Our MD, Paul Banton, is celebrating 25 years with Ruddocks! Since joining Ruddocks in June 1999, his drive and ambition for growth saw him quickly promoted to General Manager, before becoming Managing Director in 2008.
Over the years, Paul has guided us through significant transformations, including the challenges of two recessions and a global pandemic, and developed a culture to support the future sustainability of the business. Being passionate about organisations supporting their local communities, he is also actively involved with supporting local charities and educational organisations.
Recognising that a thriving team is the foundation for long-term success, Paul introduced initiatives like our Emerging Leaders program to cultivate a pipeline of future talent, flexible work options, and mental health training to build a happy, engaged workforce. This translates to increased employee retention, a critical factor in the creative industry where expertise and long-term relationships are key to client satisfaction and business growth.
And this month marks a double celebration for Paul. We are thrilled to announce that our MD has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Business Leader of the Year category in the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards, which coincides perfectly with his 25th anniversary at Ruddocks!
The Business Leader of the Year award recognises outstanding leadership that significantly contributes to the local community and beyond. But the nomination itself holds a special story!
For the past quarter-century, Paul's positive influence and dedication to making a difference has driven our success, supported our team, developed a culture focused on wellbeing, together with supporting our local communities, particularly around education and members of our community in need.
Although Paul credits Ruddocks' success to the collective effort of the team, we believe a great team is built by an exceptional leader! And because the biggest impact is created through practical steps, we think it's equally valuable to talk about these initiatives in hopes of inspiring and encouraging others to follow suit.
With this in mind, we decided to nominate Paul for the Business Leader of the Year Award – a complete surprise to him! Recognising strong leadership practices is crucial and we hope that Paul's nomination can inspire others to consider similar approaches.
All of us at Ruddocks are delighted that Paul has been shortlisted for this prestigious award. He rightfully deserves this recognition and we wish him the best of luck at the awards ceremony on 12th July. We would also like to congratulate all the other finalists. We look forward to celebrating together!
I am truly humbled by this nomination. This recognition is a testament to the incredible people who surround me. Without them, none of what I do would be possible and I am proud to be part of such a fantastic team.