Huawei becomes Patron of The Prince’s Trust in celebration of 15 years in the UK
Supporting The Trust’s ‘Get Started’ programme in Reading, Bristol and Southampton, helping young people develop new digital skills
Reading, UK, 4 Mar 2015: Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, which this year celebrates 15 years in the UK, is pleased to announce that it is now a Patron of The Prince’s Trust.
Huawei has been a member of The Trust’s Technology Leadership Group since 2006 and today’s announcement renews the company’s commitment towards the technology education programme of the charity.
The ‘Get Started’ programme is aimed at young people who are 16-25 and not currently engaged in education, employment or training. Through Huawei’s support of three ‘Get Started’ workshops in Reading, Bristol and Southampton, new technical skills in games design and robotics will be taught to young people to better equip them for their future career and life choices.
Martina Milburn CBE, Chief Executive, The Prince’s Trust said: “Huawei has been a supporter of The Prince’s Trust since 2006 and I am delighted that it has now reached Patron status in its support of the charity this year. In particular, Huawei’s support for the ‘Get Started’ programme will help us provide even more young people with the digital, teamwork and communication skills they need as they get their lives back on track.”
The Mayor of Reading, Councillor Sarah Hacker, said, “It is great to have Huawei in Reading, working together with the Prince’s Trust, the local college and community, to make a change to their futures. The ‘Get Started’ programme signifies the great work that Huawei and The Prince’s Trust are doing to help inspire and improve the career prospects of young people. I am pleased Huawei is celebrating its 15th anniversary in the UK in such a meaningful way and is promoting STEM subjects and digital skills among young people in such an impactful way.’
Gordon Luo, CEO of Huawei UK, said: “This year marks the 15th anniversary since we started operations in the UK and as a long-term investor, we are committed to contributing to the local communities that we operate in. We are excited to be working with The Prince’s Trust to provide young people with the opportunity to develop new digital skills – this is a challenge we all face. Helping young people is important to us and as technology becomes more ingrained in everyday life, this opportunity to help develop the skills of the next generation is important.”
As part of its commitment Huawei also holds an annual Winter Concert to raise money for the charity.
About Huawei in the UK
Huawei opened its first office in the UK in 2001 and is China’s largest investor into the UK. The company has 15 offices across the UK and 1,030 employees, planned to rise to 1,500 by 2017. Huawei will continue to expand its investment in the UK in the coming years, and has made £956 million to UK GDP over the last three years (2012-2014) and supported 7,400 jobs direct and through its supply chain. In April 2013, Huawei opened a new UK headquarters in Green Park, Reading. Huawei UK recently created of a UK Board of Directors, with three leading members of the business community acting as non-executive directors, led by Lord Browne as Chairman.
For more information, visit Huawei online: www.huawei.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/huawei
YouTube: www.youtube.com/Huawei
About The Prince’s Trust
Youth charity The Prince’s Trust helps disadvantaged young people to get their lives on track. It supports 13 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed and those struggling at school and at risk of exclusion. This year it is celebrating its 40th Anniversary.
Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness or mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. The Trust’s programmes give vulnerable young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work.
Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training. The Prince of Wales’s charity has helped 825,000 young people since 1976 and supports over 100 more each day.
For more information, visit our website: www.princes-trust.org.uk
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PrincesTrust
