New jobs are on the horizon at a Bradford firm which has started work on a major national contract.

Asbestos removal specialist MCP Environmental overcame competition from much bigger rivals to clinch a five-year deal with Royal Mail to check and remove asbestos from thousands of properties – some dating back to the 1850s.

Initially, the Low Moor-based company will work for Royal Mail across the North, Midlands and East Anglia. But, subject to meeting standards and targets, MCP is in line to become a national contractor for the recently-privatised mail company.

Chris Roe, MCP’s contract development and bid manager, said winning the contract was a major step forward for the business, which started in 1979 and now employs nearly 130 people.

“It’s been a tough competitive process which started back in January last year. We were up against some major national operators and to have won the Royal Mail contract in the face of such strong competition is a really big achievement for us and a major boost for the business,” he said.

Mr Roe said that, in addition to asbestos removal work, MCP would also be providing emergency call-out services to deal with asbestos-related incidents as they arose.

“This is a big deal for us. Royal Mail has a wide range of properties, some of them dating back to the 1850s when materials that are now regarded as dangerous were the norm.

“We’re delighted that we proved to Royal Mail that our past record and expertise enabled MCP to take on this work and satisfy the stringent demands of the client.

“As the work progresses we will be looking to take on new people to help us fulfil the contract. Most of our employees are from the Bradford area so we are creating new opportunities for local people.”

Following the success in clinching the Royal Mail deal, Mr Roe said MCP had other potentially-significant deals in the pipeline which would underpin its growing national reputation.

The company, based at the South Bradford Trading Estate, has a turnover of more than £7 million and managed to keep busy through the recession.

It is an established contractor to a number of social housing providers and the Highways Agency for asbestos checking and removal. It also recently won a contract with Doncaster Council to check and remove asbestos in civic buildings and schools.

MCP has developed its own secure online portal providing data on the status and progress of work on individual clients’ contracts. Its system differs from the competition by featuring information on key performance indicators such as survey status, asbestos levels, risk categories, abatement requirements and financial information.

The company is also a major provider of civil engineering work to National Grid, which accounts for about half of turnover. MCP employs a dedicated team of about 40 Bradford-based engineers working at sub-stations and other sites.

MCP celebrated the Royal Mail deal with a visit by Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe who said: “It’s great that a local business has won this important contract and I congratulate MCP on its success. This kind of achievement puts the city on the map for all the right reasons and waves the flag for Bradford.

“MCP Environmental is at the forefront of a burgeoning Bradford-based specialist business community and I’m delighted the company continues to go from strength-to-strength providing jobs for local people.”