Delegates from across the UK headed to Stoke-on-Trent for the ceramic sector’s premier event dedicated to health and safety nationally.
Hosted by Ceramics UK, the Health and Safety Pledge Conference featured a blend of knowledge and insight from leading experts in their field.
The event recognises the work of Ceramics UK members in advancing health and safety and provides a supportive forum to gain industry-leading knowledge and share best practice.
A total of 100 awards were presented to companies and individuals that are making a real impact on workplace health and safety.
The Emerging Talent in Health & Safety 2026 Award was presented to Keele-based Darlene Barnish, Compliance Administrator at Marley Ltd, while two Pledge Awards of Excellence were presented to Forterra Plc for their work on isolation and Hepworth for their leadership in health and wellbeing.
Guest speakers included Michael Bone, Director of Inspections, Health and Safety Executive, Elizabeth Hyde, Director of Hesper GRC and Phil Crosbie, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland.
The conference, held at the Hilton by DoubleTree, concluded with key-note speaker Matt Hazleton, who shared his own raw experience of personal tragedy in the workplace to reinforce the message about the importance of health and safety leadership, responsibility and creating a culture where people look after one another.
Lauren Darby, Ceramics UK Safety, Health and Environmental Director, said: “The Pledge Conference is a platform for inspiration, collaboration, and a shared commitment to creating safer workplaces in the UK ceramics sector.
“The focus is on continual improvement, and the industry coming together to really celebrate individuals and companies in the industry for all the work they have done over the last year to improve health and safety performance across the board.
Our members have been able to share experiences and to learn from our expert speakers to really think about what we as an industry are going to do going forward.
Lauren Darby, Ceramics UK Safety, Health and Environmental Director
She continued: “We’ve also had the opportunity to see the wide range of activity and innovation in health and safety performance demonstrated in the awards, which recognise those individuals and companies who’ve really gone above and beyond and made a difference within the sector.”
The event also presented an opportunity for Ceramics UK to outline its new strategy for Pledge for the next five years, which will be launched in January 2027.
Hannah Ault, President of Ceramics UK, said: “The Pledge has delivered significant success over the past 25 years and companies across the sector have made substantial progress, but we must never lose sight of the fact that health and safety is a journey, not a destination. There is always more to learn, new risks to address and opportunities to improve.
“The world of work has changed considerably since the Pledge was first established. New technologies, evolving ways of working and emerging challenges mean that now is the right time to take a fresh look at how we continue to support and improve health and safety across our industry.
“The Pledge has never stood still, and this evolution is essential to ensure it remains relevant, effective and ambitious for the future.
“By embracing this next phase, we can continue to work together, learn from one another and build on the achievements of the last 25 years, ensuring the ceramics industry remains a safe, healthy and thriving place to work.”
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