22/10/2026
Last week we were in London with the Mineral Products Association (MPA) for a busy couple of days of industry discussion, collaboration and learning.
The visit began with an informal industry dinner, which offered a valuable opportunity to catch up with colleagues and share perspectives from across the natural stone and mineral products sector. We were also pleased to meet with the newly appointed Chief Executive of the MPA, Paul Adeleke.
On day two, we joined a tour of St Paul’s Cathedral which offered a fascinating insight into the cathedral’s rich heritage, exploring its architectural evolution and enduring significance within both the built environment and Britain's cultural history.
The visit continued with a meeting of the Dimension Stone Product Group at MPA headquarters, which was chaired by our Operational Director, Allison Calvert. The group heard from Pierre Bidaud of The Stonemasonry Company, who presented on the work of the Stone Collective and its pioneering efforts to position natural stone as a low-carbon, load-bearing construction material fit for the demands of 21st-century sustainable development.
Trips like this remind us just how valuable it is to come together as an industry - sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas and opportunities, and building the relationships that support a stronger future for people working with natural stone. It also reinforced the vital role that our industry can play in delivering durable, low-carbon construction solutions while preserving and celebrating the craftsmanship, heritage and technical expertise that underpin the natural stone sector.
