Not every construction business can point to nearly four decades of continuous growth in one of the most demanding sectors in the industry. MGM Construction can. A specialist property refurbishment and heritage contractor based in Gateshead, MGM has been part of the Northern Bear group since 2007 and brings a depth of experience that few businesses in the North East can match.
A Business Built on Specialism
MGM started out in 1986 as MGM Preservation Ltd. By 1999 the name had changed to MGM Ltd, not for branding reasons, but because the business had grown into something bigger than its original scope. It has kept growing since.
No two MGM projects look the same. One week it is a small private dwelling. The next, a large public building with a listed status and a council client watching closely. Newcastle City Council, English Heritage, NHS trusts, housing associations – all different clients, all with different demands. What they have in common is that they came back.
BBC News, ITV, Portfolio North, Business Live, and Bdaily have all covered MGM’s work. That kind of attention tends to follow businesses that are doing things worth talking about.
What MGM Construction Does
MGM’s services cover six specialist areas, each requiring a distinct set of skills and experience.
- Heritage – MGM has an impressive track record in the preservation and restoration of historical and listed buildings across the North East. Their client list includes Auckland Castle, the Newcastle and Hexham Diocese, the National Trust, and English Heritage. These are not clients you win without a track record. MGM also has in-house stonemasons, which matters more than it might sound. Bringing that skill in-house means every restoration decision is made by someone who genuinely understands the material, not someone working from a specification sheet.
- Preservation – From damp proofing and timber preservation to repointing, MGM’s preservation work is carried out with minimal disruption to landlords, tenants, and occupants. Every project begins with a thorough inspection and detailed report before any work commences.
- Frameworks – MGM operates across a range of public sector frameworks, delivering planned responsive and reactive maintenance, extensions, new builds, and refurbishment work for local authorities and housing associations.
- Healthcare – Working in live healthcare environments demands a particular level of care and coordination. MGM has delivered significant projects in this sector, including a full refurbishment of three care homes in Gateshead for Everyturn Mental Health. New flooring, interior redecoration, electrical upgrades, and fire safety improvements, all carried out while the homes stayed operational.
- Education – Schools and universities do not stop for building work. MGM knows that, and they plan around it. Works are scheduled around term times and holidays, keeping disruption to an absolute minimum without compromising on delivery.
- New Build – Refurbishment is MGM’s heartland, but it is not all they do. Their new build capability means clients can come to them with a wider range of projects, backed by the same quality of craftsmanship and site management.
Accreditations That Reflect the Standard
MGM holds an extensive range of accreditations, including CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold, Alcumus Safe Contractor, ISO 9001:2015, National Federation of Builders membership, Property Care Association membership, and Q-Mark certification for both fire door installation and maintenance. These are not peripheral credentials. They reflect a business that is trusted by some of the most demanding clients and frameworks in the public and private sectors.
Part of the Northern Bear Family Since 2007
MGM Construction has been part of the Northern Bear group for nearly two decades. That kind of longevity within a group of businesses does not happen by accident. It reflects a shared set of values, a commitment to doing things properly, and the kind of consistent performance that builds trust over time.
For Northern Bear, having a business like MGM within the group strengthens what we can collectively offer clients across the North East and beyond. Their specialist skills in heritage, preservation, and complex refurbishment complement the wider capabilities of the group and reinforce our collective reputation for quality
To find out more about MGM Construction and their full range of services, visit mgmconstruction.co.uk.
To learn more about Northern Bear and the wider group of businesses, visit our about page, explore the ten businesses within the Northern Bear group, or get in touch with the team today.
