Case Study: Ri Cruden – Investing in the Next Generation for More Than 20 Years
Every DYW partnership is a journey, and for Ri Cruden, supporting young people and developing future talent has been part of the business for almost two decades. The company has worked alongside Developing the Young Workforce Inverness & Central Highland (DYWICH) for a number of years, helping raise awareness of its apprenticeship opportunities and encouraging young people across the region to consider careers in construction and renewables.
With the demand for skilled people continuing to grow across both sectors, Ri Cruden sees working with DYWICH as a natural extension of its long-standing commitment to developing people. From careers events and school engagement to its own Skills Academy and apprenticeship programme, the business is focused on helping young people take their first steps towards successful, long-term careers.
Getting Started
Ri Cruden has been investing in apprentices and developing talent for almost 20 years, with its partnership with DYWICH providing another way to connect with young people across the region.
The business recognised that reaching young people early could help them understand the opportunities available within construction and renewables, while also creating a stronger pipeline of future apprentices with the skills, interest, and potential to build a career with the company.
For Ri Cruden, it is about more than recruitment. By sharing its experience and expertise, the business can help young people understand what a career in the sector could look like and make informed choices about their future.
From Recruitment to Retention
Ri Cruden’s ambition is to develop the next generation of skilled tradespeople and leaders within the business, while helping address the growing need for skilled workers across the local construction and renewables sectors.
That means thinking beyond the point where an apprentice accepts an offer. The company recognises that starting a first job can be a significant step for a young person, and that creating a positive experience from day one can help build confidence, relationships and a sense of belonging.
Through careers events, its Skills Academy, work-based learning and ongoing support, Ri Cruden aims to give young people the opportunity to understand the sector, develop their skills and become part of the wider team. Its annual Apprentice Day is a particularly strong example of how this approach is put into practice.
The Apprentice Day – Setting Young People Up for Success
Now in its second year, Ri Cruden’s annual Apprentice Day brings apprentices and mentors together to recognise their progress, welcome new recruits and help everyone feel part of the wider team.
This year, seven new apprentices joined the business and took part in a day at Fairburn Activity Centre alongside apprentices at different stages of their careers and their mentors. Rather than simply being a team-building exercise, the day was designed around Ri Cruden’s five values: Working Together, Taking the Lead, Developing Talent, Making a Difference and Delivering Excellence.
The approach reflects the importance of giving young people a structured and supportive start. New apprentices have the opportunity to meet colleagues, build relationships with their mentors, understand what the business stands for and experience its culture in an environment away from the pressures of their day-to-day work.
The activities also gave apprentices the chance to put Ri Cruden’s values into practice. From problem-solving together to supporting one another through challenges, the day encouraged teamwork, communication and confidence – while allowing new and existing apprentices to learn from each other.
Growing Talent, Building Futures
The impact of Ri Cruden’s approach can be seen in the growing number of people progressing through its apprenticeship programme. This year, seven new apprentices joined the business across its disciplines, while existing apprentices progressed into their second, third and final years.
The company also celebrated five qualifications achieved by its apprentices and engineers, demonstrating the progression that can come from investing in people and giving them the right support from the start.
For the young people involved, an apprenticeship offers much more than a first job. It provides the opportunity to develop technical skills, gain recognised qualifications, build relationships within the workplace and grow in confidence while earning and learning.
For Ri Cruden, it is an investment in the future of the business and the wider Highland workforce. The company’s approach also demonstrates how thoughtful onboarding and continued support can help employers move beyond simply recruiting young people to creating the conditions in which they can thrive.
Continuing the Journey
The Apprentice Day is now an annual fixture in the Ri Cruden calendar and sits alongside the company’s wider Skills Academy, careers activity and links with schools across the region.
The business plans to continue working with DYWICH to reach more young people and showcase the opportunities available within construction and renewables, with its next apprentice intake planned for August 2027.
Callum adds,
“Investing in the next generation has been part of who we are for over 20 years, and days like this remind us why. Welcoming seven new apprentices this year, alongside five engineers qualifying, tells us the programme’s doing exactly what we set out to do. We’re already looking forward to next year. In a large organisation to make a difference. Sometimes a conversation, a careers event, or sharing your own experiences can help a young person see opportunities they hadn’t previously considered.”
For Ri Cruden, developing young people is not simply a short-term recruitment strategy. It is a long-term commitment to its people, its business and the future of the Highlands – and the Apprentice Day shows what that commitment looks like in action.