ten years, Darwen Terracotta has grown into
the UK’s largest manufacturer of architectural terracotta, the
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