KIEV’S STREET KIDS – AND THE GROWING HIV/AIDS RISK TO THE WEST.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

November 28, 2011.

KIEV’S STREET KIDS – AND THE GROWING HIV/AIDS RISK TO THE WEST.

Entrepreneur John Caudwell has just returned from Kiev where he saw at first hand the quietly-growing but potentially significant health issue which could re-invigorate the HIV/AIDS threat in Western Europe.

John, who sold his mobile phone business in 2006 to concentrate on supporting a number of charities, went with the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) to Kiev in the Ukraine to see both the work of EJAF @ejaforg – and the extent of the challenge.

“There’s a whole sub-culture of street kids – living in squats and dens amongst the heating pipes under Kiev’s streets and bridges – aged from around 14 to 22, who have been rejected by society,” said Caudwell, who has put together an intentionally provocative video diary of the visit http://bit.ly/s1Wp95.

“Drugs are endemic – 80% of these street kids are said to be addicted, which brings untold health risks – but matters are made worse by the girls who see getting a ‘boyfriend’ as being a priority because they believe that will give them some security in life. But with little or no understanding of those health risks, around 20% have HIV/AIDS. Most believe there is no help for them.

“But the West should take not: HIV/AIDS infection levels in the Ukraine are reaching a point where spreading of the disease becomes exponential – and with the volume of movement of people into Western Europe, plus the number of overseas workers in the Ukraine, this has potentially huge ramifications.

Caudwell and partner Claire Johnson joined Elton John and David Furnish, along with actor David Walliams and his wife Lara Stone, and others hoping to raise awareness of the issue, on the trip

“Success in helping the street kids in Kiev is measured by simply getting them to come forward so they can get help. The vast majorityare distructing of the authorities, and spend their lives on the streets dodging rape and violence,” said John.

In his video diary, John highlights the stark contrast between the privilieged lives of those who donate to and drive the Elton John AIDS Foundation and its work, with the squalor and helplessness by young people living on – and under – the streets of Kiev.

“If we’d just run a few clips of impoverished, rejected, drug-addicted street kids eking a life in squats, then unpleasant as those clips are, they have far more impact when we slot them between clips from the other dramtically different extremes of life and society,” he said

“It’s a dreadful situation, and it is incumbent upon those of us who are in a position to be able to help to do just that.”

The footage in the video diary was shot by David Walliams and John Caudwell

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5billion. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

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Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

JOHN CAUDWELL: COMMENT ON EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION CONSULTATION.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

QUOTES

November 23, 2011.

JOHN CAUDWELL: COMMENT ON EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION CONSULTATION.

Commenting on the government’s announcement that it is launching a consultation into changing employment legislation (BBC News - Unfair dismissal: Vince Cable ponders new hire-and-fire rules http://bbc.in/vRNOE2 ), John Caudwell, who created thousands of jobs in his mobile phone business, said:

“It’s a step in the right direction, but nowhere near radical enough.

“Interestingly, changing employment rules to help drive recruitment and growth was something I flagged up last week when youth unemployment figures were in the news - http://bit.ly/volZae .

“What this serves to illustrate is that the government is still behind the curve, because if people in business like me are flagging up these ideas and then government is making big announcements about similar ideas a week later, then perhaps they should be spending a great deal more time listening to UK companies who are trying to fight their way out of downturn with one hand tied behind their back.

“It’s those companies – and business people like me who have been there, done it and got the scar tissue – who know what works.”

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5bn. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS - MAKE YOUNGSTERS MASSIVELY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FIRMS.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

November 17, 2011.

CAUDWELL: YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS - MAKE YOUNGSTERS MASSIVELY MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FIRMS.

Entrepreneur John Caudwell, who was taken on as an engineering apprentice in Stoke-on-Trent more than 40 years ago, says a three-point plan needs to be put in place, fast, to tackle youth unemployment by making youngsters massively more attractive to firms.

“This is a huge crisis. It’s controversial, but somebody’s got to say it, so I will: A combination of the government considering temporarily lowering the minimum wage, considering changing employment laws, and significantly increasing incentives to employers to take on youngsters, is crucial to driving a turnaround in youth employment levels and making employing young workers a much more attractive value proposition,” said John Caudwell.

Caudwell, who sold his self-built mobile phone business for £1.5 billion in 2006, was taken on as an apprentice on around one-tenth of the £30 per week national average wage in 1970 - £3 11s and 6d a week, roughly half the 2011 equivalent – and was one of 200 apprentices taken on to learn a trade at the same time.

John Caudwell said: “A great deal of this issue is nothing to do with the attitude of the majority of youngsters – it’s to do with the value proposition to employers, and making employing youngsters attractive to employers.

“Employers must be incentivised to take on young people – employers know what works for them, so the government should listen.

“The government should also consider temporarily lowering the minimum wage, particularly for apprentices, so that more employers can afford to take on more young people for vocational training.

“The government should also take a long, hard, look at legislation that protects workers’ rights early in their jobs or careers – and consider changing the law to make it a lot easier to hire and fire. The employer is then taking less of a risk in taking somebody on who they may consider to be borderline viable, and those looking for work who may not otherwise have a chance get a chance.

“The combination of these three measures would hopefully motivate employers to create jobs, and get youngsters doing something rather than falling into a life-approach of institutionalised unemployment.

“If we don’t do this, we will end up with a desperate lack of skills in the future when the economy picks up, and, in addition, a new society of young social scroungers.

“Whether society likes it or not, the simple fact is that we have to make it attractive for employers to take youngsters on by taking a radical approach. If I was 16 again, then I’d rather be earning something and learning a skill or a trade than wasting my life away, and I’m sure that stands for a lot of young people.”

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

07788 978800

im@pressrelations.co.uk

@johndcaudwell

FATHER TOPS BUSINESS CHARTS, SON AIMS FOR MUSIC CHARTS.

RUFUS CAUDWELL

PRESS RELEASE

@johndcaudwell

November 7, 2011.

FATHER TOPS BUSINESS CHARTS, SON AIMS FOR MUSIC CHARTS.

Video here: http://bit.ly/pTmKdb

His father may have spent years at the top of the business success charts, but Rufus Caudwell, son of entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell, has his sights set on the music charts.

GCSE student Rufus, 16, from Macclesfield, has been developing his musical talents and recorded a number of videos and tapes.

“He’s demonstrating a talent for music which makes me wonder whether the Caudwell business genes have jumped a generation in favour of vocal and creative abilities,” said John.

“He’s been quietly developing as a guitarist and singer, and I’ve even invited him to play and sing at family parties.

“That’s no mean feat as it turns out, because my children’s charity is supported by a number of people from the entertainment industry who have become friends – so Rufus has found himself performing in front of some pretty talented names, some with a bit of experience of topping the music charts.”

Rufus said: “I’m writing my own material, but it’s important for people to recognise I have a passion for what I’m doing, so for now I’m showcasing my voice and guitar-playing by doing recognisable cover versions of my favourite artists’ songs so people can judge for themselves whether I have a talent.

“I’ve been immersed in music for years – I love it - if I could be a fraction as successful in music as my dad has been in business then I’ll be pretty pleased.”

Rufus’ style – “chilled acoustics” - is inspired by artists such as Damien Rice, Boyce Avenue and Ed Sheeren, with some friends saying he sounds like David Gray.

Follow this link to see and hear Rufus Caudwell: http://bit.ly/pTmKdb

In 2006 John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5bn. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations

07788 978800

@johndcaudwell

JOHN CAUDWELL FEATURES IN CNBC PROFILE: “CNBC MEETS”.

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

November 1, 2011.

JOHN CAUDWELL FEATURES IN CNBC PROFILE: “CNBC MEETS”.

Interview with entrepreneur and philanthropist
to air on 2 November at 10.00pm GMT.

Photo here: http://bit.ly/sz3O1e

Video clip here: http://bit.ly/tm4ekj

John Caudwell, who sold his UK-based mobile telecoms business including high street brand Phones 4u for £1.5 billion in 2006, features in CNBC’s “CNBC Meets” series - which profiles some of the world’s most successful people - on Wednesday, 2 November at 10.00pm GMT.

CNBC’s guest presenter, Tania Bryer, speaks with Caudwell about how he built his business from nothing, and now focuses on charitable and philanthropic work,

In this exclusive interview, Caudwell talks candidly about his poverty-stricken childhood growing up on a council estate in Stoke-on-Trent, how he was bullied at school, and about his first business ventures - which failed.  He also talks openly about how he built up his mobile phone empire – and the sacrifices he had to make along the way.

Caudwell discusses the raid on his family home in 2010 and how he was nearly killed defending his family; he also talks and the importance of philanthropy in his life - as one of Britain's active philanthropists he has raised millions of pounds to help sick and disabled children. 

The programme looks at how he gives back to make a real difference to people's lives via Caudwell Children, @caudwellkids, the charity he founded which raises millions of pounds, and  also at his support of the NSPCC and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Filmed on location at his old home, his schools and at the Jacobean estate in Staffordshire where he now lives with his family – and including interviews with The Duchess of York, Sir Elton John and singer Peter Andre - this episode takes viewers on an inspirational rags to riches journey which is truly inspiring.

First transmission date:  2 November 2011, 10.00pm GMT.

Transcript and review copies of the programme are available upon request.

Presenter - Tania Bryer

Producer / Director- Jennifer Linton

Editor - Brian Watkinson

Executive Producers - Tania Bryer & Niaz Samadizadeh

The CNBC Meets series, which is sponsored by Gulf Air, has already featured up close and personal interviews with Tamara Mellon (Jimmy Choo), Richard Desmond (Northern & Shell) and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

CNBC is available in the UK on all major pay-tv platforms:  Sky (channel 505), Virgin (613), Talk Talk (510), Freesat (210).

Ends

Notes to Editors

About CNBC

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For more information, please contact:

Hugo Foulds

CNBC

hugo.foulds@cnbc.com 020 7653 9398

John Caudwell PR:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk 07788 978800

johndcaudwellblogspot.com

YouTube: CaudwellPhilanthropy