Ricoh UK Products Ltd. (RPL) is delighted to have earned a double winning status at this year’s prestigious IdeasUKAwards, as well as achieving a PLATINUM accreditation rating – the highest level of achievement – from ideasUK for the 16th consecutive year, being the only member-company ever to have achieved this.
Customer Focus Award: Innovation in Medical Solutions
At the ‘Idea of the Year 2024’ competition in Cheshire on 6-7 November, RPL was announced as the winner of the Customer Focus category.
The award celebrates RPL’s pioneering work on the Ankle CCD Lever Kit, an innovative medical solution designed and developed by Ricoh 3D in partnership with The Orthotic Research and Locomotor Assessment Unit (ORLAU) of The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust.
This unique collaboration underscores Ricoh 3D’s commitment to delivering high-impact, accessible solutions in healthcare through a patient-centred approach.
Mark Dickin, Ricoh 3D’s Head of Additive Manufacturing, commented: “This award is a fantastic milestone for Ricoh 3D, aligning perfectly with our growth strategy within the medical sector.
“Our collaboration with ORLAU reflects our dedication to meaningful, patient-focused innovations and applications, supporting Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing. This journey has deepened our expertise and reinforced our approach to creating impactful healthcare solutions.”
People and Wellbeing Award: The Enduring Impact of ‘Think Act Save’
In addition to the Customer Focus accolade, RPL was also the winner of the People and Wellbeing category, a recognition that celebrates the lasting success of RPL’s ‘Think Act Save’ campaign and the lasting cultural and practical impact this has had on employees, the business and local community.
The campaign included guidance to employees on how to reduce their domestic energy bills at a time of increased cost pressures, generating and implementing ideas for cost savings within the business, hosting festive thrift shops, as well as a separate ‘miles for smiles’ initiative.
The latter has encouraged employees to take part in sponsored exercise, in order to convert mileage and make donations to the local community, including schools and local food banks (within Telford and Stirling).
The campaign's success highlights RPL’s focus on creating an environment where employees thrive, fostered through a culture of continuous improvement.
Honorary Fellowship Award for Innovation: Meaningful Change at RPL and Beyond
In a special recognition, Continuous Improvement Engagement Coordinator, Jayne Garner, was awarded with an ideasUK Honorary Fellowship at the competition. This prestigious honour acknowledges Jayne’s exceptional contributions to ideasUK and her leadership in promoting workplace innovation.
ideasUK commented: “Jayne’s fellowship celebrates her long-standing commitment to advancing ideas that drive meaningful change within RPL and beyond. Her dedication to fostering an environment of creativity and continuous improvement has helped position RPL as a leader in innovation across the sector.”
16 Years of PLATINUM Accreditation: A Testament to Continuous Improvement
In addition to the multitude of honours, RPL is pleased to have achieved a PLATINUM accreditation rating – the highest level awarded by ideasUK – for the 16th consecutive year.
Earlier in the month, RPL completed its 18th annual assessment with ideasUK, which included a full-day audit of the company’s continuous improvement initiatives, covering Bright Ideas, Good Spots, and Value Recognition schemes. This year, RPL achieved 100% in all assessment categories for the first time.
Transformation & Engagement Manager, Charlotte Dickerson, shared: “We are immensely proud to be the only member-organisation to maintain PLATINUM accreditation for such a sustained period. This result is a powerful testament to our employees’ hard work and dedication. A huge thank you to everyone who brought forward fantastic ideas, those who embraced them, and those who rigorously evaluated them.”
She added: “To everyone developing new products, managing projects, and pushing the boundaries within our innovation portfolio, your commitment drives our success. Thank you for making this possible.”
These recognitions affirm RPL’s dedication to excellence and its role as an industry leader, committed to impactful innovation, employee wellbeing, and sustained improvements across the organisation, and for its customers and partners.
IdeasUK, a non-profit network, supports organisations globally in building ideas management capabilities. Since launching its accreditation programme in 2006, ideasUK has provided businesses with a way to highlight the significance of employee-driven innovation both internally and externally.