There is cause for celebration at Parkdean Resorts’ Ruda Holiday Park as Reginald Sutton celebrates a remarkable 30 years with the UK’s largest holiday park operator.
Having started his career as a cleaner, Reg worked his way through a number of different roles within the park, from working in the maintenance team to managing Ruda’s beautiful Croyde Beach facilities. Reg now works as part of the Grounds and Maintenance team.
Capitalising on his experience in training and development, Reg supports the whole team at Ruda, from general grounds and maintenance workers to delivery drivers, and is involved in the day to day running of Ruda Holiday Park, helping to make it the perfect destination for holidaymakers through his vast knowledge and expertise. This is alongside developing his impressive woodwork skills.
Lisa Charles-Jones, HR Director, Parkdean Resorts, said: “Our people are our most important asset, and they’re absolutely central to providing our guests with an amazing experience. Reg has been an integral part of this for the team at Ruda Holiday Park, so we are absolutely thrilled to be able to celebrate this monumental anniversary with him.”
Through a match-funding agreement with Croyde Area Residents Association (CARA), Parkdean Resorts has approved grants totalling more than £20,000 for a number of projects in the local community, while the Ruda team will also spearhead key conservation projects this year which will make a meaningful difference to the local community and its environment.
Projects include the development of a new clubhouse for the Croyde Surf Life Saving Club, the purchase of an adaptive surfboard, and the creation of the beach’s first ever accessible Changing Places facility, while the park has also helped fund the installation of a new drinking fountain and defibrillator at the beach.
The team at Ruda is committed to responsibly managing Croyde Beach to keep it fun, inviting and clean for the community as well as the many holidaymakers who visit each year, with teams from the park carrying out regular beach cleans alongside volunteers from the local community, to ensure it remains safe for swimmers, surfers and walkers, as well as the diverse flora and fauna which inhabit the beach and nearby sand dunes.
Testament to this ongoing work of the beach team, Croyde Beach recently won a prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Award, with an Excellent water quality ranking, which is the highest, cleanest water quality that can be awarded by the Environment Agency. The team is also spearheading an important new conservation project to restore the sand dunes behind the beach, with more than 100 members of the local community supporting with planting grass and installing fencing when it launched earlier this year.
Reginald Sutton said: “I love working in beautiful Croyde and being a part of the wonderful Ruda Holiday Park team. To have the opportunities I’ve had and the support the team’s shown me over the years is rewarding and for that I am grateful. It’s been incredible to witness both the park and this business grow over the last 30 years, and I look forward to continue being a part of it for more years to come!”
Parkdean Resorts has four parks in Devon – Ruda, Bideford Bay, Challaborough Bay and Torquay, and between them, the parks employ more than 730 people. Earlier this year, the holiday park operator announced a recruitment drive ahead of the new season, and is recruiting 11,000 people in total, with other 10,000 seasonal and 750 permanent roles on offer at its 66 parks across the UK.
The holiday park operator also recently announced a new partnership with youth charity, The Prince’s Trust, which will see the two parties work together to empower and support young people seeking employment, through a number of fundraising initiatives and development opportunities.
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