Interview: Phil Hilton

Hi Phil, thanks so much for doing this interview! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I was 62 this year in July, born on a Friday, just in time for the weekend in Southport, a seaside town in North West England. I was quite a shy boy growing up, preferring to be in my room reading books and listening to the radio, seeing which stations from across the world I could hear. At school I found it difficult to concentrate and spent a lot of time looking out of the window or doing anything else but studying. At 16, I left with little to show for myself into a world of high unemployment and a poor economic outlook. I did, though, have one thing going for me, and that was a drive to have a career in the media. I believe anything is possible if you set your mind to it, in anything, not just a media career. With no media courses available in the early 80s and no jobs for someone with little to no experience, the only option I had was to try and get work abroad where there was more opportunity.

Away from working and studying, I enjoyed and still enjoy health and fitness as a member of a health club and a keen hiker in the Lakes and North Wales. I play the keyboard, but I’m not very good and tend to try and play something I’ve heard and like the sound of rather than try and learn a musical piece.

Along with the outdoors, I love hot countries and summer weather. If it’s a nice day in the UK, I want to be up and outside to make the most of any warm days. Having the chance to work abroad in Saudi was the other extreme, as I got to experience 50 degrees! Thankfully, though for air conditioning in the homes and offices.

I also love trying new types of food, cooking and travelling.

We are halfway through 2026; how has this year been for you so far?

I’ve been back in the UK since Christmas after retiring, so I’ve been getting used to being at home and not having to get up for work! I have missed the seasons of the UK, so I’m looking forward to the changes this year. I’m not someone who can keep still very easily as I love being busy, but now I can concentrate on things I enjoy.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Curious, positive, appreciative

You didn’t have a conventional career path. How did you get into your career?

I knew I wanted to work in the media from a young age and wasn’t put off by my lack of qualifications or experience. In the early 80s, when I left school, the media was very underdeveloped, with only one BBC local station and one commercial station in my area; there were no college courses teaching media skills either. My only option was to look abroad to find opportunity elsewhere. I worked on hospital radio in my hometown of Southport, which was fun and very rewarding, but it’s not a job, although great for experience. We would have lots of laughs with patients who were well enough to listen and would play songs like ‘I can see clearly now’ for those on the Ophthalmic ward and ‘Anyone who had a heart’ for those on the Cardiac ward. Hospital radio is great for making all your mistakes before learning and moving on.

I knew of a radio fanatic in Blackpool who published a newsletter about Irish radio stations who operated as ‘pirates’ but who were largely left alone by the authorities. Ireland had lots of opportunities for wannabe presenters as there weren’t enough. Radio stations in Dublin were as professional and as slick as any station in the UK, more creative in some ways as they were driven by the market.

I wrote to three stations and sent my demo tape on a cassette as we all did then and called them up regularly to ask if there were any jobs. Eventually, Cavan Community Radio, just a few miles from the border with Northern Ireland, relented and offered me some work. I left the UK the next day.

And now you’ve written a book about it!  What do you hope people will take away from it?

I hope it will help with two things. When I’m old and bewildered, I can read my story and realise I had a great career. The second reason is to show younger people that there are alternatives to regular career progression if you are stuck in the system because of experience, training or education. Qualifications are important, but I wasn’t in this position, and it does force you to look and think about things in a different way to get ahead. You have to be prepared to make compromises and think outside the box, but the rewards are out there if you are prepared to make sacrifices.

What advice would you give to your younger self, or to young people starting in the world of work?

I was a late developer and struggled in my years at school; don’t be shy to ask for help if you don’t understand something. I found that really difficult with my parents as there’s too much at stake. Try friends and teachers or people in your chosen business. Qualifications are important when you’re starting as it’s rare if you have anything else to offer. Give yourself the best foundation you can while you are in school, college or university. If it’s not for you, there are opportunities out there, but you have to look far and wide, even abroad. Don’t give up.

Get to know people in areas of work you want to be in, build relationships and don’t rely on others to introduce you; do it yourself. People do business with people they like, and when they come to advertise for a job, your name should already be in their heads.

What inspires you and who are your influences?

I like to hear stories of success where people have found their niche in life despite the odds stacked up against them. There are plenty of successful business people who didn’t fit ‘the mould’ but still followed their dreams and never gave up searching either. Some of the giants are Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden, but in most cities in the UK, some people have done similar things on a local level.

What’s next for you? What are you most excited about?

I like to be busy. Having tried to make amends for my poor school results, I have chased career opportunities for 40+ years, so it’s hard to suddenly switch off. I think just doing a bit less would be a good idea. I see from the government’s recent report that opportunities for young people starting aren’t encouraging. I would love to work with younger people to help them get started if they are finding it difficult to move up or get a start on the career ladder.

Other than that, I am hoping to do some travelling to Europe, which I haven’t explored at all and keep on enjoying the outdoors.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.

No problem at all.