Stoke on Trent

Stoke on Trent is located in Staffordshire in the UK. It is also abbreviated as Stoke, and it is a unitary authority area. Area of Stoke on Trent is around 36 square miles. In 2011, this area had a population of 469,000. Stoke on Trent is known as polycentric which means it is formed by six towns federation in the year 1910.

Stoke on Trent got its name from Stoke-Upon-Trent where the majority of the railway station and government center is located. Other four towns are Longton, Fenton, Tunstail and Burstem. Major pottery industry of England is located in the Stoke on Trent. It is commonly known as the potteries. Earlier it was a center of the industrial conurbation, and now it is a center for distribution and service industries.

Education

Stoke on Trent has four major educational institutions located in the local area. This city has two higher education colleges namely Stoke-on-Trent college and City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form college. Earlier the Sixth Form College was established in Fenton and now on the Leek Road. Sixth Form College provides best A-level teaching to near about 1800 students. This college is more abundant in the area and it offers adult education as well as apprenticeships. The main campus is located in Shelton and secondary in Burslem. Staffordshire University is situated in Stoke-On-Trent. The main campus in Shelton that is near the railway station of Stoke-on-Trent. It got its university status in 1992. Royal Stoke University Hospital is home to branches of Keele University School of Medicine. With the involvement of Stoke On Trent city council, in the year 1949 Keele University was founded as University College of North Staffordshire.

Stoke-On-Trent has around 15 secondary schools namely Haywood academy, Birches Head Academy, St Peter's Academy, St Thomas More Catholic Academy, St Joseph's College, Excel Academy, Discovery Academy etc.

In the year 2007 Stoke-on-Trent's high school system's restructure was proposed. During the year 2010 various secondary schools were closed or merged like Michell High and Edensor High was combined to form Discovery Academy, Berry Hill High and St Peter's CE High School was combined to build St Peter's Academy.

Economy

Stoke-On-Trent is a significant center for the ceramics industry. In 1980's and 1990's British Manufacturing sector was hit by decline. Various factories, collieries, potteries, and steelworks were closed. Due to this, the unemployment rate increased in the Stoke-On-Trent.

Wedgwood pottery firm and its subsidiary Royal Doulton are located in Barlaston. In Indonesian factory primary production takes place. In Stoke town, Portmeirion is located which owns the Royal Worcester and Spode brands. In Hanley, Emma Bridgewater ceramics firm is located. In Middlepoint, Burleigh Pottery is located. In Etruria, Wade Ceramics is located. In Burslem, Royal Stafford and Moorcroft are located. Left manufacturers of Bone China is Aynsley Chine in Longton. In Tunstail main factory of Churchill, China is located.

Around 9000 firms are located in the city. Some are founded by local businessman and chairman of Stoke City Peter Coates. John Caudwell started Phones4U Company which is a significant mobile phone retailer. In Stoke on Trent, Michelin tyre company complex is located that includes its training center, truck tyre re-treading facility, and commercial head office.

Large warehouses of Co-operative pharmacy is located in this city. Single largest major employer in a city is Stoke-On-Trent city council, and another one is Royal Stoke University Hospital which has over 7000 staff members.

According to the Competitive Alternatives 2004 report, Stoke-On-Trent is the best cost-effective place to set up new businesses. The major shopping center is Potteries shopping center located in Hanley. It has around 87 units which include brands like New Look, Monsoon, Gap, HMV, River Island, La Senza, Topshop, Marks, and Spencer etc. Quality Formations ranked Stoke-On-Trent second best city for starting any business due to various factors like offices, energy, public transport, property and financial access.