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Tony Caldeira Entrepreneur
Caldeira file HQ: Caldeira UK, Villiers Road, Knowsley Business Park, Liverpool; Caldeira China, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Caldeira USA, 5th Avenue, New York; The Fabric Warehouse, Villiers Road, Knowsley Business Park. Sales Figures: £22 million (2009), £25 million (2010 estimate) Awards: Richard Branson, Sunday Times/ Virgin Atlantic, Fast Track 100; Cathay Pacific - Rising Star Award 2007p; Liverpool Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2007 Downtown Liverpool in Business; North West Business in China award – 2006; National Business Awards - SME of the Year 2006; Ernst and Young - Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2004; Best of British Industry Awards Next Generation Award 2006
the president of the Liverpool Conservative Party. “The Conservative Party in Liverpool for a long time was in the doldrums, and I was asked by the then shadow chancellor George Osbourne (who I’ve done work with in China) if I could help
revitalise the party. So for the last four years I’ve been helping improve the fortunes of the Conservative Party in the city, were we hadn’t had the best of reputations. Although we still have no representation in the city, in the last general election the
conservative vote increased by 50 per cent. “I believe in free markets, that individuals may know better than government in some ways. It’s business that creates opportunities in jobs and it was business that created this
beautiful city we’re in today. David Cameron is very positive to the city, he has been to Liverpool four times in the last 12 months, and is very excited to see some of the development and regeneration to the city. With the enterprise zone just set up it’s going to have a huge significance to the city especially to the property sector. Over the next year or two it will be quite difficult in the country with everything going on but once the country is in a more balanced position then Britain's got a bright future. Caldeira UK will continue growing around the world, we’re not going to be put off by a global recession.” Developing a business from scratch, from a stall to a business with a £20 million annual turnover is no easy feat. However, the global textile business may soon take more of a backseat for Tony, with the Conservative Party obviously keeping an eye on him, waiting for him to stand for MP. Finishing off, I ask him whether a political career is on the cards for Tony? “I’m enjoying being an entrepreneur but I’ve done it for 20 years, so maybe if the right opportunity came up in the future I might be interested.” MOVE COMMERCIAL 25