Excellence at Landscape Awards 2024

MCM return in 2024 as Sponsors of the Commercial Hard Landscaping (+£500K) category. Announced this morning (3 September 2024), we would like to extend our congratulations to all Award Winners, especially in our own category:

Hard Landscaping (Non-Domestic) +£500K Category 2024

• Elite Landscapes for Bow Green Marketing Suite
• Wright Landscapes for Rochdale Town Hall

In preparation for some of our meetings and events with customers and specifiers this season and into 2025, MCM have updated their soils range and published their new MCM soils leaflet.

A handy reminder of some of the headline soils we supply, the leaflet includes British Standard topsoil and subsoil, independently tested by soil scientists as well as some of the specialist blends we can source and supply.

We can blend specialist soils for bioretention, rootzone and specific porosity and pH levels – all fully certified.

NEW Fyto Lightweight and Fyto Soil Blends

Exclusively from MCM, we are launching our new lightweight topsoil for optimised roof and podium landscapes. Coming in 2025, we’ll be adding other Fyto Soil Blends to the range for healthier, more hydrated planting and rootzones.

Get in touch with the MCM Technical Team to find out more and explore the specialist blend for your next landscape, construction or infrastructure project.

Detailing the headline aggregates in the 2025 MCM range, the new MCM aggregates leaflet can be sampled at any of the events we attend.

The A5 leaflet can be downloaded alongside all of our other supportive literature reminder of some of the headline soils we supply, the leaflet includes Construction, Fill, Lightweight and Decorative Aggregates.

Specialist aggregates for SuDs, highways and podiums

Alongside the new MCM Soils Range, the range features Class C Series 600 aggregates for highway works, Network Rail approved track ballast, self binding gravel and Integrated Bottom Ash aggregates, as well as lightweight expanded clay and ready-mix concrete.

Nationwide aggregates supply in bagged or loose volumes

Get in touch with the MCM Technical Team to find out more and explore aggregates options for your next landscape, construction or infrastructure project.

MCM stands for Matthias Construction Materials

…but it’s much much more than that

As we approach our 30th Year Anniversary, it is worth highlighting where we have come from, how we started and why we continue to be a leading force in the source and supply of construction and landscape materials for UK build,  regeneration and infrastructure projects.

Paying it forward and supporting the next generation of landscape professionals, MCM have become a BALI Chalk Fund Gold Champion in 2025.

Joining the Gold Champion ranks alongside other trailblazing contractors and supporters, MCM are the first specialist soils and aggregates supplier to join the Champions.

Shazna Ali, Managing Director, said of her wish to support the Fund and future of the sector in this way:

“Nurturing, guiding, supporting; it’s what we do – and how the industry can thrive. Being a BALI Chalk Fund Champion allows us to pay it forward as a supplier, supporting future landscape professionals.”

Industry, Community and Solidarity

We have continued our Award Category Sponsorship with British Association of Landscape Industries alongside our accredited member status. 2025 has seen our first year as Green Roof Organisation (GRO) accredited suppliers, too.

Show your support

If you would also like to show your support for the future of UK landscaping, it is easy to become a BALI Chalk Champion, donate or start your own fundraiser – choose the level of your support here and start giving back for the greater good of a strong landscaping sector for the future. 

The sales team at MCM, just like our soils, are a unique blend. Whilst some offer years of experience in the industry, others have a broader spectrum of skills from outside of construction, and some are bringing their newly acquired technical skills and perspectives to the table.

All of them have one thing in common: A hunger for improvement; whether that is seeking out new suppliers and hauliers or developing new products and revenue streams.

To do that, they regularly step out of their usual office bases and head to site, reviewing suppliers and practices and checking in with clients as their projects progress. 

Supplier Assessment and Client Updates

Last week (30 January 2025), the sales team travelled to catch up with one of our bagging and soil partners in Middlesex. Isaac and Omar, two of our newest recruits, were keeping up with developments to ensure they are on their top game for clients across the landscape, construction and infrastructure sectors.

After discussing plans for soils with our supplier, they headed off to a nearby utilities project where works have been ongoing for over 12 months and will continue into the medium-term future.

Feeding back to the rest of the team, both found the day useful and informative. It gave them a more in-depth perspective on their supply chain as well as a greater depth of understanding on the importance of meeting important customer challenges.

CPD and accreditations

These types of visits are integral to our commitment to Continuous Professional Development and are part of ongoing accreditations for ConstructionLine and ISO9001.

MCM, as suppliers of specialist and lightweight substrates for green roofs and podium landscapes, has joined The Green Roof Organisation (GRO).  The not-for-profit trade association represents the UK’s green, blue and biosolar roofing industries and its supply chain.

Joining the GRO, MCM hopes to help promote and raise awareness of the importance of green roofs, both in terms of construction, product choice and technical specification.

Soils for Roof Gardens, Green Roofs and Podium Landscapes

Supplying landscape contractors who have delivered some of the country’s most prestigious roof garden and podium landscape builds, MCM source and supply bagged material – ideal for load-bearing sites and restricted access deliveries – and loose in volume.

The GRO is also supported by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), of which MCM is an Accredited Member, alongside other specialist roofing associations.

Green Roof Use and The Right Soil Products

As Supplier Members, MCM will engage directly on any of the technical and marketing working groups within the GRO’s remit, as jointly we look to increase green roof use and the development of products, processes and practices to ensure the sector continues to develop in a professional direction.

To find out more about green roof substrates and lightweight soils, explore the MCM product pages. To find out more about The GRO, visit the GRO website.

There are important changes governing the handling of waste wood within construction and demolition.  Guidelines as to how businesses should know categorise and consider wood within their construction waste management processes have been published by the Wood Recyclers Association.

Potentially hazardous waste wood

From 1 September 2023, potentially hazardous waste wood from ‘pre-2007 buildings’, will need to be tested to establish its classification as hazardous waste or non-hazardous waste.

The Environment Agency (EA) confirmed that the previously-applicable Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 250 is withdrawn from 1 September 2023. From this date, any business customers disposing of any loads containing wood will need to declare the wood content and have this tested before safe and correct disposal can be arranged. 

The revised definitions are included in the Wood Recycler’s Association’s (WRA) latest guidelines.

Grading, Support and Disposal

MCM can help, advise on and arrange the correct procedural removal depending on grade and category. Contact us or call 0330 1281030 today.

Crucial in our development and growth as both a successful business and valued local employer, MCM are currently advertising for three new sales roles and have also been accredited as a Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation.

The Living Wage commitment ensures that people working receive a higher minimum wage than the Government minimum for those over 23. This real living wage is calculated using the cost of living as a key factor – so much more reflective of real life and real people.

The Real Living Wage

According to the Living Wage Foundation, 1 in 8 employees are paid below the real Living Wage. Joining the 14,000 accredited Living Wage Employers and only 89 construction companies in London and the South East, MCM are making an important statement and ongoing commitment to each and every employee.

Softening the impact

Managing Director Shazna Ali said: 

“This is such an important accreditation for an employee, both to acknowledge and promote. Our workforce is growing, and we need to support current and new employees realistically, fairly and justly.  The cost of living crisis has had such a huge impact, so we are keen to offer support where it matters most.”

Creating real change

MCM joins a growing number of small to medium-sized businesses in the region and industry, as well as key construction players including Maylim, LendLease, Wates and Frosts Landscapes.

Repurposing elements from previous RHS Chelsea Show Gardens since 2010 – steel fins into information boards; scaffold boards and timber reused – this year’s Cityscapes London garden “RHS Chelsea Repurposed” will be broken down, reused and relocated in a number of gardens benefitting other people and wildlife.

The drought-tolerant grasses and locally sourced wildflowers were planted in Type 1 crushed concrete and sand, supplied in bags by MCM and salvaged from demolished buildings and construction waste.

MCM worked with the build team at Gardenlink, supplying the materials to meet the design brief of Darryl Moore.

Award-winning Gardens at Chelsea

MCM are regular suppliers of materials beneath the surfaces at recent RHS Chelsea Flower Shows, returning in 2024 after recent successes with Landform Consultants in two award-winning gardens in 2023.

Following our involvement at recent RHS Chelsea shows, supplying topsoils and aggregates to prestigious landscapes, this week we have been supplying bagged material for the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival.  With many of the garden builds well underway, our bagged deliveries were scheduled closely and with access and timing of high importance.

Working with the “Four Season Sanctuary” organiser Fran Handley, the garden, featured in the Get Started Gardens category,  has been designed by Tim Jennings. Tim is a Cambridgeshire based designer who is renowned for his outdoor space creation from small courtyards to the grandest homes and estates.

Returning as Category Sponsors at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2023, MCM celebrated UK landscape excellence with friends, colleagues and customers on Friday 1 December in London.

Presenting the award this year, and representing the next generation of MCM and the industry, Omar Matthias, Commercial Coordinator, stepped up and celebrated on stage with the Principal Award Winners Maylim, for their stunning scheme at Regent’s Place Phase Two.

You can view the full list of winners on the BALI Award website.

Returning as Category Sponsors at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2023, MCM will be celebrating with all the winners, announced this week (September 2023).

BALI Board Director Shazna Ali will be joining the Principal Winners on stage in December at the Ceremony.  This year, MCM are sponsors of the Hard Landscaping Scheme over £500K but have been previous sponsors in Community, Education and Soft Landscaping categories. 

MCM return as Hard Landscaping Category Sponsors

Celebrating our 8th year as Category Sponsors, we would like to congratulate all the Winners, and especially those in the Hard Landscaping (Non-Domestic) >£500K category:

Three Dover charities receive donations from MCM

We were asked by one of our customers Colas to support one of their charitable initiatives to collect food and toy donations for three very worthy and deserving charities. We obliged without a moment’s hesitation.  As the cost of living crisis really begins to hit as well as the cold weather, we are all only too aware of the necessity for support and donations to those who are the most vulnerable right now.

Based close to one of the sites managed by Colas at Dover Fastrack, MCM’s Darrel Burgess jumped to the call from Paul Massey, UK Projects and Works Manager on site.  Darrel and Paul have been working together on the highways and infrastructure project throughout 2022, with MCM supplying over 10,000 tonnes of Highways Specification aggregates and removing thousands of tonnes of waste from the site in preparation for fresh deliveries to ensure the project’s efficient progression. 

On MCM’s behalf, Darrel sourced and delivered food and a range of toys and gifts suitable for babies, toddlers, children and teenagers. Bringing the delivery to the Colas Dover site office, these donations form part of a huge drive by the Colas team for two local charities and the nearest foodbank: Buckland and Whitfield Childrens’ Centre, Kent Young Carers and the Dover Pantry.

Colas Public Liaison Officer Michelle Penn will be collating the final donation parcels and deliveries this week and plans to drop them with the charities in good time for Christmas. The company has also welcomed donations from O’Sullivans, M O’Briens, Flannery’s, Fortel, Down to Ground Works and Ovendens.

“The support from everyone has been phenomenal – we’re truly grateful for all the donations.” – Michelle Penn, Public Liaison Officer, Colas

In December 2022, Shazna Ali, Managing Director of MCM (SE) Limited, became a Board Director of the British Association of Landscape Industries.  Representing landscape suppliers across the UK, Shazna’s appointment to the Board comes after a Members vote in Autumn 2022.

Shazna joined MCM in 1998 and has been Managing Director since 2017.  She established bagging and haulage partnerships across the South East and now leads the business forward, sourcing British Standard soils, quarried and recycled aggregates, and providing construction waste management within the landscape, civils and construction sectors.

Leading the UK Landscape Industry

With an objective, pragmatic and collaborative approach, Shazna, assisted by her MCM team, support industry initiatives and are active within trade organisations across landscape and broader client sectors. She will be helping BALI in their strategic development, supporting, promoting and planning initiatives to help membership.  She hopes to focus on sustainability and supply chain issues, and to broaden the Association’s reach to ultimately strengthen the industry’s reputation and amplify its voice.