On Friday 29th September RI Cruden scooped two awards at the annual Highland Business awards ceremony in Inverness.

The Mechanical, Electrical and renewable business was crowned Highland business of the year and picked up the environmental sustainability award at the ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel, with the award judges telling RI Cruden the work they do for others is inspiring.

Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce who host the awards said: “We were delighted to award the Highland Business of the Year to R I Cruden. The awards were fiercely contested and choosing our Highland Business of the Year from the 11 brilliant categories winners was one of the judges’ hardest tasks. R I Cruden shone through for their unparalleled commitment to environmental sustainability in both their own business but in rolling out environmental solutions to businesses throughout the Highlands. This was combined with their extensive apprentice programme which is an exemplar in how companies can grow, develop and retain their staff.”

Nicky Marr who was the host on the day said: “Ladies and gentlemen, the calibre of this year’s entries to the Highland Business Awards was outstanding and that applies even more so, to the overall Highland Business of the Year 2023.”

The judges found this a tough one to call. There were two main reasons which, when combined, snuck this business above the others we have awarded this afternoon.

One of those reasons tied in with a comment Colin made in his opening speech – in this difficult climate for recruitment, the need of businesses in the Highlands to grow and retain their own staff. And the second reason is the wide-reaching environmental impact they have, beyond just their own operations.

R I Cruden have built environmental sustainability into every aspect of their own operations – measuring results in every area with ambitious future targets.

But more than that, as the leading renewables installers in the Highlands, RI Cruden’s real contribution is the work they do for others in helping them to become environmentally sustainable, where they not only install many different technologies but champion these solutions and provide evidence for how they work.”

On receiving the award, company director Rory Cruden said: “It’s certainly very unexpected, thank you very much everyone. It’s a huge honour. I just want to give a big shoutout to our incredible team who have built up everything over the last few years. This is a family affair. Our growth plans are to train our own, and support people in the Highlands.”