..'caller withheld their number' message on ansamachine?

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When I pressed 1471, my ansamachine told me that the ..'caller withheld their number' .

'Does this mean that an individual actively did this..or can it just be the automatic message of a company cold calling, etc, etc?

It could be a switchboard/company number.
Also my number is ex directory, and it comes up as 'withheld'.

It is more common for a firm's calls to be number 'unknown' or 'international'

For 'withheld' it usually requires the caller to prefix the dialled number with 141 (or on a mobile, to tell the network to keep the mobile number private).

There are several types of ex-directory - simplest means just not being in printed directory but it does not force outgoing calls to be 'number withheld'.

I'd say it is most likely an individual did this.

Firms know that customers can opt to have 'reject number withheld calls' which guarantees they'd never get through to the destination number!

An individual can pay to have their number always withheld without having to 141 every time. (Or used to, I don't know whether this is still available or not). So it might not be someone actively not wanting you to know who called you IYSWIM.

Doctors, hospitals and schools often pop up as "number withheld" as does anyone ex-directory (eg my aunt, who's a GP).

Outbound call centres based in the UK have to display/1471 a non chargeable number.
International ones not so.

"Outbound call centres based in the UK have to display/1471 a non chargeable number." - any pointers to where this is 'required' please ?

Only ask because I remember reading that UAX (? - some pretty old design) exchanges offered multiple lines for businesses, and didn't send the number.

Not convinced there is any requirement for a non-chargeable number either, as some services 'present' an 0845 number.

It's a DMA and Ofcom guideline. Will find it for you. If not now at work on Tuesday. Not the law but good practise for dialler management.

Here
Obviously doesn't apply though for manual dials!