NTU alum’s pride at receiving New Year’s Honour

Martin Rigley, who studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering at NTU back in the 1980s, was awarded an OBE for services to the East Midlands COVID-19 Response and to the community in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

We were delighted to catch up with Martin – an active member of our Alumni and Industry Fellowship Programme – shortly after the announcement of his award.

Q: Many congratulations. How did you feel when you heard the news?

A: I received notification of my award on a cold wet Thursday in November last year. Getting home from work and seeing a confidential letter ‘On His Majesty’s Service’ filled me with intrigue, and then finding out I had been nominated for an OBE was a very humbling experience.

Q: You were awarded the OBE for services to the community – can you share the inspiring story behind that?

A: When the first lockdown began, I started to hear about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages. Working in the manufacturing business, I thought about the PPE we had in our storeroom, and whether we could donate it to frontline medical staff. I started to reach out to see if any of my contacts were prepared to donate what PPE they had. And they did – in droves. The real step change was that by linking up the Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) in each of the counties, we were able to secure many more donations.

Q: You’ve been an NTU alumni Fellow since 2015 – thank you! Why did you originally get involved, and what motivates you to volunteer your time and expertise?

A: I’ve been fortunate to have been helped, mentored, and supported by some inspirational people on my career path and the Alumni Fellowship allows me to pay this support back, or forward to the next generations of business leaders.

Q: You’re a big advocate for promoting the communities of Mansfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield – where does that passion come from?

A: All of the pro bono work I do is driven by a desire to improve social mobility within my community and region. Mansfield and Ashfield have struggled with their identity and purpose since the demise of the mining and textiles sectors - and yet I know some fantastic businesses who are doing some amazing work in our area. The presence of NTU at the Mansfield Campus, along with the Levelling Up work undertaken in both districts, will create a new thriving identity for Mansfield and Ashfield, that will drive social mobility.

Q: You invested a lot of time and energy in mentoring others – why do you find it so rewarding?

A: I’ve always considered ‘soft skills’ to be important and have worked hard to improve mine – which considering I started my career in mining – took a lot of dedication! Mentoring an employee to grow, develop their leadership skills – and then ultimately leave – is heart-wrenching, but the sense of satisfaction the process gives you is fantastic. As a business leader, you have so much knowledge and experience to share with the next generation – generally born out of your most challenging failures. The opportunity to do this is a true gift.