Mineral Products Association

OUT NOW! The new edition of the MPA's magazine #MineralProductsToday is out now and free to view on the MPA website: https://lnkd.in/e4qciUdE This edition covers a range of topics including: #Cement: In our lead feature '200 Years Young' we take a look into the history and the future of one of the world’s most important inventions. #Standards: Our 'Standard Bearers' article examines the role of the MPA in ensuring standards and codes are fair, practical and beneficial to all. #Paving: In 'Access All Areas' we dive into the complex world of tactile paving which improves access and safety in the built environment. #Safety: 'Safer By Sharing' reflects on the industry’s journey towards Vision Zero and the importance of sharing to keep people safe. #Planning: Our 'Approaching a Cliff Edge' feature calls for mineral planning reform as aggregates consumption continues to outstrip replacement. #Grenfell: 'Learning the Lessons' outlines why MPA welcomes the findings of the second and final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. #Viewpoint: Our Viewpoint column comes from Chris Leese, Exec Chair of the MPA Executive Management Committee who reflects on the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, what it means for the industry, and what needs to happen. Check out to new edition fo MPT here: https://lnkd.in/e4qciUdE #MineralProducts #aggregates #concrete MPA Precast This is UK Concrete The Concrete Centre MPA Health and Safety Diana Casey Mark Russell Robert McIlveen Aurelie Delannoy Colin Nessfield FICT Mike Wharton Tony Jones Andi Hodgson Aggregates Business Magazine Aggregates Europe - UEPG Minerals Matter GCCA – Global Cement and Concrete Association Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC) The Institute of Quarrying BSI Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) HM Treasury Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Health and Safety Executive #essentialmaterials #sustainablesolutions

Today’s Government local roads maintenance funding allocation announcement is welcome, but it will do little to help local authorities plan for the long-term 🚦 Our wish for the New Year? That this is a precursor to a multi-year ringfenced investment commitment from the Government to local roads. Read the full comment from our Chair, David Giles, here: https://lnkd.in/eWMAvzBz #LocalRoads #RoadMaintenance #Funding #ALARM2024 #AsphaltIndustryAlliance #AIA #DrivingHomeForChristmas 

We are pleased to announce we have partnered with ITN Business to produce ‘Responsible, Sustainable, Essential Minerals’, a digital campaign hosted by broadcast journalist Sharon Thomas. The campaign aims to address the role essential minerals play in our lives and will premiere in December 2024. ‘Responsible, Sustainable, Essential Minerals’ will feature industry thought leadership alongside case studies, highlighting positive work in action being undertaken by organisations operating in the sector. It will look at technical innovations, scientific advancements, and the latest developments in the extraction, manufacture and use of essential mineral resources and products in the UK. Themes will include how essential minerals impact our economy and our journey to net zero emissions. There are commercial opportunities for leading organisations to be featured in the programme and spearhead their own news item. If your organisation wants to be part of this important conversation about essential minerals, please contact ITN Business Head Programming Director James Linden at James.Linden@itn.co.uk. To find out more about this programme, as well as viewing ITN Business’s other content, visit the ITN Business Hub: https://lnkd.in/eKQBeQme #EssentialMinerals #Innovation #NetZero #MineralProducts #ConstructionMaterials #IndustrialMinerals #SustainableSolutions

Interesting piece on sand, quoting MPA’s Mark Russell, setting out the environmental challenges with sand – and how our challenge in the UK is less about physical availability as it is about permission to suitable resources. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS: #SeasonsGreetings from all of us at MPA to all our members, colleagues and stakeholders. Wishing you all a happy, safe and prosperous 2025. Thanks to Adrian Radnor for this image - Robin at Hereford #Quarry, Herefordshire. #merrychristmas #quarriesandnature #essentialminerals

PLANNING REFORM welcome but needs to go deeper. The MPA has welcomed the Government’s announcement of significant reform to planning for housebuilding, designed to ensure that applications for housing developments that are within policy and local plans set by local authorities should be approved by officers. This will help unblock one part of the challenge facing the economy, removing one significant barrier to growth. MPA members supply materials for housebuilding including aggregates and cement to make concrete for foundations and structural elements, and asphalt for roads, pavements and cycle paths on developments. Housing is one of the largest market segments, so the ability to maintain a steady and adequate supply of essential minerals is integral to delivering growth. Planning for minerals represents a specific challenge, and while MPA welcomes the references to strategic planning in the revised National Planning Policy Framework published this week together with the MHCLG Planning Reform Working Paper, to achieve meaningful improvements to delivery it is important any reforms address wider development planning issues – not just those relating to housing. Minerals are a strategically important material that can only be worked where they are found, and the mineral planning system is not delivering, with permitted reserves being sold faster than they are being replaced. Over the last decade, for every 100 tonnes of sand and gravel extracted, permission was granted for only 61 further tonnes. For crushed rock the figure is even lower, at just 33 tonnes. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/eRvZhNHG #EssentialMinerals #Planning #MineralProducts #Housebuilding #Housing

DECARBONISING CEMENT: The UK Minister of State for Industry, Sarah Jones MP visited CEMEX UK’s Rugby Cement Plant in Warwickshire today to discuss barriers and potential policy solutions to decarbonise #cement production. Co-hosted with the MPA – which represents UK cement manufacturers - the visit was focused on how the Government can help to provide policy support to the cement sector. Discussions were wide-ranging, covering cement production within the UK’s established carbon capture clusters, ‘dispersed’ plants like Rugby (that are not within a cluster), and decarbonisation opportunities across the wider industry. Mineral products will be critical to the success of the UK Government targets on house building and renewable energy deployment because they rely heavily on essential materials like cement, concrete, aggregates, asphalt and lime. But, according to the MPA, if key issues facing the sector are not resolved, performance constraints will negatively affect the rest of the economy including projected high-growth sectors. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/evspJR9d #EssentialMinerals #Decarbonisation #Carbon #CarbonEmissions #Infrastructure Mineral Products Association Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Department for Business and Trade

MPA’s NEW #WELLBEING PARTNER: As part of MPA’s Health & Wellbeing strategy of developing meaningful long-term relationships with wellbeing and mental health related organisations, MPA has partnered with The Lighthouse Charity. The Lighthouse Charity is dedicated to the emotional, physical and financial #wellbeing of the #construction workforce and their families. To find out more, watch this video about their activities last year: https://lnkd.in/e3GqWbdv Sarah Bolton CEO of the Lighthouse Charity, “We are delighted to be partnering with MPA to ensure our message of support is amplified throughout the industry, and to ensure a positive wellbeing culture in our industry.” MPA encourages its members to familiarize themselves with the schemes and resources that the Charity provides free of charge. The full range of benefits available to employees, contractors and their families are all available on their website: https://lnkd.in/gdSn_mi. Also, to consider what they could employ within their own organisations, to extend the message of support. In particular: ·      The 24/7 confidential Helpline and text support service. https://lnkd.in/eA_SnCTn ·      The Helpline App https://lnkd.in/eA_SnCTn ·      The Wellbeing Academy https://lnkd.in/ex9DeZ2P The Lighthouse Charity also shares industry relevant awareness campaigns (https://lnkd.in/ecBUsnpe MPA will be promoting these and encouraging members to amplify and share the messages and resources amongst their employees. This will commence with December’s ‘Coping Through the #HolidaySeason’. In the new year, MPA will be publishing separately, a new guidance document on Managing Work Related Stress with an accompanying webinar, together with updates on the current Employee and Manager guides. #HealthandSafety #MentalHealth #Wellbeing

🔔 It’s that time of year again! Survey links for our ALARM survey are now live and have been sent out to key representatives from local authorities across England and Wales. We’re looking forward to collecting valuable data that helps us build a robust picture of the condition of local roads. Read last year’s report here: https://lnkd.in/eUU8vn6 #ALARM2025 #ALARM2024 #LocalAuthorities #LocalRoads #RoadMaintenance #AsphaltIndustryAlliance #AIA 

RESPONSIBLE, SUSTAINABLE, ESSENTIAL: Our brand new TV programme, produced by ITN Business and hosted by broadcaster Sharon Thomas, is out now on the MPA YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/eQ-9HNgx The ITN programme highlights the industry's responsible approach, our #recycling success in the UK and our collective drive towards #netzero emissions, helping the construction industry to achieve its #sustainability goals. Starring MPA Executive Director, Energy and Climate Change Diana Casey along with representatives of CDE Group The Malcolm Group and SRC Group, it's well worth a watch! #EssentialMinerals #SustainableSolutions #Circularity #CircularEconomy Our Shared Understanding: a circular economy in the built environment Futurebuild The Construction Index Ltd Aggregates Business Magazine