Global Family Business Pumps Cash Into Nottinghamshire Attraction

A Nottinghamshire museum and tourist attraction has been given a cash injection after a global packaging giant named it as February’s charity in its ‘year of giving’ campaign.

The campaign, launched by The Wilkins Group, based in Colwick, Nottingham, will see the firm making a donation each month throughout 2025 to local causes impacted by the current economic climate.

Papplewick Pumping Station, a grade II* listed building and tourist attraction located in Rigg Lane, Ravenshead, is this month’s chosen charity partner. It received a cheque for £1,000 this week.

Papplewick Pumping Station has been hailed as “Britain’s finest Victorian waterworks”. The freshwater pumping station celebrates its industrial heritage, preserving the pumping station thanks to enthusiastic volunteers, donations, and visitor numbers to the site’s award-winning family museum.

Recognised as a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England, the venue holds regular ‘steaming’ events as well as being a unique wedding venue.

Justin Wilkins, joint managing director at The Wilkins Group, which makes food packaging for many of the UK's leading food producers, said: “We may be a global brand, but we are immensely proud of our Nottingham roots and want to support local attractions and charities that celebrate the city and county’s rich heritage."

“Papplewick Pumping Station not only celebrates its past but also provides an educational and entertaining venue for the present and future.”

The Wilkins Group announced its ‘year of giving' campaign in December. It kick-started the initiative with an innovative calendar and desk tidy that was sent to its customers as a Christmas gift.

Each month, the calendar highlights a different Nottinghamshire charity, outlining its work and why The Wilkins Group would be donating towards each cause. In January, Green’s Windmill in Sneinton was the first chosen recipient of a donation.

Justin said: "As February’s chosen charity cheque is handed over, we want to take a moment to recognise and support the venue’s work."

“Papplewick Pumping Station is a beautiful place that stands as testament to how it tackled water pollution from industrial Nottingham of the 1880s, pumping millions of gallons of clean fresh water to the city’s industries and its rapidly growing population thus improving public health and Nottingham residents’ quality of life.”

The Wilkins Group is also dedicated to improving the environmental impact of industry. Creating packaging designs and innovations that aim to reduce and ultimately eradicate single-use plastics within the industry, it is already leading the way in alternatives including board trays for food packaging, including the use of compostable materials, and 100 per cent plastic-free hangers.

Ashley Smart, museum director at Papplewick Pumping Station, said: “This donation means everything to us, and it was a real surprise when we found out about it. The generosity of The Wilkins Group is so much appreciated, as are all the kind donations we receive."

“Maintaining such an important industrial museum is a colossal undertaking – we often liken it to painting the Forth Bridge – so we are truly grateful for every bit of help we get.”

Papplewick Pumping Station was designed by celebrated engineer Marriott Ogle Tarbotton, who also designed Trent Bridge. The Nottingham Borough Engineer also planned and oversaw the construction of the city’s underground sewerage system – the first outside London.

Justin said: “The idea of our ‘year of giving’ calendar and campaign has been a huge success. Our clients have loved it and to be able to give something back to our hometown and its residents has been tremendous. We are now looking forward to March’s cheque presentation."

The Wilkins Group is a family run firm that produces food packaging for the likes of Pukka, Pizza Express, Harrods and Cadbury - to name a few.

It also is credited with producing bespoke and award-winning items such as eco-friendly coat hangers and the iconic M&S light-up glitter gin bottles.