UK Enterprise Awards 2023

194 | UK Enterprise Awards 2023 Apr23214 Most Trusted Renewable Energy Solutions Contractor 2023 - Scotland Specialists in renewable energy solutions for the domestic, commercial, and industrial markets, RI Cruden Ltd has a dedicated team with a combination of different skills and trades. We learn a little more about the company and its passion for sustainability as it gains recognition in the UK Enterprise Awards 2023. RI Cruden Limited has grown from a sole trader operation in 2005 to the company it is today. Comprising more than 40 members of staff, the firm has an established reputation for unrivalled quality of workmanship and aftercare services across all mechanical, electrical, and renewable installations. The organisation has maintained this consistent growth thanks to its commitment to the core values of quality and safety, customer satisfaction, teamwork, pride, and job satisfaction. With a vision is to become the employer of choice in the Scottish Highlands for renewable, mechanical and electrical professionals, RI Cruden believes that focusing on its own team will ultimately benefit its customers’ experience and help the firm to remain the contractor of choice. This vision will be achieved by continuing organic growth and increasing the portfolio of successfully completed projects across Scotland, with a focus on projects across the Highlands. Like many companies across the UK, RI Cruden has had to manage the changes following Brexit and ongoing macroeconomic factors, which have resulted in inflated material costs. However, by retaining close links with its suppliers and wider supply chain, the firm believes it can mitigate issues where they arise. RI Cruden observed a trend in commercial clients preferring to award contracts to companies capable of offering a full mechanical and electrical package. As such, the firm has responded to this and developed a team of fully qualified, experienced commercial electricians, being awarded with its first combined M&E project in December 2022. More recently, soaring energy prices and the availability of funding support via Home and Business Energy Scotland have led to a rapid increase in popularity and demand for solar PV systems, particularly for commercial clients. As an existing renewables installer in the Highlands, RI Cruden has been able to quickly integrate into the commercial solar PV market thanks to its dedicated team of fully trained and certified solar PV installers. It has completed numerous systems for domestic customers, along with a number of large-scale commercial installations across Scotland, which helps to offset carbon emissions and reduce operational costs. RI Cruden has set ambitious sustainability targets for the business moving forward to offset the emissions attributable to its operating activities. The firm has begun to implement a number of changes to achieve these targets, being the first company in the Highlands to issue all staff with workwear, water bottles, and PPE made from recycled materials. Furthermore, the company will utilise its transition to larger premises to produce a new generation of expert engineers, with a focus on renewable energy to support Scotland’s transition to net-zero status. RI Cruden’s success to date has been built upon developing its own apprentices ‘the Cruden way’ with many being nominated and winning apprentice of the year awards, so the firm intends to retain this standard as it continues to grow. The new office will also play a key role in achieving RI Cruden’s future sustainability targets. The new premises will have an abundance of renewable technologies installed to simultaneously offset its carbon emissions and provide a demonstration area for multiple renewable technologies in the Highlands. As a family run business, as well as an active stakeholder in the local and Highland wide community, the staff at RI Cruden consider it essential to follow the practices advocated by the Fair Work Convention as it continues to expand its workforce. This includes maximising employee engagement and rewarding hard work from the team with progression opportunities, job security, fulfilment, and respect. Efforts have also been made to generate additional benefits that can be enjoyed by staff within the community such as corporate gym memberships and team outings. RI Cruden was proud to be announced as winner of the Supporting Net Zero Employer of the Year Award as part of the 2023 Scottish Apprenticeship Awards. More recently, the firm was recognised in the UK Enterprise Awards and crowned with the prestigious accolade of Most Trusted Renewable Energy Solutions Contractor 2023 – Scotland. Now, the firm’s future plans include a focus on expanding the commercial solar PV and mechanical and electrical strands of the business. There are already a number of projects planned and underway, including large scale solar PV installations across Scotland at car garages such as Audi in Dundee. There are also plans for the RI Cruden Renewable Innovation Centre to be open for all to visit by appointment. This will provide insight for architects, consultants, builders, and members of the public looking to find out how they can change to renewable energy systems to reduce their household emissions and save money on soaring household energy bills. Setting up the renewable hub will also increase sales by facilitating technical sales presentations to potential clients, running regular CPD events in the latest renewable technology and showcasing the newest technologies as they become available on the market. Web Address: https://ricruden.net/

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