Stone Federation hosted its inaugural Parliamentary Reception on Tuesday 28 October, welcoming more than 30 MPs and their teams under the theme, Building Britain’s Sustainable Future’

The event enjoyed strong cross-party backing and focused on the vital role of natural stone in delivering a low-carbon, sustainable built environment. Discussions highlighted the importance of supporting the UK’s indigenous stone quarries in advancing the circular economy through local sourcing and responsible quarrying, as well as the positive impact this can have on helping the government meet its net-zero targets. Another key talking point was the growing skills shortage in construction, with a call for renewed investment in heritage crafts such as stonemasonry to preserve traditional expertise for future generations.

The reception provided Stone Federation members with the opportunity to engage directly with their MPs, with the aim of strengthening connections between the sector and policymakers. The Stone Federation commented, "It was so encouraging to see the widespread and genuine support that the cause of the UK stone industry has from MPs," underlining the significance of such face-to-face engagements. 

Building on the success of this first reception, Stone Federation will host a follow-up roundtable next year to develop tangible initiatives and measurable targets around sustainability, skills, and industry growth.