Ruddington businesses throw weight behind inaugural awards
The Rudd Awards, launched by Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) last month [July], have been created to celebrate the thriving village, as a place to live, work and enjoy.
Lead sponsor, Artex, has been based in Ruddington since the early 1990s and it is now its only site acting as both head office and sole manufacturing and distribution site. Over the past 30 years Artex has strengthened its relationship with the local community, with over half of its colleagues living in the local area and a business spend of over £300k a year with local businesses. It will sponsor the overall event and also the ‘Heart of Ruddington’ award category, recognising an individual or group that has demonstrated extraordinary service to Ruddington and its community over time
Jason Smith, managing director at Artex, said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Ruddington Awards which celebrate many of the characteristics and attitudes that we value as an organisation. As a local employer we love to see our community thriving and are excited to be taking part in this wonderful event to recognise the shining stars who are doing great work to develop the village.”
Global software provider, Ideagen, is another of the Ruddington based businesses backing the awards by sponsoring the Young Star category. With 1,000 people located across the globe, Ideagen has had a presence in Ruddington for eight years and officially opened its global headquarters in Ruddington Fields Business Park in 2020. Prior to this, Ruddington was home to one of Ideagen’s smaller offices in the same business park for six years.
Ideagen’s CEO, Ben Dorks, has particularly close links to Rushcliffe having been brought up here and still living in the area with his own family. He adds: “We’re thrilled to sponsor the Young Star category at this year’s Rudd Awards. This award is an opportunity to celebrate the unsung heroes who set an example or are an excellent role model in our village.
“To sponsor an award dedicated to celebrating young people feels particularly fitting for us as a business. For several years we have worked alongside local schools, education providers and most recently, Nottingham Forest Community Trust through our Think Big scheme, to support young people in achieving their goals and ambitions. We are hugely excited to see the nominations come in and we are excited for the awards ceremony in November.”
Five other categories are being sponsored by other locally based businesses including Ruddington Grange Golf Club for ‘Sports, leisure and culture’, True Story for ‘Village retailer or service’, Quotient Sciences for ‘Village hospitality’, My Care, Ruddington Retirement Village for ‘Community Group’ and MHR for ‘Volunteer or Fundraiser’.
The RVCP team hope to draw nominations for a range of individuals, groups and businesses that are making a real difference to building a vibrant and prosperous life in the village.
Nominations for the awards are open until 21st August at 5pm. People can put forward their favourites in each category, with a reason why they have been chosen online at www.rvcp.org.uk/awards. Paper forms are also available from the Parish Office in St Peter’s Rooms during office hours.
The shortlist will be announced in September and judged by a local independent panel. The winners will be announced at the awards evening on Friday 18th November 2022 at Ruddington’s St Peters Church, compared by BBC Radio Nottingham Drivetime presenter, Verity Cowley.
The awards are one of several community initiatives set up by RVCP as part of its aims to encourage everyone within the community to play an active role in the future of a prosperous, confident village.
