A telecommunications success story, and a chance for Manchester

Neil McArthur sold potatoes door-to-door as a child in Salford. Then, with his engineering background and his own capital, he set up the business that would later become TalkTalk. In this episode of The Invested Investor, Neil revisits the deals, false starts, and market choices that led to his success in the telecommunications field. He still works for TalkTalk, but spends most of his time working to improve his home city's entrepreneurial ecosystem. In the second half of the podcast he explains how much Manchester has going on beneath the surface in technology and enterprise, and how the narrative needs to catch up to reality.

Neil is currently the Group Innovation Director for Talk Talk, the Chairman, Founder and Trustee of Manchester Tech Trust, and the Chairman and Founder of the Hamilton Davies Trust (HDT).

Neil was born in Irlam and is the son of a steel worker and librarian. He attended school in Irlam before completing an apprenticeship with BNFL in Risley (Warrington). He studied telecommunications at the University of Essex, who later awarded him an honorary Doctorate for his telecommunications and charitable work. A former member of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership during its inception, Neil is a passionate advocate of the role that business and industry can play in the ongoing revitalisation of communities and the broader North West region. He was recognised for his services to engineering being awarded an MBE in 1992.

If you would prefer to read Neil McArthur's interview, click here! (Powered by Speechmatics).

This podcast was originially published by The Invested Investor on the 18th of July 2018 via their website and Audioboom page.

It is reproduced here in association with The Invested Investor.