MQP

What MQP does

MQP (Midland Quarry Products Limited) manufactures and supplies aggregate and asphalt to the UK building, construction and rail industries. The company operates two active hardstone quarries — Cliffe Hill in Leicestershire (up to 4.5 million tonnes/year of Markfieldite granite and 600,000 tonnes/year of asphalt) and Clee Hill in Shropshire (approximately 250,000 tonnes/year of dolerite, or Dhustone) — plus six asphalt plants (Baston, Ettingshall, Groby, Northampton, St Ives, Wednesbury) and a head office in Whitwick. Products span crushed and screened hardstone, dust, capping layers, armour stone, gabion stone, rail ballast (EN 13450-compliant), granular sub-base, concrete aggregates and a full asphalt range including HRA, macadam, SMA, EME2 and thin surfacing, alongside proprietary brands MaxiDrain/MaxiDrive/MaxiFlex/MaxiPhalt/MaxiSMArt and the registered MQP era® 140 reduced-temperature asphalt.

The business model is a one-time transactional sale of physical materials, priced by quote with bespoke project pricing. GTM is predominantly direct via regional sales teams (West Midlands and East Midlands) and dedicated key account managers; complemented by a Collect & Go self-service channel at six plant locations, an online quote-request form, a customer portal (Hub.mqp.co.uk) and OnSite app, and a franchisee/haulier network for delivery (FORS Bronze/Silver accredited). Customer segments split across local authorities and highways agencies (e.g. Network Rail, Highways England, Staffordshire Highways, Leicestershire CC, Sandwell & Dudley MBC), enterprise construction contractors (Balfour Beatty, Colas, Tarmac National Contracting, Jackson Civils) and small contractors/DIY.

MQP holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BES 6001 Excellent, RISQS (rail) and UKCA certifications and is a member of the MPA. The company is a private subsidiary of Heidelberg Materials AG (via Heidelberg Materials UK, successor to Hanson), tracing its operating history to 1870s quarrying at Cliffe Hill, JV formation as MQP in 1997, full Hanson ownership in 2013, and asset additions in 2014–2015 (Clee Hill, Baston, Northampton, St Ives). An Eastern Extension planning application submitted in 2022 seeks to extend Old Cliffe Hill reserves to approximately 2040.

Name

MQP

Legal name

Midland Quarry Products Limited

Website

https://mqp.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MQP manufactures and supplies aggregate, asphalt and rail ballast to the UK building, construction and rail industries, operating two quarries and six asphalt plants across the Midlands as a subsidiary of Heidelberg Materials AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Whitwick

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Aggregates and quarry products: MQP supplies a wide range of aggregates from Cliffe Hill Quarry in Leicestershire and Clee Hill Quarry in Shropshire, including crushed hardstone, dust, capping layers, armour stone, gabion stone, rail ballast, and concrete aggregates.
2. Asphalt and asphalt products: MQP produces a full range of asphalt products used for roads and other paved areas, including Hot Rolled Asphalt (HRA), Macadam, Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA), EME2, and specialist products. Products are available for delivery or collection.
3. Rail ballast: MQP produces and supplies rail ballast at Cliffe Hill Quarry, consistently complying with all current railway specifications and EN 13450.
4. Collect & Go (self-service collections): Self-service collection service for small contractors and home DIY projects, available at multiple plant locations. Payment made by credit/debit card or at quarry offices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MQP manufactures and supplies aggregate and asphalt to the building, construction, and rail industries. The company operates multiple quarry and asphalt plant sites across the UK Midlands, producing crushed hardstone aggregates, a full range of asphalt products (including Hot Rolled Asphalt, Macadam, SMA, EME2, and proprietary Maxi Range formulations), rail ballast meeting EN 13450, and surface dressing chippings. Products are supplied via direct delivery (road and rail) or self-service collection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MaxiDrain: A free-draining asphalt solution using premium polymer modified bitumen for sustainable urban drainage systems.
• MaxiDrive
• MaxiDrive+
• MaxiFlex
• MaxiPhalt
• MaxiSMArt
• Maxi Range
• era 140
• Collect and Go

Products and services

• Aggregates Wide range of aggregates from Cliffe Hill Quarry in Leicestershire and Clee Hill Quarry in Shropshire, including crushed and screened hardstone, hardstone dust and dust blends, capping layers, scalpings, uncrushed hardstone, armour stone, gabion stone, granular sub base, and concrete aggregates. Supplied to construction and building contractors for infrastructure, commercial, and residential projects.
• Asphalt Products Full range of asphalt products used for roads and other paved areas, including Hot Rolled Asphalt (HRA), macadam design mixes, EME2, high modulus materials, stone mastic asphalt (SMA), thin surfacing, coloured macadams, and fluxed/storage materials. Available for delivery or collection.
• Rail Ballast Rail ballast produced at Cliffe Hill Quarry, consistently complying with all current railway specifications and EN 13450. MQP holds RISQS accreditation for rail sector supply, and approximately 40% of aggregates sold are delivered via Cliffe Hill's modern rail distribution facility.
• Maxi Range Asphalt Products Suite of specialised asphalt products including MaxiDrain (free-draining SUDS solution using premium polymer modified bitumen), MaxiDrive and MaxiDrive+ (asphalt for domestic driveways resistant to power steering), MaxiFlex (highly flexible material for concrete carriageway overlays), MaxiPhalt (single course application for rural roads), and MaxiSMArt (SMA-based material for commercial and industrial estates).
• MQP era 140 Reduced-Temperature Asphalt Proprietary asphalt product incorporating a specialist bitumen that allows asphalt to be produced at a reduced temperature (up to 30 degrees lower) compared to conventional hot mix asphalt, reducing embodied CO2 emissions during production.
• Surface Dressing Chippings Surface dressing chippings used in road renewal to extend the life of the road surface. Produced at MQP's quarry sites including Ettingshall and supplied to local authorities and highways contractors.
• Collect and Go Self-Service Collection Self-service collection service for small contractors and home DIY projects, available at multiple plant locations (Northampton, Ettingshall, Griff, Groby, Cliffe Hill, and Clee Hill). Customers pay by credit/debit card over phone or at weighbridge. Account customers can collect without pre-ordering at selected sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces embodied CO2 by up to 30% temperature reduction in asphalt production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tarmac LtdcoreOthersMidland Quarry Products Limited is a joint venture company between Tarmac Ltd and Hanson Quarry Products (Europe) Ltd. Tarmac Ltd was formerly a joint venture partner until the Competition Commission stipulated in 2012 that Tarmac must sell its share in MQP due to the proposed JV between Anglo American/Tarmac and Lafarge. Hanson subsequently took full ownership of MQP in 2013.
• Hanson Quarry Products (Europe) LtdcoreOthersHanson Quarry Products (Europe) Ltd is the other joint venture partner in MQP. Following the Competition Commission ruling in 2012, Hanson took full ownership of MQP in 2013. MQP is part of Heidelberg Materials UK group.
• Heidelberg Materials UKcoreOthersMQP (Midland Quarry Products Limited) is part of Heidelberg Materials UK Group, ultimately owned by Heidelberg Materials AG. Heidelberg Materials UK produces aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt, cement, recycled materials, and undertakes contracting and construction waste recycling. Heidelberg Materials AG operates across more than 50 countries.
• SLR ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental consultants working with MQP at Clee Hill Quarry for Great Crested Newt translocation. SLR supported planning the operation and habitat works including creation of new ponds and grassland habitat enhancement.
• Natural EnglandminorOthersGovernment body that granted MQP a licence to translocate Great Crested Newts at Clee Hill Quarry as part of quarry expansion. Licence enables careful relocation of newts beyond the working area with newly created ponds providing ideal habitat.
• Leicestershire County CouncilminorOthersMQP submitted Eastern Extension planning application to Leicestershire County Council (ref No. 2022/EIA/0100/LCC) to secure additional rock reserves at Cliffe Hill Quarry extending production to approximately 2040.
• Mineral Products Association (MPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMQP works through its involvement with the MPA and MPQC to develop driver skills and knowledge through NVQs, SAFED & Safedrive courses, and statutory Driver Skills Card training. MQP is also part of the MPA Transport Committee and involved in course development for vulnerable road users.
• Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMQP works with MPQC which has compiled a fully approved training schedule specific to the aggregates sector including Site Safety Awareness, Emergency First Aid, Safe Urban Driving, SAFED, Drivers Hours and Working Time Directive courses.
• Credit Reference Agencies (Dunn & Bradstreet, Experian)minorOthersHeidelberg Materials UK uses credit reference companies including Dunn & Bradstreet and Experian for running credit checks on customers as part of account opening process.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Day Group: South East England-focused aggregates, concrete, asphalt and waste recycling supplier. Comparable independent regional heavy-side materials operator with similar product categories to MQP.
• Hills Quarry Products: Independent family-owned supplier of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and contract services in the South West and South Wales. Comparable product mix to MQP but operates in a different region.
• Mick George Group: East Midlands-focused aggregates, asphalt, earthworks and waste management group. Regional competitor to MQP's Midlands footprint with comparable product offering but concentrated geographic base.
• Johnston Quarry Group: Independent Scottish-based aggregates and concrete producer with UK-wide reach. Comparable in being a regional-to-national independent aggregates supplier, though geographically focused on Scotland and northern England.

Broad incumbents

• CEMEX UK: UK arm of global building materials major CEMEX, offering aggregates, asphalt, cement and concrete. Broader portfolio than MQP but competes in the same heavy-side materials space with overlapping customers.

Direct peers

• Tarmac (CRH): UK's largest aggregates and asphalt producer, owned by CRH. Direct competitor across crushed stone, sand and gravel, asphalt and rail ballast; MQP historically was a Tarmac/Hanson joint venture before Hanson's full ownership in 2013.
• Breedon Group: UK and Ireland-listed heavy-side materials group operating quarries, asphalt plants, ready-mixed concrete and cement. Most directly comparable standalone aggregates and asphalt peer for MQP, with similar product mix, UK customer base, and emphasis on contractor and local authority supply.
• Aggregate Industries (Holcim): UK subsidiary of Holcim producing aggregates, asphalt, ready-mixed concrete and cement. Competes with MQP for national contractor and highways agency supply contracts; comparable in product breadth and target customers.
• Hanson UK (Heidelberg Materials): Sister Heidelberg Materials UK business producing aggregates, asphalt, cement and ready-mixed concrete. Operates the same product categories, customer segments and regulatory frameworks as MQP, with overlap in Midlands geographies creating both partnership and competitive overlap.

Others

• Network Rail (customer/regulatory counterparty): Owner and operator of Britain's rail infrastructure and a key customer for MQP's EN 13450-compliant rail ballast. Listed here as an ecosystem/buyer rather than a competitor; useful reference for end-market dynamics and demand visibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mqp_uk
• Facebookfacebook.com/100063861105579

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 MQP