Prominent Nottinghamshire businessman and Chair of two D2N2 strategy groups, Martin Rigley, has received an MBE for his services to business and innovation.
Martin, who runs Lindhurst Engineering in Sutton in Ashfield (NG17), was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List along with fellow businessman Malcolm Hall, of Hall-Fast, Mansfield (Malcolm is pictured left and Martin right, in the attached photo, courtesy Vision West Nottinghamshire College). Both went to collect their honours from Prince William at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace last Friday (May 13).
In addition to his work at Lindhurst Engineering, Martin also chairs the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (N2) Skills and Employment Board, which looks at ways of working with businesses in the N2 area to identify where they may have skills gaps and looks at ways that these can be addressed. Martin also chairs the D2N2 key sector advisory group for Transport Equipment Manufacturing. This is one of eight key industry sectors that D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire which works to grow its areas economy – has identified as a growth area, with strong existing businesses and the necessary room and resources for new companies to enter the market.
Each of D2N2’s key sector groups are helping to shape the future of their industries in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire by working with the LEP on reviewing current business needs and the market situation –enumerated in each of D2N2’s key sector action plans – and helping related businesses by making them aware of the support they can access through the D2N2 Growth Hub – a free and impartial support and advice service for businesses in the D2N2 area.
Both businessmen also serve as governors of Vision Studio School; a new type of educational establishment for 14 to 19-year-olds, sponsored by West Nottinghamshire College (Malcolm is also a College governor).
Commenting on his MBE, Martin said: “To be at Buckingham Palace in the company of so many amazing people and to meet Prince William was just amazing. It’s a wonderful honour to be recognised in this way and I felt a mixture of immense pride and humility.
“Speaking to some of the other recipients and hearing about the wonderful things they’re doing for this country made me feel incredibly privileged and very British.”
To see what D2N2 is doing to develop Transport Equipment Manufacturing in its area, click here
To learn more about skills in the D2N2 area, click here
