Gary Neville on Dragon’s Den: Interview

Series 21 of Dragons' Den sees Gary Neville and Emma Grede Den heavyweights Peter Jones, Deborah Meaden, Touker Suleyman, Sara Davies, and Steven Bartlett as the first ever Guest Dragons and they'll be sitting alongside them the new series of the BBC One primetime show.

Gary Neville is often seen as a footballing icon; achieving over 600 appearances for Manchester United, winning two UEFA Champions League titles, eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups whilst becoming England's most capped right-back with 85 senior caps. Post-retirement, Gary transitioned into the world of media, becoming a highly-regarded commentator for Sky Sports. His analysis and presence have made him one of football’s leading broadcasters and his recent book on the state of the game was a Sunday Times Best-Seller.

Beyond the world of football and media, Gary is an accomplished businessman. Having started out as a property developer whilst playing for Manchester United in his early twenties, he’s since built a business empire with a portfolio that spans property, hospitality, education, media and sport. His Stock Exchange Hotel is one of the top hotels in Manchester, his University UA92 is disrupting a traditional model, his production company Buzz 16 has been a driving force behind his hugely successful YouTube channel “The Overlap” and his St. Michael’s project is one of the landmark property developments in Manchester City Centre. His journey from the football pitch to media and business is a testament to his relentless drive and passion, leaving a huge mark on multiple fronts.

Q&A with Gary

What about the show has surprised you most when you joined the Dragons?

I think the thing that really stuck out for me, was the actual length of the pitches!   It really was a test of endurance, mainly for the entrepreneurs coming in and pitching their businesses to the Dragons but also the concentration span needed for the time was something I’d not thought about before.  When you watch it on television, you recognise that the pitches are obviously longer than what is shown but the actual length of them was incredible. 

I think what surprised me most other than that was the spirit of the Dragons and the togetherness and comradery.  After filming on the first night and I was there as a guest,  we all went out for something to eat together.  This was something that the Dragons did after every filming day, they’d eat at the same restaurant at the same table and they’d built this incredible team spirit together.  I knew they would all get on as people do when they’re doing television shows, but I didn’t recognise that it would be as close a team as it was. 

You played for Manchester United prior to becoming a business leader, what advice do you have for those wanting to change career paths?

I think it’s becoming more and more normal particularly for the younger generation to want to change career paths and I think having that agility and flexibility in life is important.  But also being bold and brave enough to do it and say that you’re going to move from one sector to another, or you’re going to move from one city to another or a different country.  Sometimes we don’t like change, we tend to like stability, but I think now, in 2023 it’s a time where doing the same job for 20/30/40 years isn’t what happens anymore, the thought of it can almost drag your down so having the ability and choice to be agile with what you choose to do is really important. 

Which Dragon is your favourite, and why? Do you have a rival in the Den?

Ahh this is a really difficult one!  Do you know what, this sounds really ‘sitting on the fence’ punditry and I’d get kicked off television for punditry like this, not being able to name a favourite player of a favourite goal! But I am going to sit on the fence here because all of the Dragons, all in their own way I thought were just amazing with me.  I really couldn’t have singled out any one of them.  Every one of the Dragons brought something different to me, all giving different advice as they all see things in a different way and all very different characters and personalities.  We all had a laugh together and it would be difficult for me to say who was my favourite! 

I certainly had no rivals, I really felt I was very privileged and honoured to be in the company of the other Dragons in the den.

What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs in the current economic climate?

My advice would be to retain your confidence and your belief in what you’re doing.  Being an entrepreneur by the very nature of it means that you are courageous, and you take risks.  Having played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, he used to tell us every single game to take risks, he used to hate it when we were boring, and we weren’t attacking enough.  He used to say get out there and express yourselves, take risks!  Even if the game was difficult those principles and values never changed.  Obviously, we have got a very difficult economic climate at this moment in time and it may be that you just have to pull back slightly in certain areas and investment and other things.  But make sure you retain your confidence and your positive outlook in what you’re doing because that’s the last thing that should leave you. 

Dragon’s Den airs Tuesday nights at 8pm on BBC One. Stream it on iPlayer.