Lender helps safeguard generations of manufacturing expertise

By The Family Business Network

02 Jul 2020

member-of-the-darwen-terracotta-team-working-on-the-royal-albert-halls-new-south-porch-project.jpg

Located in East Lancashire, heartland of the Industrial Revolution lies a business that is home to generations of skilled artisan craftspeople. They are creators of architectural terracotta and faience (glazed terracotta) products, that first became popular after the First World War.

During the last century, this specialist workforce has played a major part in the restoration of some of Britain’s landmark buildings. The business survived two world wars and a management buyout but was left in a precarious position after the outbreak of COVID-19.  

The origins of Darwen Terracotta date back to 1897, when in its previous form as ‘Shaws of Darwen’, they produced decorative finishes in terracotta for the many opulent civic monuments commissioned during the Victorian era.  

Fast forward 118 years later to 2015, when Shaws of Darwen decided to close the architectural terracotta division to focus on their fireclay sink business, the opportunity arose for former employees to set up a new business, employing the very same, skilled craftspeople.

Business partners behind Darwen Terracotta, Steve Allen and Jon Wilson describe the company as ‘a new name, with old hands’. Both already had experience in working for the firm in senior positions when the terracotta division was closed and neither wanted to see the specialist skills of the workforce lost.

Steve said, “Jon and I began to make a plan. We felt there was still a market for the terracotta products and we didn’t want to see some forty employees made redundant.”

“The company was one of only three manufacturers of architectural terracotta and faience products in the world, and there was a lot of prestigious buildings in the UK that had these finishes, requiring restoration at some point”.

“We set up the new company and found a premises in September 2015. One of our first contracts was restoring various sections of the historic Wigan Town Hall. We have subsequently completed restoration work on the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods department store, the Natural History Museum and the Savoy Hotel to name just a few.”

Alongside their senior team, they began to develop the business, showcasing their work at national shows and exhibitions, leading to some exciting sculptural commissions and new build projects. They also decided to utilise the workforce’s prior experience in handmade sink production to once again, begin producing fireclay sinks, launched under their new brand in March this year. Shortly after this, the county went into lockdown and the business was seriously affected.

Steve said, “The lockdown made a huge impact. We are fifty percent down on our forecast sales this quarter. All planned projects have been delayed.

“After the lockdown was announced, we knew that we would need financial help to get us through this period. We put two thirds of our staff through the government job retention scheme and worked out what amount we would need to assist our cash flow, based on a worst-case scenario.

“We wrote to our bank but after receiving no reply, we searched for lenders in our area and found Enterprise Answers. We began the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme application process with them which involved talking through our business plan over the phone. Once the loan had been approved, the money was in our bank in under a week. 

“Having the money in the bank has allowed us to keep production going and keep our workforce employed. After achieving year on year growth since 2016, we can’t wait to get the business back on track and thriving once more”.

Enterprise Answers are an accredited delivery partner for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) in the North West. The CBILS scheme enables lenders to provide facilities of up to £5m to SME’s who are experiencing lost or deferred revenues, leading to disruptions to their cashflow. 

Chief executive of Enterprise Answers, Grahame Latus said, “It was a pleasure, if not a privilege, to be able to assist Darwen Terracotta Limited with a CBILS loan which enabled the safeguarding of 40 jobs. The company is an exemplar of all that is good about British skilled artisan craftsmanship and boasts an impressive portfolio of its works across the UK and abroad.” 

“Darwen Terracotta Limited have built a tremendous business model over the last five years which has seen year on year growth. CBILS was designed with businesses like this in mind, to preserve the growth, the jobs, the skills and create a financial platform from which the business can emerge from the pandemic, just as strong as ever.” 

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is managed by the British Business Bank on behalf of, and with the financial backing of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and industrial Strategy (BEIS).

To discover more about the loans available from Enterprise Answers, visit www.enterpriseanswers.co.uk

To find out more about the fascinating work of Darwen Terracotta visit https://www.darwenterracotta.com/

Latest news

1

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

2

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working Lancashire Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working

10 Sep 2025

3

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration Collaboration between BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration

09 Sep 2025

4

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme Brian Moore, Lee Johnson, Anne Williamson and Andrew Leeming

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme

08 Sep 2025

5

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions Mark Adlestone And Anna Blackburn Beaverbrooks

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions

08 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin