Valentine Clays has been announced as a finalist for the Innovation, Science & Technology Award at the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, sponsored by EPX IT.

With 46 years of manufacturing expertise behind it, Valentine Clays has produced something genuinely new. Lostone, developed at the company’s Staffordshire site, is the UK’s first low-fire stoneware clay, delivering the strength and aesthetic qualities of stoneware at significantly lower firing temperatures. The practical implications are considerable: lower firing temperatures mean reduced energy consumption and kiln costs, widening access to stoneware-quality results for schools, community studios and independent potters who lack high-temperature kilns.

The launch attracted coverage on BBC Radio Stoke, Midlands Today, the front page of The Sentinel and national ceramics publications. With turnover growing toward a projected £4.7 million and international markets expanding through a distributor network, Valentine Clays combines deep craft heritage with the instincts of a forward-thinking manufacturer.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Valentine Clays has taken 46 years of expertise and used it to create something the industry has never seen before. Lostone is a genuine technical breakthrough, and the fact that it makes stoneware-quality ceramics accessible to schools and community studios as well as professional potters gives it a social dimension that makes it even more impressive. A very worthy finalist.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026, followed by The After Party, a late-night celebration for finalists, winners and partners.

To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.