Love or loathe the PM that divided opinion like no other, there?s no denying Thatcher?s role in technology and entrepreneurship.
Thatcher on Tech
The tech industry was going through some very exciting changes during the 80s, the introduction of the mobile phone and the first glimpse of the internet appeared at a time when most people were just getting used to personal computers.
The time Thatcher presided over Britain was a time when technology started to change the way we worked and lived. Her government introduced the BBC Microcomputer into schools across the UK, which for many was the first computer they?d had. This led to people understand the way a computer worked, and probably kick-started our reliance on computers and business broadband today.
It?s important to address how during the early years of Thatcher?s legacy, how much of the tech industry was state owned, including the BBC microcomputer which was BBC supported. The opening of tech industries led to a surprise lasting legacy in today?s Britain. While many policies are said to have led to the decline in British industries, her years in office undoubtedly impacted greatly on competition and innovation in technology, communications and entrepreneurial Britain.
Furthermore, Lady Thatcher?s telecommunications door opening (more on this in the next section) can be said to have led to the introduction of internet online services. When the internet first appeared it was only for college-level academics, the military and the government.
By being able to freely look at a new market in such a way as the internet allowed, this gave way to service choice, and the internet in our homes as we know it. Similarly during Thatcher?s time as PM the mobile phone industry was taking heed, with phones initially developed in the UK by Racal (now known as Vodafone)
Thatcher?s deregulation decision made Racal feel that it could take its preceding military wireless technology to a more consumer driven market ? and so the introduction of our mobile environments and contracts as were born.
Thatcher on Telecoms
Thatcher?s privatisation policies led to split opinions, in hindsight we can say that it was a great thing for our consumer driven world of gadgets and technology, but perhaps a bad thing for British business.
In 1981, two years after Thatcher took to government, British Telecom was set up to carry out the Post Office?s activities. In fact, before 1981, all telecoms services in the UK were provided by the Post Office. There were state monopolies on the communications and electricity services during this time.
During 1984, Thatcher privatised BT to what was at the time, the UK?s biggest public offering. As with other privatised industries, a new regulator was set up ?Oftel ? to ensure the company did not abuse its new position.
Before the company was privatised, it was employing hundreds of thousands of people and losing money, the opposite of which can be said today.
The privatisation of BT and Cable & Wireless undoubtedly opened the door to competition, which helped lower prices and drive technological innovation. It can be argued today whether the privatisation of BT and telecoms companies helped in driving super-fast networks and next gen growth.
Thatcher on Business
Famously Thatcher believed in the motto; it?s not what you?ve done, it?s what you?re going to do. And perhaps her ambitious policies made way for life in business as we know it today. Baroness Thatcher saw enterprise as the driving force for economic growth in a time where just as today, the economy was in dire need of help and millions were unemployed.
Thatcher set out to create an entrepreneurial culture in the UK, quoting; ?I came to office with one deliberate intent: to change Britain from a dependent to a self-reliant society ? from a give-it-to-me, to a do-it-yourself nation. A get-up-and-go, instead of a sit-back-and-wait-for-it Britain.? A quote that most business leaders idolise today. ?
A range of measures and policies were introduced to kick-start British business and inspire people to become business owners and start-ups. She had one aim; to see business, innovation and competition replace the state-led 1970s.
From the Enterprise Allowance scheme that gave the unemployed an income of ?40 each week to support them in starting a business, to the number of education programmes introduced that focused on small business management. Although the policies weren?t perfect, they were heading into the direction of business as we know it today.
Since this time there has been a new-found respect for people who start their own business, with government policies still reflecting this attitude today. Thatcher made a radical contribution to a digital economy that drove about a rise in tech entrepreneurs who today are thriving in business.
Thatcher today
Would British business and the technology sector be as it is today without Thatcher, it?s hard to really conclude. Although Thatcher believed in these industries and the ideolody of enterpreneurship, there have been many policies since her presiding that truly led to our technology driven, do it yourself culture. However, we can safely say that the privatisation of the telecoms companies during the 80s were certainly the foot in the door.
I?m going to avoid any talk on Thatcher?s more controversial policies, these can be left to the protestors and rioters currently occupying our cities!
What are your thoughts of Thatcher?s years as PM? A great time for telecoms, or a downfall for British owned business?
Jennifer is the Product Development Manager for Elite Telecom, specialising in next generation services, Jennifer ensures that Elite is always on the cusp of technological developments in unified communications and hosted services.This makes sure Elite is always in the best position to be able to provide the most up to date, value-add, end-to-end solutions to businesses.
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Source: http://www.elitetele.com/news/read/maggie-thatcher-technology-telecoms-and-entrepreneurship
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