In celebration of this milestone year, the RI Cruden team is placing people and purpose at the centre of its 2025 plans –  pledging support for charitable causes across the region and beyond.

At the core of this initiative is a generous 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.

Callum Cruden, director of RI 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. Fraser is raising funds for the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, which supports young patients and their families by providing vital medical equipment, funding research, offering play programmes, and offering family support services.

“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.”

Meanwhile, plumber Jack Ross has launched a campaign to support Blythswood Care, ahead of a volunteer trip to Romania later this year. 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,” said Jack. “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 within the team, 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.

“For us, it’s about more than doing great work on-site,” added Callum Cruden. “It’s about empowering our team to make a difference off-site as well. We’re proud to stand behind them – whether they’re raising money, giving time, or supporting their community in other ways.”

In addition to supporting staff-led efforts, the company is donating directly to several Highland causes throughout the year. This includes sponsorship of the 2025 Highland Hospice HeArt Trail, with their commissioned heart sculpture located outside the Hospice in Inverness. The trail aims to raise essential funds for people facing life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Furthermore, the team will also 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 five days to help encourage participants.

After a successful debut last year, RI Cruden also brought back its popular Charity Golf Day on May 9 at Inverness Golf Club. Held in support of New Start Highland – an organisation that helps people across the region build better lives through housing, employment, and community support – the event offered a full day of friendly yet competitive golf, followed by a three-course dinner and an evening fundraising raffle. Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, the team raised an impressive £9,000 for a truly worthy cause.

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, making it a true family venture. Today, RI Cruden has grown into a thriving team of over 50 employees, including engineers, estimators, and apprentices. The company now delivers a full range of services across both domestic and commercial projects, while remaining true to the values on which it was built – quality, community, and sustainability.