1. Charity work

2. Business

3. Politics

4. References

Charity work

After retiring from fund management, Preston moved back to the North of England.^[4] Between 2002 and 2008 Preston was a patron of international children's charity ARK.^[5] He was also chairman of charity Fairbridge Teesside from 2005 to 2010.^[6] The first charity he founded, in 2011, was Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation which raises and distributes funds to boost communities across the urban area of Teesside.

An early supporter and trustee of the charity was public relations executive Mark Bolland The Foundation is supported by a number of local businesses including Middlesbrough Football Club, Steve Gibson's Bulkhaul and Cleveland Cable Company. It has also won support from Olympic long jumper Chris Tomlinson.

A couple of years later Preston launched a new charity called CEO Sleepout which holds events across the UK to raise funds to combat homelessness and poverty.^[7]

In December 2016 Preston launched a charity restaurant, The Fork in the Road, in Middlesbrough with the goal of providing employment opportunities for ex-offenders, recovering addicts and the long term unemployed.^[8] The aim of which is two fold,

1. High end restaurant The Fork in the Road is a place of great food, ambience and opportunity. A number of the restaurant’s staff will always be those who’ve come through our programme designed to offer precious opportunities to those who need a helping hand – recovering addicts, ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed. The fit-out costs and working capital for this social enterprise have come from our parent charity CEO Sleepout charity and Public Health England.
2. Bar Zero is starting to play an important role in Teesside’s recovery scene. The bar serves great food, drinks and coffee – but no alcohol. It’s a fantastic place to mix with friends and meet people. The bar can also be hired for private functions and community events. Look out for information on our special cinema nights where we’ll be screening blockbuster classics on a 15 foot screen and you can watch from the comfort of a reclining armchair!

Preston previously chaired Tees Valley Education, a three-school academy trust which operates in some of the UK's most disadvantaged areas.^[9]

In 2018 Andy Preston and his sister, Claire Preston announced the initiative of CEO Eat Out. This was to run alongside CEO Sleep Out and gave local people another avenue to raise money for the Foundation. CEO Eat Out allows a group of people (whether it be a business, club, organisation or group of friends), to host an evening at Fork in the Road and act as the wait staff for the evening with all proceeds going to the charity.

Business

In June 2018 work started on turning an Office building on Surtees Business Park into modern offices Level Q. The ground floor of Level Q’s five-star facilities features a reception lobby, café, small cinema, gym room and a number of high-quality office suites.

On the first floor, offices surround a central social zone known as The Village Green, featuring picnic-style benches and artificial grass similar to material recently fitted within Google’s Californian headquarters.

“There’s nothing like this on Teesside,” said Andy Preston. “Level Q will represent a new generation of workspace.

“We’ve created an amazing working environment with top-class facilities and the highest quality finish.

“There’s a big change in demand for offices right now. While demand for large offices in big buildings is on the slide, there’s an increasing interest in smaller offices in exciting workspaces with a real buzz".

Andy Preston also made sure that the new development supported local business with the use of all local businesses and contractors.

Politics

In February 2019, Preston came under heavy criticism from the local Labour party after a controversial Facebook post entitled "Immigration Can Bring Big Benefits and Big Negatives", in which he was accused of 'dog whistle racism'. Middlesbrough's MP Andy McDonald (politician) labelled Preston's post as "irresponsible and dangerous" and that he used the issue as a "cheap and easy way to get publicity" [https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/andy-preston-branded-irresponsible-dangerous-15920989] However, it was clear from the Facebook post that many people agreed with Andy and a poll on Gazette Live showed that 89% agreed he was right to link recent immigration with rising crime in the town centre. Responding to Mr McDonald’s criticism, Andy said: “As someone who’s tried to help groups across Teesside - regardless of background - I was asked to raise this issue by people who feel ignored and betrayed. I’ve raised these decent people’s issue and tried to be very fair. If professional politicians and some snowflakes aren’t happy with me then that’s fine. I’ll keep sticking up for people - regardless of what abuse politicians and their lackeys send me.” ^[18]

References

• Busan Subway Line 4
• Busan Transportation Corp FC
• Busan Transport Corporation
• Busan-Ulsan expressway
• Busan Univ. of Foreign Studies
• Busan Univ. of F. S.
• Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit Company
• Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit Operation Corporation
• Busan–Gimhae Metro
• Busan–Gyeongnam Area
• Busan–Ulsan Expressway Co., Ltd.
• Bus arbitration
• Busari
• Busasen
• Bus Australia
• Busayavalasa
• Busayrah
• Busača Lake
• Bus-bars
• Bus base
• Busbee (songwriter)
• Busbequia
• Busbies
• Busbridge Church
• Busbud