Peter Paduh

Peter Paduh (born 1977, in Sarajevo) is a British businessman, best known as the Young Business Person of the Year at the London Business Awards 2005, and for his involvement with the Computers for Older People Initiative with the Mayor of London and Age Concern and as a spokesperson for Refugees in the UK and for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He came to the UK as a refugee in his early teens when war broke out in the Balkans. At the time he did not speak English but he already had a fierce desire to make a positive contribution to society and establish a successful business.

Paduh learnt English, lived in a children's home for refugees in London and attended school and university in the UK. He worked for companies such as Gateway and Microsoft, then started a series of businesses.

He started his first business at the age of 12 selling Commodore 64 home computer products. His past ventures include an online marketing and web hosting business started whilst still studying for a computing degree at university according to his personal wordpress, the University of Westminster blog post and an interview with The Daily Telegraph.

In 2002, as a result of consultations with his clients, Paduh began researching the business potential of the electronic waste problem. His research took him to Canada, where he made a number of contacts, visited recycling plants and observed the thriving recycling industry there.

His approach to business was built on the principles of practical corporate social responsibility (CSR), providing training in IT hardware for young unemployed people and helping disadvantaged groups such as older people in the UK with refurbished PCs. Paduh demonstrated that it was possible to establish a successful business that is environmentally and socially sustainable.

Because of the emphasis on CSR and because of his background as a refugee, Paduh has received a number of awards in the UK of which one of the most prestigious was as the Young Business Person of the Year at the London Business Awards 2005 sponsored by ITV London and the London Chamber of Commerce.

Paduh is currently Chairman of SocialBox.Biz – A new generation Social Impact consultancy– with emphasis on digital inclusion, tech innovation and integration of refugees and homeless people.

He helped setup other ventures in the technology sector that worked with the local community on initiatives such as the reuse of IT equipment that London businesses were replacing and throwing away refurbishing them and helping create employment opportunities in London. In this process, training was provided to young people in IT hardware including immigrants and other former refugees.

These ventures refurbished thousands of computers from firms and put them back into use in the voluntary sector, with schools, community centres and local charities benefiting from the services.

In June 2006, the Mayor of London launched an initiative to help London's older people with access to computers and internet in conjunction with charity Age Concern.

Originally a refugee, Paduh has spoken to the press several times about his experiences.

He has been quoted in articles about refugees from The Guardian, the Financial Times and Newsweek, and was the subject of a two-page spread in the London Paper.

Paduh has also been featured on ITV news, BBC World and on the BBC's Working Lunch programme.

• Institute of Directors – The Good Director Honour award winner.
• Business in the Community (BITC) big tick award for positive contribution to society.
• Recycler of the month leading local government recycling magazine.
• Winner HSBC Startup Stars – London region.
• National Business Awards – Chairman Award for Innovation.
• The Edge Employers Awards – London Region Winner.
• Young Business Person of the Year award winner London Business Awards.
• London Mayor's Award for Outstanding contribution to life in London.
• Best Corporate Social Responsibility firms Haringey City Growth Award winner.