This sure is the sceptics forum :-)
I am a real person. I founded the following companies:
http://www.travelshark.com. The company is 5 years old and is a pioneer in the field of algorithmic sentiment analysis. To you and me that means we have computers that read millions of hotel and restaurant reviews to sort that **** out so you don't have to. Loads of big companies interested in this and so far as I can tell we are unique in what we do. The video on the site explains it. Employs a lot of very very clever people, and me. This one is Singapore based so I am 8 hours ahead and usually not awake same time as everyone else.
http://www.ism.co.uk. Not involved since I sold it a couple of years go but I founded this company 6 years ago. This was the largest private employer in Berwick after the supermarkets. Made a lot of mistakes, learned a lot, lost a lot. Would not start a tech firm in the UK again.
http://www.thehuntguides.com. We produce city guides for 24 major cities worldwide. Also does bespoke book publishing. No plans for an Accrington guide :-). Could be a few decades before the place is worth visiting.
For the sake of clarity, I was given nothing, inherited nothing, and worked for the last 26 years. Yes I am we'll off (relative to most folk), but I'm damn sure I earned it. Had 1 week of holiday in the 5 years 2007-12. You don't start businesses in what turned out to be the worst recession in our lifetimes and get a holiday.... I have never drawn benefit of any kind from the govt, and have paid more than £1m in taxes over the years.
Can't start tech co in Accrington, but skilled unemployed labour seems to be around in abundance, as are empty buildings. I can use that, and intend to get more involved from around July. Need to speak to the council first to understand the ground rules, and this forum will be good for that because most here are local.
Any danger of someone answering my question about the Victorian arcade ? Would be nice to know.....