HIGHLAND renewables firm RI Cruden has revealed it is marking its 20th anniversary by giving back to the region it serves.
In celebration of the milestone year, the RI Cruden team is pledging support for charitable causes. At the core of this initiative is a match-funding pledge for every staff-led fundraiser throughout 2025. From marathon runs to international volunteering, the scheme is already gaining momentum, with several employees embarking on powerful, personal missions.
Director Callum Cruden said, “Over the past 20 years we’ve built the business by looking after our people and staying true to our values. Developing our team, especially through our award-winning apprenticeship programme, has been key to our growth – and I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come together.
“This year is about celebrating that journey and giving something back. We’ve always had a team that quietly goes above and beyond – both on the job and in their own time – and our match-funding is just a way of backing the causes that matter most to them. Our customers have been a huge part of our journey too, and we’re proud to continue supporting the communities we all live and work in.”
Service manager Fraser Imrie completed the Inverness Half Marathon in March and is now training for the Loch Ness Marathon in September. He is raising funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.
“Knowing the impact this charity has on so many families motivated me to take on the challenge,” said Fraser. “It’s great to be part of a workplace that supports and encourages fundraising like this.”
Plumber Jack Ross has launched a campaign to support Blythswood Care ahead of a volunteer trip to Romania. Jack will be part of a team working at the Talita Kum Centre, which offers after-school care, meals, tutoring, and a safe space for disadvantaged children. To raise funds for the trip, Jack will be taking on a sponsored run, adding an extra kilometre for every £20 donated.
“I’m really looking forward to making a hands-on difference at the Talita Kum Centre,” he said. “And the run’s a great way to get others involved and raise as much as I can.”
The anniversary campaign also highlights long-standing volunteers, including John Russell, who volunteers with the RNLI. With support from RI Cruden, John is able to remain on call during work hours to respond to emergencies as required.
The company is also donating directly to several Highland causes. This includes sponsorship of the 2025 Highland Hospice HeArt Trail, with its commissioned heart sculpture located outside the hospice in Inverness.
Furthermore, the team will be backing the Heather’s Heroes NC500 Challenge – a five-day charity cycle around the North Coast 500 route in memory of Heather Dallas. The company has also pledged a support team to join the route on one of the days.
After a successful debut last year, RI Cruden also brought back its Charity Golf Day at Inverness Golf Club. Held in support of New Start Highland – an organisation that helps people build better lives through housing, employment, and community support – the event offered a day of golf, followed by a three-course dinner and an evening fundraising raffle. The team raised an impressive £9,000.
RI Cruden was founded in 2005 by Ian Cruden, with his eldest son, Rory, joining in 2008 to form R&I Cruden Heating Services. As the business evolved to specialise in renewable energy solutions, Ian’s wife, Isla, and youngest son, Callum, also came on board. Today, RI Cruden has over 75 employees, including engineers, estimators, and apprentices. The company delivers M&E building services along with renewable energy and facilities management services across both domestic and commercial projects.
