What The QMJ Group Ltd does

The QMJ Group Ltd is a privately held UK business-to-business media and events company headquartered at 7 Regent Street, Nottingham, that serves the quarrying, recycling, and natural stone industries through an integrated portfolio of print, digital, exhibition, and market research assets. Its core products are two flagship trade exhibitions — Hillhead (a biennial quarrying, construction, and recycling show with 600+ exhibitors and 20,000+ international visitors) and the annual UK Concrete Show (200+ brands) — supported by the Quarry Management monthly magazine (the official journal of the Institute of Quarrying since 1918), two biennial reference directories, two niche industry websites (Agg-Net.com and ConcreteConnect.co.uk), and the wholly-owned BDS Marketing Research consultancy, which provides market intelligence and planning monitoring across Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. The underlying technology is conventional web-based publishing and e-commerce infrastructure rather than proprietary software, with the company's competitive differentiation resting on long-standing brand authority, institutional partnerships, and ownership of the dominant in-person gatherings in its verticals.

The QMJ Group generates revenue through four distinct streams: recurring magazine subscriptions (annual £57 / biennial £95), one-time directory sales (£20–£59.50 per copy), transaction-based exhibition revenue from booth rentals and sponsorships at Hillhead and the UK Concrete Show, and subscription/consultancy revenue from BDS market intelligence and bespoke research. Its go-to-market is event-driven and verticalized: the exhibitions generate demand-side audience and advertising/sponsorship monetization, the magazine and websites capture long-tail advertising and subscription revenue, and BDS serves enterprise clients in minerals, heavy building materials, and waste sectors. The company operates with 11–50 employees, has no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, and reports no funding rounds, acquisitions, or restructuring events in the input data.

Name

The QMJ Group Ltd

Legal name

The QMJ Group Ltd

Website

https://qmj.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The QMJ Group Ltd is a privately held UK B2B media and events company that owns the Hillhead and UK Concrete Show trade exhibitions, the Quarry Management magazine, niche industry websites (Agg-Net, ConcreteConnect), and the BDS Marketing Research consultancy, serving quarrying, recycling, and natural stone industry professionals in the UK and Ireland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Exhibition and Industry Publishing

NAICS

Directory and Mailing List Publishers (51314)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry-Specific B2B Trade Show Organizers (THAHABAB)

Keywords

• Trade exhibition management
• Industry trade publishing
• Market research consultancy
• Industry directories publishing
• Business media services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from Quarry Management magazine - the official monthly journal of the Institute of Quarrying since 1918. Offers annual (12 issues) and biennial (24 issues over 2 years) subscription tiers.
2. Industry Directory Sales: One-time sales of biennial reference directories including Directory of Quarries & Quarry Equipment and Natural Stone Directory, covering UK quarrying and natural stone industry listings.
3. Trade Exhibition Revenue: Revenue generated from hosting major trade exhibitions including Hillhead (quarrying, construction, recycling) and UK Concrete Show, featuring hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of visitors.
4. Market Research & Consultancy: BDS Marketing Research provides market intelligence, bespoke consultancy, detailed reports, and access to comprehensive company database and planning monitoring across UK and Ireland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The QMJ Group is a privately owned publishing and exhibition business that delivers industry news, market intelligence, networking, and trade-show experiences for the quarrying, aggregates, recycling, concrete, and natural stone sectors. Its core offerings span two trade exhibitions (Hillhead, UK Concrete Show), two online news platforms (Agg-Net.com, ConcreteConnect.co.uk), three print publications (Quarry Management magazine, Directory of Quarries & Quarry Equipment, Natural Stone Directory), and a market research subsidiary (BDS Marketing Research).

Product overview

The QMJ Group Ltd operates a diversified portfolio of publishing and exhibition products serving the quarrying, aggregates, recycling, and concrete industries. The offering comprises two major trade exhibitions (Hillhead and The UK Concrete Show), two online news platforms (Agg-Net.com and ConcreteConnect.co.uk), and three print publications (Quarry Management Magazine, Directory of Quarries & Quarry Equipment, and Natural Stone Directory). The company also provides market research services through its BDS subsidiary. These products work together to serve industry professionals across multiple channels—digital, print, and in-person events—with news, market intelligence, and networking opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hillhead: The UK's largest quarrying, construction and recycling exhibition, held biennially in a limestone quarry in Derbyshire. Features live demonstrations, 600+ exhibitors, and thousands of products.
• UK Concrete Show
• BDS Marketing Research

Products and services

• Hillhead Exhibition The UK's largest quarrying, construction and recycling exhibition, held biennially in a limestone quarry in Derbyshire since 1982. Features live demonstrations, 600+ exhibitors and thousands of products over three days, welcoming 20,000 international visitors.
• The UK Concrete Show The annual must-attend event for the concrete industry, serving as a key meeting place to discover new products, network with peers, and stay informed on the latest innovations. Showcases over 200 key brands with leading manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers.
• Agg-Net.com The leading online resource for decision-makers in the aggregates and recycling industries, featuring news, expert commentary, and market insights. Serves as the official digital partner of Hillhead, providing exclusive coverage of the industry's premier event.
• ConcreteConnect.co.uk The go-to platform for professionals in the concrete sector, delivering the latest news, analysis, and expert features. Offers independent market insight and is the official digital partner of The UK Concrete Show.
• Quarry Management Magazine The official monthly journal of The Institute of Quarrying since 1918, dedicated to the UK aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, and recycling markets. Includes company news, industry interviews, quarry case studies, technical articles, and market reports.
• Directory of Quarries & Quarry Equipment A comprehensive reference guide to UK quarrying and recycling industries, including operational aggregate quarries, quarry operating companies, aggregate recycling contractors and depots, suppliers of plant, equipment, materials, and services, and industry-related organisations. Available as the 40th Edition 26/27.
• Natural Stone Directory A directory providing comprehensive coverage of UK natural stone quarries, stonemasons, wholesalers, equipment and service suppliers, and industry-related organisations. Available as the 23rd Edition 24/25.
• BDS Marketing Research An independent market research consultancy with over 30 years' experience in minerals, heavy building materials, and waste sectors. Provides market intelligence, bespoke consultancy, detailed reports, a comprehensive company database, and continuous planning monitoring across the UK and Ireland.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Institute of QuarryingflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partnership making Quarry Management magazine the official monthly journal of The Institute of Quarrying since 1918. Provides exclusive industry coverage and strengthens credibility for both organisations within the quarrying sector.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• dmg events: Global organiser of large-scale mining, construction and energy exhibitions such as MINExpo and The Big 5. Closely comparable to QMJ because it operates flagship industry-specific B2B trade shows with similar exhibition scale and exhibitor/visitor profiles to Hillhead.
• Mining Media Group: US-based publisher of trade magazines and operator of conferences serving the mining and aggregates industries, including titles like Pit & Quarry and Coal Age. Directly comparable to QMJ's combination of industry publications and live events for mining/aggregates professionals.
• Pit & Quarry: Long-running US trade publication and conference series focused on the aggregates, quarrying and heavy construction materials industries. Closely comparable to QMJ's Quarry Management and Hillhead as a niche media-and-events brand serving aggregates and quarry operators.
• Aggregates Business: International trade publication covering the aggregates, quarrying and construction materials sectors with news, analysis and features. Directly comparable to Agg-Net and Quarry Management as a vertical B2B media outlet for the same end-market.
• Rock Products: Long-established US trade magazine covering the aggregates, crushed stone, sand, gravel and cement industries. Directly comparable to Quarry Management as a vertical print and digital publication serving quarrying and heavy building materials professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets: The exhibitions and B2B events arm of Informa plc, running hundreds of trade shows across industries including construction, infrastructure and mining. Comparable to QMJ as a larger, diversified B2B exhibition organiser with overlapping customer segments but a much broader portfolio.
• Clarion Events: UK-headquartered organiser of major B2B exhibitions and conferences across construction, energy and infrastructure. Comparable to QMJ as a UK-based events operator with similar target audiences and trade-show delivery model, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Reed Exhibitions (RELX): Global events arm of RELX running large B2B exhibitions across multiple industries including construction and infrastructure. Comparable to QMJ as a major B2B exhibition organiser, though operating a much broader and more international portfolio.

Emerging players

• Fastmarkets: Global price-reporting and market-intelligence provider for industrial minerals, metals and forest products, including the former Industrial Minerals magazine. Comparable to BDS Marketing Research as a subscription-based data and research franchise serving overlapping heavy-materials end-markets.
• Easyfairs: European organiser of industry-specific B2B trade exhibitions across construction, logistics and manufacturing. Comparable to QMJ as a trade-show operator targeting professional attendees in verticals, but smaller-scale and more fragmented than the Hillhead franchise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The QMJ Group Ltd