With the donation, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust aims to conserve and regenerate the Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Previous owner of the multi-million pound phone retailer Phones 4u John Caudwell sold the business in 2006 for £1.5bn, he now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work.
The project will create jobs in the area, attract new business and promote production of the famous blue and white Burleighware will now remain in Stoke-on-Trent. Caudwell toured the factory on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, President of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, to learn about the project and its wider regeneration objectives.
Talking about his commitment to ensuring that the UK’s manufacturing heritage is not lost, Caudwell commented: “In an era of an invisible and largely electronic economy, it is sometimes easy to forget that everything we know today was built on an industrial and manufacturing revolution, which bred incredible craftsmen and products, and made Britain a manufacturing powerhouse. Coming from an engineering background myself, I really appreciate the skills required in making and producing quality products.”
“I am delighted to be making a contribution to the recovery, maintenance and growth of a vital local industry,” he added.
George Archer
