Charlie Sheen is gay!!! Well, not really. He is getting candid about his homoerotic (crack fueled) escapades, though. Before I get into Charlie and his new Netflix documentary I comment on this year's Emmys. I would really love it if some celebs started to style themselves because I'm starting to think everyone is looking a tad too polished. Just an observation! I also can't help but talk about my new favorite Lindsay Lohan Instagram post in which she combines photos of herself on plates of food. How deliciously creative! Then I talk about the amazing new episode of The Goop Podcast featuring the wrongfully convicted hottie, Amanda Knox. How did this girl hold on to her sanity? Lastly, I touch on my disliking of Kate Middleton's overly highlighted hair. Get back to the salon and fix it, princess! Listen now <3…
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Podcast Radio Business chats to many people about many things - in the dynamic world of business. There is a lot going on, you know. Here you can catch Podcast Radio's podjocks chatting to all sorts of weird and wonderful business personalities about all sorts of weird and wonderful things in business.
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Podcast Radio Business chats to many people about many things - in the dynamic world of business. There is a lot going on, you know. Here you can catch Podcast Radio's podjocks chatting to all sorts of weird and wonderful business personalities about all sorts of weird and wonderful things in business.
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Clare Reynolds, Business Psychologist, Pearn Kandola speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss why URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED TO TACKLE DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NEURODIVERSE WORKERS. A new report released today (Tuesday 16th July 2024) reveals workplaces across the UK are experiencing endemic discrimination of neurodiverse workers, with almost half of employees admitting they’ve experienced discriminatory behaviour towards neurodiverse colleagues. It is thought that about 15 to 20 percent of the world's population is neurodivergent, a general term which includes conditions such as Autism, ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. The Neurodiversity At Work (2024) report by Pearn Kandola, a business psychology consultants, found when job hunting, the barriers neurodiverse candidates face were “bias and negative attitudes” from employers, based on neurotypical assumptions and employers not offering or making reasonable adjustments. KEY FINDINGS AT A GLANCE: Almost half of employees (46%) have experienced discriminatory behaviour towards neurodiverse colleagues Six in ten (63%) neurodiverse employees mask their condition from colleagues, and more than two in five (42%) admit to feelinguncomfortable asking their employer for adjustments to accommodate their neurodiverse traits Six in Ten managers in the workplace have never had any training on how to manage colleague with neurodiversity When they were able to navigate the job application and interview process, many found the workplace a hostile environment, with 6 in ten (63%) neurodiverse employees revealing they masked their condition from colleagues – hiding their discomfort or emotions - and more than two in five (42%) admitting they were uncomfortable asking their employer for adjustments to accommodate their neurodiverse traits. Training was also lacking with seven in ten (70%) workers in the UK believing businesses do not do enough to accommodate people with invisible disabilities – such as providing visual aids to help people with dyslexia. Of those surveyed who manage staff at work (45%), six in 10 had never had any training on how to manage colleagues with neurodiversity. Clare Reynolds is a Business Psychologist at Pearn Kandola who contributed to the report, and discusses the findings, and the importance of tackling inequality for neurodiverse workers and what more needs to be done.…
Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss why 50% OF UK BUSINESS FOUNDERS FEAR THEY WILL NOT SURVIVE 12 MONTHS Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) make up 99% of businesses in the UK, supporting 27 million jobs across the country and collectively account for £4.5 trillion in annual turnover. Recognising their pivotal role in the UK economy, the former government made 2024 the “Year of the SME” to highlight their plight and tackle the key issues they face. But now, new research has revealed that half (50%) of founders are concerned that their venture will not survive the next 12 months, versus only 11% having the same concerns last year. That’s according to the new Founder Barometer report from Virgin StartUp, which has revealed that the cost-of-living crisis (52%) is the biggest challenge they face today. This explains why, from this new government, they would most like to see: Business rates scrapped (33%) Greater support for businesses and regions outside London (32%) A cut in corporation tax (26%) The facilitation of greater access to capital (23%). When it comes to mentorship, more than one in 10 (13%) say the most valuable advice comes from fellow founders/peers, and 11% from online communities – with almost one in five (19%) having experienced a eureka moment after engaging with them. Meanwhile, 16% say spending time with fellow founders has improved their mental health, while 17% have received expert knowledge and information from their communities. Andy Fishburn, Managing Director at Virgin StartUp, Virgin’s not-for-profit home of entrepreneurship, which Richard Branson launched in 2013, discusses the need for continuous support as well as funding to founders, and what they can gain from better engaging with each other to celebrate the launch of the Virgin StartUp Community Platform.…
Andreas Munk Holm , Co-Founder of EU VC speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss The Rise of European Venture Capital Andreas is one of the co-founders of EUVC where he acts as podcast host and Europe’s LP hypeman. He runs content & marketing for EUVC where he works tirelessly to champion and connect the European VC ecosystem. Andreas started his career in venture right after school, helping build his university’s incubator to then join a local pre-seed fund focusing on bridging the valley of death for deep tech startups. Since then, Andreas has co-authored a book on the soft issues of family business succession and helped emerging managers build their first funds, first as an advisor and now institutionalised via EUVC. Listen to the EU VC podcast on Apple | Spotify | eu.vc Pre-register for the State of European VC Fundraising…
Sara Davies MBE, Entrepreneur & Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio to discuss her new role as Avon UK's Chief Inspiration Officer Entrepreneur, founder of Crafter’s Companion and business investor Sara Davies has been appointed as Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer. Avon research reveals nearly a third of British women face barriers when starting their own business including knowing how to access finance, not knowing where to start, as well as lack of confidence Being an Avon Rep enables women to work flexibly and gives them the tools and opportunity to run their own business as well as the potential to become a Leader and coach a team of Reps Beauty brand Avon UK has appointed prolific entrepreneur and businesswoman Sara Davies MBE as its Chief Inspiration Officer. The role will see Sara help more women run and build their own successful business and she will host inspiring masterclasses to coach and mentor Avon Reps while offering tailored advice on how to be their own boss, grow their businesses and lead a team. Sara’s appointment comes as Avon research shows various factors deter many women from starting their own business. The research reveals a third (33%) of women in the UK believe setting up their own business is in favour of men and just under a quarter (23%) feel they have fewer choices than men when it comes to starting their own business. While there is appetite to change working circumstances, many women continue to face obstacles to achieving their goals. Nearly a third (31%) of women say there are barriers to them starting their own business including money/finance (53%), not knowing where to start (40%), lack of confidence (39%), fear of failure (37%) and lack of knowledge of the market (33%). Sara Davies, Avon UK’s Chief Inspiration Officer, said: “I am thrilled to join Avon UK as its first Chief Inspiration Officer. “It’s a brilliant opportunity to work with new and existing Avon Reps who have the hunger to build and run their own business, on their own terms. “The research reflects so many of the barriers I came up against when starting up my own business. “I know that it still impacts women today, who have that drive, but face the same issues. “I have always been passionate about entrepreneurship and helping people to realise their ambitions so having the opportunity to share my own knowledge and experience to inspire others is incredibly exciting.” Sara’s top tips for building your own business and motivating a team: Have a plan, set your goals and put them on paper: writing down what you want to achieve helps you to stick to your plans and hold yourself accountable. Do your research: ensure that you feel a connection to the brand and what they stand for. This will make promoting your business feel natural. Build a personal brand: give customers the chance to buy into you, not just the products you sell. Use your support network : reach out to those around you for advice and be loud and proud when something goes well for you. Lead from the front: as your business grows your team will increasingly look to you for inspiration and motivation. Successful leadership doesn’t come from what you do occasionally but from what you do consistently. Tailor your leadership style : listen to what each individual team member needs to support their growth and development as you recruit new talent. If someone has done a good job, tell them and share with your community. This will inspire and motivate others. Sara added : “ The world of work has changed. The rigid 9-to-5, which is notoriouslydifficult for mums, has been replaced by more flexible work, offering women the option to put the hours in whenever suits them. “The country is filled with women from all walks of life, who have amazing entrepreneurial spirit and ambition. “So, unlocking all this potential should benefit them and beyond, it would be such a boost for business and the wider economy.” Sara began her own entrepreneurship journey while at university after being introduced to the world of crafting. After discovering a gap in the market Sara founded Crafter's Companion in 2005, now a global retailer and multimillion pound company. In 2019, she joined the panel on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, becoming the programme’s youngest female investor. One of Sara’s greatest passions is helping women in business achieve their dreams and she has already inspired and empowered hundreds of Avon Reps across the country. About the research The research was conducted by Censuswide with 1,000 women across the UK. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of The British Polling Council.…
Jonathan Watts-Lay, of WEALTH at work speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY GROWING NUMBERS 'WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO RETIRE'. The number of people in full-time employment who believe they will never be able to afford to retire because of the impact of the rising cost of living is on the rise, with two fifths (39%) of workers claiming they will never be able to afford to stop working, up from one in three (33%) twelve months ago. Those aged 35-44 years old are the age group most likely to believe they will be able to afford to retire, with almost half of workers (46%) thinking this. Whilst rising costs have affected every generation, this age group have had less time to build up savings and could be feeling particularly squeezed with managing high childcare and property costs. Not only this, many of them may not have benefited from a full working life of automatic enrolment, and are less likely to reach retirement with generous defined benefit (or final salary) pensions than some older generations. The figures from WEALTH at work also show that rising costs also mean that almost a third (32%) will look to delay retirement, up from a fifth (21%) this time last year. Eight in ten (81%) are also concerned that it means they will be less comfortable in retirement due to a shortfall in savings, with the same amount (81%) saying they are concerned they will have to work longer to make up for the shortfall. With the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommending interest rates in the UK should be cut to 3.5% by the end of next year, down from their current level at 5.25%, and with the British Retail Consortium last month announcing the rate of prices in UK shops is returning to ‘normal levels’, the affordability outlook is at least looking a little brighter for people. Jonathan Watts-Lay, from financial wellbeing and retirement specialists, WEALTH shares his thoughts on how to balance your finances to make retirement both realistic and comfortable. Also, with 41% feeling unsupported by the workplace, he will discuss the valuable ways many employers are helping staff gain control of their financial future. RESEARCH INFORMATION: This year’s research was conducted by Opinion Matters between 22/05/24 and 23/05/24. 2,019 UK adults aged 22+ in full-time employment were surveyed. Last year’s research was also carried out by Opinion Matters between 13/4/23 and 17/04/23. 2,025 UK adults aged 22+ in full time employment were surveyed.…
John D’Arcy, Director, The Open University in Ireland & Northern Ireland speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY BUSINESSES LACK CONFIDENCE TO INTEGRATE AI & GREEN TECH BECAUSE OF UK SKILLS SHORTAGE. More than three in five (62%) organisations in the UK continue to struggle with skills gaps, resulting in 64% lacking the confidence to integrate either AI or green technologies – crucial to growth and sustainability for businesses and the wider economy. That’s according to data from the latest Business Barometer by The Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce, which reveals skills shortages remain a major issue across sectors and regions in all four nations. Despite this, less than one in five (19%) organisations have implemented a written skills plan for their workforce, hindering the ability to strategically address these issues and prepare for future demands. More than two-thirds (68%) of employers say shortages have increased the workload of their employees – impacting morale and wellbeing – a clear indicator that they need a strategic, inclusive skills plan to develop talent to fill key gaps. Organisations recognise this, with 39% intending to use mentoring or coaching and 35% intending to use short courses within the next twelve months, helping to develop skills as well as fostering a supportive learning environment to enhance employee attraction, engagement and retention. Meanwhile, encouragingly, 86% that currently use apprenticeship programmes are expecting to increase or commit to the same number of learners over the next 12 months, highlighting the value placed on apprenticeships as a means of cultivating new talent and addressing specific skill needs. But, while there is a commitment to address the skills shortage from some organisations, the report reveals the majority (63%) still do not have specific initiatives in place for underrepresented groups e.g. young people or those with disabilities, therefore missing out by not widening talent pools to plug their shortages.…
Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer, Together, UK’s largest specialist lender speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss DOES THE UK FACE A CREDIT CRUNCH? Overly cautious banks and a lack of investment breaks and benefits from local and national government threaten investment and growth goals for SMEs across the country. That’s according to new research from specialist lender Together which has revealed, on average, UK SMEs would like to invest £450,000 in their business over the next two years. While many are confident they will be able to achieve this, barriers remain and cast aspersion over plans for growth and expansion, with the biggest ones being: A lack of investment breaks and benefits from local and national government (27%) Overly cautious banks (23%) Difficulty accessing finance for specialist lenders (23%) Meanwhile, with the General Election a month away [in July 2024], SMEs would most like the next Government focus their first six months on introducing policies which prioritise: Reduce energy bills (49%) Increase tax breaks (39%) Improving access to finance (35%) Boost investment in the SME growth sector (33%) Remove red tape around business loan applications (26%) This comes as only 55% admit they think the banking sector is supportive of small businesses, with 73% thinking mainstream banks are being overly cautious about lending. Almost half (46%) believe they do not understand the needs of the average SME applicant, and 55% believe they will have a better chance of fulfilling business objectives if they identify an alternative finance source or provider. Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer at Together, has said the sector will be carefully weighing up Sunak and Starmer’s pledges as it continues to face tough cost and labour challenges. “Given that securing real economic growth will surely be a central plank of all parties’ election promises, we need to see concrete plans for the business community especially when it comes to providing adequate resource and support for SME recovery and future growth. Unlocking access to finance is certainly one element, but fundamentally it will take lenders, developers, and innovative funders to work together and ensure that – whatever the political outcome – that promises are not left empty and that a course is charted which provides in full what’s needed most.” ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: About Together Togetherhas been delivering specialist secured lending for 50 years, using its wealth of expertise and industry knowledgeto consider individual circumstances to find a way to help its customers. All applications are considered on their merits and the product range includes residential mortgages, short-term finance, buy-to-let, commercial and semi-commercial mortgages and loans, auction finance and development funding throughout mainland UK. Based in Cheadle, Cheshire, the company employs more than 750 colleagues and has a loan book of £7 billion. For more information go to https://togethermoney.com/ RESEARCH INFORMATION: Research commissioned by Together and conducted by Opinion Matters between 17 – 21 May 2024 among 1,002 DMS/ Directors of SMEs. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles.…
Kevin Lee-Barker, Senior Finance Strategy & Community Team at Lloyds Banking Group speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY MORE BUSINESSES NEEED TO EMBRACE SKILLS-BASED VOLUNTEERING SCHEMES. Businesses adopting volunteering schemes and programmes for their employees stand to benefit from fostering an engaged and purpose-driven workforce, as well as improving their corporate social responsibility creds. That is according to the Skills Based Volunteering: A Win, Win, Win report from Lloyds Bank Foundation which analyses the mutually beneficial rewards for businesses, workforces, and charities through skilled based volunteering. It found that charities across the UK are calling out for skilled volunteers in finance, strategy and governance to assist them in navigating strategic challenges, access in-demand knowledge and insight, and unlock new connections and networks. Meanwhile, skilled employees that take part can gain invaluable professional development, build confidence and connections, as well as develop transferable skills and provide them the opportunity to gain a better understanding of social issues. To mark National Volunteers Week (3 – 9 June 2024), the report aims to encourage businesses and charities to embrace schemes and initiatives as a conduit for mutual growth that has a huge potential for surrounding communities. Its recommendations include: Offer a variety of skilled volunteering programmes, from one-off virtual opportunities to longer-term ongoing support, as well as one-to-one and group based opportunities. Support corporate employees in translating their skills to a different sector by sharing volunteer experiences and having an onboarding process. Embed support for volunteering into leadership and your organisation’s culture. Maintain an ongoing relationship, as in many cases skilled volunteers support charities beyond the length of a programme. Identify the needs of charities and where volunteers can have the biggest impact.…
Dilly Carter, entrepreneur and TV presenter speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Sun, Sea and Switching Off! 97% of small business owners and local entrepreneurs end up working while on holiday. On average entrepreneurs took 5 days actually ‘off work’ last year. 48% so passionate about growing their business that they find it hard to switch off. Running a business, even as a side hustle, takes plenty of blood, sweat and tears, requiring tonnes of passion. But, it seems many who do, whether as retailers, personal trainers, make-up artists, builders or farmers, are embracing their entrepreneurial spirit a little too much, without really ever taking their foot off the throttle. So dedicated are these entrepreneurs to the daily grind, that they took off only five days in the last year—less than a third of the time claimed by their salaried colleagues, who enjoyed an average of 17 days away from their 9-5. Even when they do finally give themselves time off for a break, 97% still end up working, meaning that they never really switch off, with them putting in on average 3.5 hours a day when they are supposed to be relaxing, nearly half a day! TUI’s research highlights there is a ‘Downtime Deficit’ among a growing number of local entrepreneurs and small business owners, who ignore the temptations of tropical sun and embrace the hustle, doubling down on work. Entrepreneur Dilly Carter offers the benefits of her experience, explaining how she developed her business while also discussing the advantages of time away from the daily grind. There is clearly an appetite for rest and relaxation, with 45% wishing they could take more holiday, 48% seeing their mental health benefit from regular breaks and holidays while 44% notice feeling refreshed after a trip away has a positive effect on their work.…
Dr. Junade Ali, Computer Scientist & Security Expert speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why Your Password Isn't Strong Enough! We are all guilty of using our favourite holiday destination, a pet’s name or our birth year for a memorable password across multiple sites. But this World Password Day (Thursday 2nd May 2024), a Cyber Security Expert is warning that the importance of strong passwords on our devices and online accounts is more important than ever as hackers are targeting multiple accounts of victims due to weak and predictable passwords. 65% of people in the UK admit they are scared about being hacked in the future, with 84% thinking hackers are becoming more inventive. Yet only a fifth of people (20%) are able to correctly identify a secure password over a compromised one which can be cracked by a computer in less than a second, and 20% admit to having just one password for multiple websites and devices. New research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows we are extremely predictable from a scammer’s perspective, with almost half using a significant date (21%) or a pet’s name (20%) as the topic of our passwords. When we do stray away from the predictable, we aren’t putting much thought into it either, with 38% believing replacing letters with numbers e.g. p4$$w0rd is more secure when thinking about a password, with 45% believing it makes them harder to guess. 65% of people think passwords should never be written down, despite advice from cybersecurity experts, and 77% think changing passwords frequently makes them more secure, despite GCHQ recommending against this practice. p4$$w0rd is in dictionaries of common passwords, so it can be cracked in less than a second. If you use the same password for every website and the password is breached from one site, all sites can be compromised without the attacker needing to try any other passwords - this is known as credential stuffing. Cyber Security Expert and Computer Scientist Junade Ali is urging us to take action now with these simple tips to boost our security and keep hackers away: Use randomly generated, long, unique passwords for each website. Enable Two-Factor Authentication where possible. Use a password manager to store your passwords for you and tell you when they have been in a data breach. The threat is ever growing with 40% of 16-24-year-olds (Generation Z) and more than a third (37%) of 25-34-year-olds (Millennials) admitting to being impacted by cybercrime. In fact, even those who haven’t been impacted are being targeted regularly, with a fifth (21%) of people receiving a scam email every day, 73% thinking hackers are becoming harder to detect and 41% admitting they wouldn’t know what to do if they’d been hacked. Junade Ali wants to raise awareness of our common password pitfalls and provide some useful insight to bolster our defences against cyber threats. ABOUT JUNADE ALI: Dr Junade Ali (27) was named the youngest-ever Fellow of the IET in June 2023, and is believed to be the youngest ever Fellow of a professional engineering institution. In order to secure Fellowship, Dr Ali demonstrated personal responsibility for significant technological innovation and independent contributions to original research that have resulted in international recognition. During his career, he invented the technology which allows websites, password managers and web browsers to warn users when their password has been found in a data breach, without the password ever needing to be shared with a third party. This technology has been adopted by companies including Apple and Google. Other contributions have included developing software to help de-escalate cyberwarfare situations (including in relation to North Korea) and conducting research into topics including burnout, wrongdoing and whistleblower retaliation in software engineering. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The research for the IET was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 18/04/2024 to 22/04/2024 amongst a panel resulting in 2,000 National Representative UK (aged 16+) responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
1 FROM DEEPFAKES TO CHATGPT PHISHING, WARNING OVER RISING SCAM THREAT AI POSES | Katie Paxton-Fear 14:25
Katie Paxton-Fear, lecturer in Cybersecurity at Manchester Metropolitan University speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss FROM DEEPFAKES TO CHATGPT PHISHING, WARNING OVER RISING SCAM THREAT AI POSES. With fraudsters scamming more than £1 billion, 48% of us feel more at risk of scams We are being warned about the growing threat Artificial Intelligence (AI) poses to us as it emerges that fraudsters have already scammed more than £1 billion from our bank accounts since the start of the year. Top 3 Scamming Tactics This Year Phishing Emails or Messages (11%) Contact from unknown individuals (11%) Fake Online Shops (8%) Almost half of us (48%) are feeling more at risk of scams as scammers become increasingly sophisticated in how they use advances in technology to overcome the measures financial institutions put in place to protect us. Conventional scams are difficult enough to spot, but AI-based scams are even more dangerous because they are even harder to detect. Deepfakes allow criminals to create seemingly legitimate audio and video, often featuring someone famous, while ChatGPT phishing gives text the tone and coherence of legitimate sources, voice cloning replicates somebody’s tone and language to trick someone else into having a genuine phone conversation, and verification fraud can be used to subvert standard security checks. With these tools ready to use at the scammer's will, a surprising three in five (61%) UK adults are confident they can tell the difference between human and AI-generated communication. Despite us losing on average £83.69 as a result of scams in the last year, with them costing men (£93.48) more than women (£70.22), fewer than a third (30%) of us report the incident to the bank, according to Raisin’s research, with only a quarter notifying the relevant online sales platform, with more than one in four (27%) not reporting the scam at all. This may be due to anemotional cost, with us most likely to feel very angry (28%) and anxious (27%), while 23% develop trust issues. RESEARCH INFORMATION: The research for Raisin was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 23.02.2024 – 26.02.2024 amongst a panel resulting in 2000 UK adults responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
Mike Willians Co-Founder & CEO of Flake Bake speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BAKING THE BIG TIME: PECKHAM BAKERS WIN OVER ALDI BOSSES WITH JAMAICAN FLAKE BAKE PATTIES. An independent, family run wholesale bakery in Peckham, South London, producing authentic Jamaican patties, has landed a life changing contract with supermarket Aldi. The supermarket will stock its Flake Bake Beef patty (99p, 140g) in stores nationwide from today (10th April). Flake Bake produces authentic Jamaican patties, filled with a range of flavours including chicken, lamb, saltfish and vegetables – a Jamaican twist on the beloved British Cornish pasty. Paul Williams, (54) and son Mike (33) of Flake Bake showcased their most popular flavour, Flake Bake Beef patty, as part of Channel 4 series ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing’, now in its second season. Mike and Paul were picked from hundreds of applicants competing for the coveted contract to stock Aldi stores nationwide. From dinners and baked goods to party foods and confectionery, each episode sees hopeful suppliers compete for a space on Aldi’s shelves, before Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, decides on a winner which will appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 stores. Impressing the judges with its standout flavour, Mike and Paul’s Flake Bake Beef patty beat five other hopefuls, including the world’s first bowler hat shaped bread, an edible cookie dough range, an award-winning brioche bun and an allergen free gooseberry and elderflower whoopie pie. Bursting with Caribbean flavours, the Flake Bake patties come with a spicy ground beef filling, wrapped in a flaky pastry crust. Julie was blown away with the taste and flakiness of the pastry, but with no packaging, a production line falling short of Julie’s minimum order and a shelf life of just five days, the father and son duo needed to scale up production and make changes to the recipe, without changing the flavour of the patty, to win the order. Mike and Paul got to work addressing Julie’s feedback, enlisting the help of a food scientist who suggested the addition of garlic, a natural flavour enhancer that preserves the life of food with its powerful antioxidant properties. Having successfully doubled the shelf life to meet Julie’s quota, the pair then sought the help of Mike’s uncle, Lavar, a graphic designer, to create a shelf-ready and eye-catching, individual packaging design. Returning to Aldi Headquarters, Mike and Paul wowed with their new look Flake Bake Beef patties, presented in individually wrapped packs.The judges were delighted with the changes made, agreeing the flavour was just as delicious as the first batch, and the duo successfully secured an order to supply over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide. The father and son duo pride themselves on the bakery’s origins and its dedicated workforce, who hand craft every element of their patties. Producing thousands of patties a week, Flake Bake also has social responsibility and community values baked into its core. Working with local charity, Leaders of Tomorrow UK as well as local schools, it provides work placements for students at its factory. Most notably, the family business trained and mentored BBC Young Master Chef contestant, Jaheel John, then just 15 years old. Jaheel is now an Assistant Manager at a major British restaurant, at the tender age of 19. Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “You can’t help but fall in love with Paul and Mike, and their product tastes beautiful. It’s clear how much care goes into making the product. The pastry is unbelievable, every part of it is delicious – I just love it!” Mike Williams, Co-Owner of Flake Bake, says: “We have an incredible team, they’ve been making patties for a long time, some of them before I was born, so they really know what they’re doing. We’ve worked so hard for the last ten years and this feels like the ultimate dream. It’s a lifetime achievement .” Paul Williams, Co-Owner of Flake Bake, says: “I cannot explain how happy I am right now. I am very proud of my son, without him, it couldn’t have happened.” The multi-category competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores.The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website, which includes a wide selection of groceries from meat to dairy products and everyday essentials, in a bid to help shoppers support British businesses. Mike and Paul’s Flake Bake Beef patty (99p, 140g) is available in stores now. But shoppers need to get in quick for a chance to try, as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone! Aldi’s Next Big Thing airs on Channel 4, every Tuesday at 8pm until 7th May.…
Chris Bavin speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Aldi's Next Big Thing Supermarket Aldi will consider selling a ‘Stormzy approved’ Short Rib Mac & Cheese in the new series of Aldi’s Next Big Thing . The six-part prime time show, which kicks off again on Tuesday 2nd April with the ‘dinner’ episode, sees artisan suppliers pitch to win a life-changing contract and have their product land on shelves in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide. Viewers will see chef to the stars, ‘Chef Vickz’ pitch client Stormzy’s favourite to Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, Julie Ashfield. Chef Vickz, from South-East London, has been a personal chef to Stormzy, amongst other clients, for six years, since qualifying in Patisserie and Confectionary at the University of West London. She says: “Stormzy was looking for a chef and I got put forward, that's how it all started… This Mac & Cheese is his favourite dish.“It’s special as it’s made with short rib, which has been slow roasted for a very long time.“It would be the opportunity of a lifetime to have my product in Aldi, I want to be able to cook for thousands.” Multi award-winning rapper and singer-songwriter Stormzy will send his well wishes to the chef via a cameo on the show: “Vick we’re rooting for you, we love you, you’re the best. Hurry up and get back…I’m hungry!” On the first show in the series, Chef Vickz will be pitching her dinner time treat against other creations including: Halal Wagyu Pastrami from the Malik Butchers Pasta Bombs from the Stonehouse Smokery Rainbow Burgers from Leonati Catering Vegan Toad in the Hole from Mabel’s Foods Crabululous Crabcakes from The Fabulous Catch Company Hosts, broadcaster and author, Anita Rani and Chris Bavin, of BBC’s The One Show and Eat Well for Less , are joined by Aldi boss Julie, who deliberates on taste, affordability and scalability, before deciding if the celebrity-approved dish will make it into the final two. Finalists then have four weeks to work on Julie’s feedback, before returning to Aldi with their new and improved products, to learn who has won the biggest contract of their lives. The winning product will then appear as a Specialbuy in over 1,000 Aldi stores nationwide on Wednesday 3rd April. Anita Rani, says: “For these small food and drink businesses, winning a contract with Aldi is a potentially life changing opportunity.“Seeing products go from a prototype to supermarket shelves, in just a few months and finding out the stories behind them, has been a really special experience.“I’m excited to see viewers’ reactions - I'm sure everyone will love the winning products just as much as we do.” Chris Bavin, says: “As an ex-greengrocer, I know only too well the ups and downs of running your own business.“It’s inspiring seeing such an incredible mix of homegrown food and drink suppliers and heartening to know they’re getting the recognition they deserve, by one of the UK’s largest retailers.“I can’t wait for viewers to discover the winning products for themselves!”…
Duncan Goose, Founder of One Water & The One Foundation speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss TACKLING THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS About 1.8 billion people are predicted to be facing absolute water scarcity by 2025, according to the United Nations, with two-thirds of the global population expected to be grappling with water “stress” 1. 703 million people in the world lack access to safe, clean drinking water 2. including 115 million who still collect water to drink from rivers, lakes, and other surface water services. These people survive on as little as five litres of water a day for all their needs, whereas we use in the region of 150 litres of water each day, with one toilet flush typically using at least five litres itself. Lack of access to safe water leaves families in some of the most exposed and vulnerable areas on the planet trapped in poverty, forcing them to spend up to four hours a day collecting water at the expense of working or attending school or earning a livelihood. Tragically, more than 1,000 children aged under five die each day from illnesses caused by unsafe water and sanitation 3.Entrepreneur Duncan Goose, founder of One Water and The One Foundation, is available on World Water Day (FRIDAY 22nd MARCH), a designated United Nations observance day which inspires action to tackle the global water crisis, to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation. He has been able to make a difference with The One Foundation, changing the lives of more than five million people in the most water-stressed areas of the world, having raised £30 million. Goose, a marketing executive who returned from a two-year motorcycle adventure around the world, started One Water in 2004 with the aim of raising enough funds to change one person’s life. The rise of climate related disasters such as floods and droughts disrupt precipitation patterns and the entire water cycle. This is something Founder Duncan Goose witnessed first-hand during his travels through Honduras in October 1998 as Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest tropical cyclones on record, caused devastation across the Atlantic coast. One Water together with its partner, the One Foundation, offers solutions to combat these challenges. Almost 20 years on the multi-million-pound fundraising milestone, achieved through sales of One Water and donations to The One Foundation, has helped to fund crucial programmes in the most water-stressed areas of the world, focusing on Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. Duncan Goose, founder of One Water and The One Foundation, is available to talk about his journey and helping to change five million lives, raising £30 million, over the last two decades. FOOTNOTES: 1.By 2025, 1.8 billion people are likely to face what the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calls “ absolute water scarcity ” and two-thirds of the global population is expected to be grappling with water stress https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/shortages-mount-countries-hunt-novel-sources-water 2 . 703 million people in the world lack access to safe, clean drinking water https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/global-water-crisis-facts#:~:text=703%20million%20people%20lack%20access,haul%2040%20pounds%20of%20water.- 3. More than 1,000 children aged under five die each day from illnesses caused by unsafe water and sanitation https://www.unicef.org.uk/press-releases/a-triple-threat-of-water-related-crises-is-endangering-the-lives-of-190-million-children-unicef/#:~:text=Globally%2C%20more%20than%201%2C000%20children,to%20climate%20and%20environmental%20threats . ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT ONE AND THE ONE FOUNDATION: ONE IS A LIFE-CHANGING BRAND www.onewater.org.uk/about-us/ One funds clean water projects in areas that need it most. So far, we have helped The One Foundation raise over £20 million, changing the lives of over 4 million people. One Water was launched with a simple vision: to sell bottled water in the UK to fund water projects across the world. The name One represents the idea that you can’t change a billion people’s lives, but if you can change just One that’s a definition of success. Select bottles of One’s water are currently available in Starbucks, Co-op, World Duty Free, Whole Foods Market, Holland & Barrett, other major wholesalers including Bidfood and Brakes or can be purchased directly through One Water’s website. THE ONE FOUNDATION https://theonefoundation.org.uk/ Our mission is to support sustainable water and sanitation services to change lives in some of the world’s poorest communities. We work in both rural and urban environments, varying our approach to meet local needs and focusing on providing clean water and sanitation as a sustainable service for all 703 million people in the world do not have access to clean water. Water is essential for life, yet millions of people around the world are still living without access to safe drinking water with more than 1,000 children aged under five dying each day from illnesses caused by water-related diseases and poor sanitation. Lack of access to safe water leaves families trapped in poverty, as they are forced to spend up to 4 hours a day collecting water at the expense of working or attending school.…
Wendy McMillan, Partner of Waterland Private Equity speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BOOSTING FEMALE-FOUNDED BUSINESSES via Private Equity. Wendy McMillan, Partner at Waterland Private Equity, talks about recent initiatives announced by the UK government to unlock and boost private investment in female-founded businesses? Wendy, who herself was a female entrepreneur and CEO, and has experience as a VC and consultant to private equity, joined the European private equity investment group Waterland(€14BN AUM) in January 2024. Wendy was keen to discuss: 1.How the Invest in Women Taskforce and other similar initiatives are crucial to helping scale female-founded businesses, but that support from private capital is key in helping them to progress them beyond the early stages. 2.The role private equity currently plays in supporting female-founded SMBs to build and expand internationally – and how private equity must do more to by providing partnership, empathy and expertise which are all equally important for long-term sustainable success. 3.How diversity in background, experience, and gender can generate greater diversity in ideas and innovations which ultimately build into successful businesses, solving more problems and catering to a broader consumer base.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Scott Manson, Director of Cyber Security at CISCO UK & I speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why 73% OF BUSINESSES EXPECT TO BE AFFECTED BY CYBERATTACK IN NEXT 2 YEARS Last week, Britain’s AI minster urged UK businesses to “step up” their cybersecurity in response to growing challenges and risks,noting the UK is second-most attacked country in Europe behind Ukraine. Today, data from cybersecurity leader Cisco has revealed 54% of UK businesses experienced a cyberattack in the last 12 months,while 70% believe an incident will disrupt operations within the next 12 – 24 months. Meanwhile,analysis of cybersecurity protections – based on five core pillars: Identity Intelligence, Machine Trustworthiness,Network Resilience, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification – has determined only 2% have security measures rated ‘mature’ to remain resilient. Similarly, despite many acknowledging the impact AI is having for both defenders and attackers, only 5% are rated ‘mature’ specifically on AI Fortification, with more than half yet to have deployed any AI into their security. Despite this, 78% feel very or moderately confident in their ability to stay resilient against the evolving threat landscape, which is seeing supply chains attacked, social engineering used to compromise networks, and criminals increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in common applications. This overconfidence could stem from the fact 91% have increased their cybersecurity budgets over the last few years, and the majority expect they will grow further. Cisco believes UK firms are not properly assessing the true scale of the challenges they face. To improve readiness to face future threats, Cisco recommends UK businesses: 1.Continueto accelerate investment in protective cybersecurity measures across the board, and adopt a ‘platform’ approach to ensure solutions can be effectively leveraged 2.Urgently assess and close vulnerability gaps created by unmanaged devices and unsecured WiFi networks 3.Keep abreast of the latest developments in Generative AI technology and use them to enhance security programs and operational resilience 4.Ramp up recruitment to close security talent gaps and avoid more costly downstream consequences. 5.Establish a company baseline of how ‘ready’ you are across the five major security pillars ABOUT CISCO: Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals. Discover more on The Newsroom and follow us on X at @Cisco. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. ABOUT THE 2024 CISCO CYBERSECURITY READINESS INDEX: The 2024 Cisco Cybersecurity Readiness Index is based on a double-blind survey of 8,136 private sector business leaders who have cybersecurity responsibilities in their organizations. The organizations cover 30 territories in North America, Latin America, EMEA and Asia Pacific: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA, and Vietnam. We looked at 31 different solutions across the five core pillars of cybersecurity protection: Identity Intelligence,Machine Trustworthiness, Network Resilience, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification. Respondents were asked to indicate which of these they had deployed, the stage of deployment, and if these solutions were not already deployed then what budgets had been approved, and the intended timeline of deployment. Each solution was assigned individual weightings based on its relative importance in helping safeguard the applicable pillar. The scores for each organization were then derived based on the stage of deployment of various solutions under each of the five pillars, with partially deployed solutions assigned a 50% weighting and fully deployed solutions weighted at 100%. The scores for each pillar are then combined and weighted to arrive at an overall cybersecurity readiness score for each organization. The importance of each pillar was weighted as Identity Intelligence (25%); Network Resilience (25%); Machine Trustworthiness (20%); Cloud Reinforcement (15%); and AI Fortification (15%). The respondents are drawn from 18 industries: business services; construction; education; engineering, design, architecture; financial services; healthcare; manufacturing; media and communications; natural resources; personal care and services; real estate; restaurant services; retail; technology services; transportation; travel services; wholesale; and ‘others.’ The research was carried out in January and February 2024 using online interviews. REFERENCES: 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cyber-security-longitudinal-survey-wave-three-results/cyber-security-longitudinal-survey-wave-three…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Luke Broad from Dacia UK speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss HOW TO SOLVE THE UK’S EV AFFORDABILITY PROBLEM Latest figures show EV rollout in the UK is being driven by fleets and firms, with private buyers accounting for less than 1 in 5 EV purchases1. This is largely because of the success of incentives such as the Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (ECSSS) – which uses earnings before tax to fund repayments on an electric car – and has seen usage grow 68% year-on-year2. Schemes like these support businesses, which support employees and advance the overall EV rollout, as research shows 74% of UK drivers want to buy an EV but think they are too expensive. As Dacia brings its all-new Spring – widely known as Europe’s most affordable EV – to the UK, it poses the question; who should foot the bill? In the UK, high cost is the biggest barrier to owning an electric vehicle. More than three in four (74%) drivers say they would like to purchase one, but they are too expensive. However, tackle that problem and more appear, as two thirds (66%) say the associated costs are too high, while 56% say their local area lacks the charging infrastructure needed to own and operate an EV. This leaves 25% feeling it is unlikely they will own an EV by the 2035 deadline set out in the government’s zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate, while 45% say it is unlikely they will purchase an EV as their next car. Offering the best value for money on the market, car brand Dacia is tackling the first and largest barrier by bringing Europe’s most affordable electric vehicle to the UK later this year. About Dacia Born in 1968, then relaunched by Renault Group from 2004 across Europe and Mediterranean countries, Dacia has always offered the best value for money cars by constantly redefining the essentials. As a game-changer, Dacia proposes simple, multi-purpose, reliable cars in tune with customers’ lifestyles. Dacia models have become a reference on the market, including Sandero , the best-selling retail car in Europe each year since 2017; Duster , the best-selling SUV to European private customers since 2018; and Jogger , the C-segment versatile family car. Present in 44 countries, Dacia has sold more than 8 million vehicles since 2004. Dacia launched in the UK in January 2013 and enjoyed the most successful start ever for a new car brand in the UK. More than 270,000 Dacia vehicles have been sold in the UK to date.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Anthony Hamer-Hodges, Principal at the London College of Contemporary Music speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Are Independent Artists Taking Over The Brits? Ahead of Raye’s incredible success at the Brit Awards, which this year saw her receive a record-breaking seven nominations & win an amazing six awards, it’s important to take note of how being an independent artist has changed in recent years. In fact, according to data from Spotify, independent artists have contributed $4.5 bn to the Spotify payout. RAYE has been an independent artist since 2021 following seven years under a record deal with Polydor Records, and since becoming independent has had a No 1 single, performed at Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall. 2023 saw women dominate the UK charts, with women spending 31 weeks on top of the UK singles chart, and accounted for a record seven of the year’s 10 biggest singles. We also discuss: Beyonce, Berry Gordy,Record Company Contracts, Record Company Influence, How independent Artists Survive ,The Future of The Industry & LCCM…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Delphine Helin (International Retail Services & Beauty Tech Director) & Juleah Love (Global Head of Brand Corporate Engagement) from YSL Beauty speak to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Tech Innovation at YSL beauty & why Abuse Is Not Love Delphine Helin held various positions such as Business Development Director for Ralph Lauren fragrances, Lancôme Retail Education Director and Lancôme Brand Director for Latin America. She has developed an ability to work in multicultural and highly volatile environments with a constant drive to understand the consumer tensions and elevate their experience. Delphine has become a specialist of omnichannel retail. She is a growing voice within Women in tech, with speeches at Vivatech and Tech for Retail. Her innovative and transformative spirit is a driving force for her to continue crafting disruptive and purposeful beauty tech services, augmenting Beauty Advisors expertise and offering consumers unique and personalized beauty experiences. Juleah Love is the Global Head of Brand Corporate Engagement at YSL Beauty leading all corporate & sustainability communication, as well as social and environment impact programs at the international level. She has been recognized for her work spearheading the creation, launch, and development of Abuse Is Not Love, a global program to prevent IPV with non-profit partnerships. A public speaker, Juleah is the official spokesperson for the program reaching international audiences of over 23M people across 27 countries and has notably co-authored a paper on IPV in the workplace published in the Harvard Business Review. She was invited to the White House, UK Parliament, Embassies, conferences, and podcasts on her work on engaging corporates in the fight against domestic abuse.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Simon Press, Senior Portfolio Director of Euro Tech Portfolio of events at Closerstill Media , speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Tech Show London 2024 Over the past couple of years, Simon Press, the Senior Portfolio Director overseeing the Euro Tech Portfolio of events at Closerstill Media, has been on a mission to amplify the impact of tech events. These events include Tech Show Paris, Tech Show Frankfurt, and Tech Show London, which has firmly established itself as a trusted name in the industry. Tech Show London has consistently delivered exceptional gatherings that address the ever-evolving needs of the tech community. It serves as a go-to platform for innovation, knowledge-sharing, and valuable networking opportunities across various sectors, including Retail, Travel, and Hospitality. www.techshowlondon.co.uk…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Andy Caddy, Group Chief Information Officer at PureGym speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Change at the speed of Gen-AI Andy joined PureGym as Group Chief Information Officer in June 2022 taking on responsibility for Digital Strategy, Digital Product and Technology across the group. Andy had spent time in technology leadership positions at a number of companies including Group CTO at Whitbread (Premier Inn and Costa Coffee), Group CIO for Virgin Active and various roles at easyJet including CTO where he delivered their award winning mobile app and one of the busiest eCommerce sites in Europe. Previous companies include Cable & Wireless, NatWest Group and Argos. Andy has also been a non-executive director, investor and regular speaker on the changing roles of CIO and inspiring a modern technology workforce.…
Piers Linney, Executive Chairman & Co‑Founder of Implement AI speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss AI & the future of Tech in SME Businesses Piers Linney, Executive Chairman & Co‑Founder of Implement AI, is an entrepreneur, investor, and former Dragon on the prime-time BBC show Dragons’ Den. With a background in law and investment banking, Piers has established himself as a leading figure inthe UK business world, particularly in the technology sector. He has sat on the board of Nesta, the £600m innovation foundation, and British Business Bank during the roll-out of £90bn of Covid support. Piers is also an advocate for diversity in business and sits on Sky’s Diversity Advisory Council. He has also sat on the boards of the UK Cloud Industry Forum and TechUK. Piers is the co-founder of Implement AI which is focused on helping SME's unlock the power of AI.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 Tech Show 2024 | Flavilla Fongang - Founder, Global Tech Advocates, Black Women in Tech & Black Rise 11:46
Flavilla Fongang, Founder of Global Tech Advocates, Black Women in Tech and Black Rise speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Leveraging Diversity, Creating Networks & empowering Growth Flavilla Fongang is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur who started her career in oil & gas, then fashion and she influenced the technology sector. She is now an international and multilingual keynote speaker (English & French). Computer Weekly named her the number 1, most influential woman in tech in the UK among a list of more than 600 women in tech nationwide. She is the founder of Black Rise, the first business platform dedicated to connecting the business world to talented, skilled and experienced black professionals and businesses. She is a neuroscience brand expert covering strategy, design, marketing and customer experience. She is the founder of 3 Colours Rule, an award-winning branding and marketing agency. Mercedes Benz awarded Flavilla the “She’s Mercedes” businesswoman award among women such as Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. She is the author of “99 Strategies to get customers”. She is also the founder of Global Tech Advocates – Black Women in Tech, the 1st largest organisation of black professional women in tech. She published since October 2021, an annual book “The Voices In The Shadow”. A book that features stories of black women in tech and is distributed to secondary schools for FREE across the UK and Ireland. The books are now also archived at The British Library to protect their legacy. She is the enabler and is never afraid to challenge the norms. She is an Entrepreneurship Expert with the Entrepreneurship Centre for Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She has been a keynote speaker for the most prestigious international events, such as AdWeek, HubSpot, DMWF, MozCon, AdWorld, Upgrade100, CTA, MarTech and many more. She has also delivered corporate talks for the following companies: Meta, Toyota, Zoom, Levi’s, Microsoft, Deloitte, Amazon, HSBC and many more.…
Riffat Tufail, Customer Vulnerability Expert of Phoenix speaks to Clayton M.Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss THE ‘CUSTOMER VULNERABILITY’ EPIDEMIC ISSUE GROWING IN SCALE THAT URGENTLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED What is customer vulnerability? The Financial Conduct Authority’s definition is someone who, due to their personal circumstances, is especially susceptible to harm, particularly when a business is not acting with appropriate levels of care. The impact of stress and poor mental health on decision making is well known, with researchers1 finding that having a scarcity mindset, or a feeling of not having enough money, can be the equivalent of going without seven hours of sleep. This can lead to more impulsive decisions, difficulty understanding information, and ultimately, poor customer outcomes if businesses do not intervene with help and support. One in four UK adults say looking after their money has caused them to lose sleep, and 23% believe money has contributed towards their poor mental health, according to recent analysis from Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group. It also has a detrimental impact on people’s long-term financial futures, with 59% of people saying current pressures are making them worry about what their future might look like. Companies often speak to people when they are at their most vulnerable and worried, so we have a real responsibility to get to know and understand our customers' individual needs. About Phoenix Group Phoenix Group is the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business with £259 billion of assets under administration. As life expectancy continues to increase and the pension landscape continues to shift, we offer our 12 million customers a broad range of pensions, savings and life insurance products across our family of brands which include Standard Life, SunLife, Phoenix Life and ReAssure. Our vision is to help even more people on their journey to and through retirement, providing the right support at the right time. We are a growing and sustainable business united by a common purpose – helping people secure a life of possibilities. This drives everything we do and means taking responsible and sustainable investment decisions and using our presence and voice to drive forward change for the better, for our customers, our colleagues, and our wider community. A FTSE 100 company, we also feature in the FTSE100 ESG Select Index series and we are playing an active role in helping to invest in a sustainable future. As part of this, we have committed to our operations being net zero carbon by 2025 and for our investment portfolios we have set an interim target of a 50% reduction in the carbon emission intensity of c£250bn by 2030, as we progress towards our portfolios being net zero carbon by 2050 or sooner. We have been recognised as a leading employer for many years. We are accredited as a Living Wage Employer, Living Pension Employer and as a Carer Positive Exemplary Employer for offering the best support to colleagues who are carers.…
Joanna Zhou, China Commercial Manager of Holland & Barrett speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why UK EXPORTS TO CHINA ARE ON THE RISE UK exports to China increased by 54% between 2019 and 2022, according to Alibaba data which shows across 27 European countries sales via its platforms soared by a third to about €32.3 billion (£27.57 billion), highlighting demand for the good but also highlighting the growing role of digital platforms in enabling cross-border opportunities for businesses around the globe. Almost two fifths (38%) of the gross merchandise value of goods exported was led by beauty, perfumes, personal care and make-up products, ahead of textiles and apparel (31%), food and beverages (8%), and furniture and other manufactured goods (7%) and in addition to driving growth for individual businesses, exports have been a major contributor to economic growth across Europe with these exports to China through Alibaba’s platforms contributing about £59.75 billion to the GDP of the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, while enabling the creation of more than 205,965 jobs - in excess of £956 million in estimated tax revenue was collected through sales on Alibaba’s platforms in 2022, up from £606 million in 2019 with additionally, the estimated number of UK people employed by businesses selling on Alibaba’s platforms rising from 24,006 in 2019 to more than 33,357 in 2022. Joanna Zhou has been responsible for the launch and operations of Holland & Barrett’s cross-border Ecommerce business in China since 2021. Her knowledge of China, expertise in digital marketing and understanding of Chinese consumers have steered the business to grow exponentially: delighting customers, exceeding the expectations of partners, and reaching substantial milestones. Joanna is responsible for delivering Holland & Barrett’s trading strategy to thrive in the cross-border e-commerce environment, leveraging key e-commerce platforms including Tmall. She has repositioned Holland & Barrett as a leading UK health and wellness consumer brand to provide a proposition perfect for China’s growing demographic of health-conscious young consumers.…
Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive, EngineeringUK speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss ‘ENGINEERING’ SUCCESS IN UK ECONOMY This National Careers Week (4th-8th March 2024) young people are being encouraged to consider engineering as a career path, as a new report finds almost 7 in 10 (68%) engineering and technology graduates are in paid work in the engineering sector, earning more on average than those in other occupations. The report from EngineeringUK also shows an engineering and technology degree brings graduates positive job prospects specifically relevantto their degrees, highlighting the importance of choosing your degree carefully. Almost three quarters (73%) of engineering students went on to work in paid employment, compared to 70% of all other subjects combined, an increase compared to last year. With an average salary of between £25,000 and £30,000 or higher for a graduate role, they also tend to be paid better than graduates from other degree subjects. It seems the job role is increasing in popularity, ranking second only to ‘Doctor’ in the top 10 desirable jobs for teenagers, according to separate research carried out by BBC Bitesize. Engineering graduates are also available to share their story and why an engineering degree is a successful career path into the industry. About EngineeringUK: We are a not-for-profit organisation that drives change so more young people choose engineering and technology careers. There aren't enough people working in engineering and technology and demand is going up. So, we need more young people to realise there could be a future for them in those careers. Many of them don't understand what the opportunities are and the different ways to get into them. We want to change that. We need a stronger, more representative workforce for engineering and technology to thrive and we have to things differently to make those careers more attractive. We wantmore young people to see engineering and technology could offer them a varied and rewarding career. We are a not-for-profit working with hundreds of organisations so we can all grow the future talent pool together. We need more people and more diversity andwe all have a part to play in achieving that. We can't afford not to work together. At EngineeringUK, we drive that collective effort through research and evidence, leadership, activities for schools and advocacy, with a focus on long-term sustainability…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 MORE THAN JUST A NAME: Nearly A Third Of Adults Have Felt Judged By Their Name | Professor Pragya Agarwal 14:21
Professor Pragya Agarwal, Behavioral Scientist & Professor of Social Inequities and Injustice, Loughborough University speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss MORE THAN JUST A NAME: Why Nearly A Third Of Adults Have Felt Judged By Their Name You’ve likely heard of bias. It’s a phase often used to describe unfair or judgement for an external factor like skin colour, race, gender and religion. But shocking new research reveals its not only these that people are making preconceived judgements on, there is also one type of prejudice that is rarely spoken about. New research conducted by Samsung UK has found that nearly a third of us have felt judged by our name, rising to more than half (53%) of people from minority ethnic backgrounds. Some of the most frequent misconceptions made about the names of those from diverse ethnic backgrounds are related to where they’re from (39%), their cultural heritage (31%), and a false assumption that English isn’t their first language (27%). The issue is leading to drastic steps being taken but some to achieve career goals or feel accepted in society. More than 1 in 10 (12%) of people from minority backgrounds who aren’t white admit to changing their name in a job application or interview in the hope they would progress further in the process. The study also found that 16% said having or using a ‘western-sounding’ name has benefited them; this is felt most acutely by those from Arab descent (21%), followed by the Black community (19%). To address this, Professor of Social Inequities and Injustice, Pragya Agarwal is calling on people in the community and the workplace to take extra care when pronouncing and spelling someone’s name and be aware of the bias they may portraywithout realising. With over a fifth (22%) of people believing promotion of correct name pronunciation and understanding of cultural significance will help to reduce name bias in the workplace. 19% would even like to see anonymous job applications where names are removed from CVs to help alleviate prejudice. Professor Argawal talks about the shocking research, explain how things can improve and explain some of the real world examples facing people across the UK. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones,wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION The research for Samsung was carried out online by Onepoll throughout November 2023 amongst a panel resulting in 2,000 UK adults responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Sarah Casey, Landlord Product Manager at Direct Line Business Insurance speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss: A BMW, casket and pets – the bizarre items left behind by tenants New research from Direct Line business insurance, reveals that almost three quarters (72%) of landlords have had to deal with belongings left by tenants after their tenancy has ended. For those who have been left clearing up after their renters, rubbish was the main headache (63%), followed by general junk (56%), clothes (42%) and kitchenware (38%). Landlords were also asked to share the most unusual items that had been left behind by tenants. Some of the most bizarre things included: Toys (of the sort not designed for children), the ashes of a relative, bottles of wee, a casket, under wear, a BMW and pets, sadly, only some of which were alive. Landlords say they have been forced into action to clear up items left behind by their tenants. Two thirds (66%) say they’ve needed to dispose of an old tenant’s belongings, 25% have had to store belongings and almost a third (32%) have had to chase down ex-tenants to collect their items. Tidying up after tenants have moved out is not cheap; on average, it cost landlords £209 to clear up their tenants’ mess and 12% of respondents reported that they’d spent over £500 on resolving the issue. But that’s not all, more than a third (34%) of landlords say they’ve had to delay getting in new tenants as a result of ex-tenants leaving property behind; and almost a quarter (23%) have had to seek legal advice or take legal action to deal with the problem. There are strict rules relating to what a landlord can and can’t do with property that is left behind by tenants.Yet 32% of landlords surveyed didn’t have a clause in their tenancy agreement relating to the disposal of tenant belongings that have been left behind, and only half (52%) were clear on the correct procedure to follow should this happen. Regional findings The data also revealed wide regional variations: tenants in the North-East are the worst at leaving behind belongings, with 86% of landlords reporting issues, closely followed by London (83%). Conversely, the East of England are the best behaved, with just over half (55 per cent) of landlords reporting issues. For more information about Direct Line's landlord insurance, please visit: https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/landlord-insurance About the Research: Survey conducted for Direct Line for Business by Opinium of 500 UK Landlords between 31st October 2023 – 7th November 2023 About Direct Line business insurance: Launched in 2007 Direct Line business insurance now has over half a million customer policies, providing a flexible range of insurance products for the landlord, van and small business sectors. Direct Line business insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registeredoffice: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Direct Line business insurance and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 RENOVATION, RENOVATION, RENOVATION: WHY LONDONERS ARE RENOVATING OVER RELOCATING | Grant Bates 10:09
Grant Bates, London real estate expert speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why RENOVATION, RENOVATION, RENOVATION: WHY LONDONERS ARE RENOVATING OVER RELOCATING Last month, ONS data revealed London saw the largest fall in average house prices in October, down 3.6%1. Updated figures, out today (Wednesday 17th January), will reveal whether this trend continued for another month. Therefore, it may come as no surprise that homeowners are choosing to renovate over relocate, with 78% saying they would rather invest and improve their home than venture into the real estate market and risk losing value. That’s according to new research from London renovation experts, Beams, which has also found 77% say at least one room in their home needs work this year. This supports the news that London’s pandemic-driven exodus is in reverse, with recent data showing the figure of people leaving the capital has reached its lowest level in nine years2. However, almost two thirds (61%) are unsure which renovations are worth the investment, despite 35% saying added value is the main reason for them wanting to do so. With 47% looking to do-up their bathroom, and 44% their kitchen, the capital’s leading real estate expert, Grant Bates will be available to give advice to boost your valuation. Grant, who almost exclusively deals in the Prime and Super Prime markets across London, has a keen eye for high-end finishes in design-led homes. Grant Bates, London real estate expert With nearly 20 years’ experience, Grant Bates has spent more than half of his highly successful career in property. He primarily focusses on the Prime and Super Prime markets across London, where he has made a name for himself thanks tohis keen eye for design-led homes with high-end finishes. This has also garnered him an impressive and loyal social media following, that is regarded to be the highest of a corporate agent, thanks to his influential house tour videos.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Sean Wilson of Artisan Farm & at Anthony Clarke of AAT speak to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss CRACKING THE CAREER CODE IN 2024: ACTOR SEAN WILSON ON THE FORMULA TO SWITCHING GEARS TO A NEW CAREER This year marks 15 years since actor Sean Wilson founded the Saddleworth Cheese Company (now known as Artisan Farm), after leaving Weatherfield, the fictional home of the soap opera Cornation Street, to pursue his passion as an artisanal cheese maker. His first lesson in this entrepreneurial endeavour – he had to be Gouda maths! Luckily, he pursued his dream with help from a mentor, who helped him navigate the red tape associated when starting a business and venturing into an entirely new field. But this support will not be available to all interested in pursuing a similar venture. And, as new research from the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) reveals: 30% aim to change careers before the year is out. 16% wish to do so and start their own venture or become self-employed. 21% do not know what steps to take to make a career change. Sean appears, alongside Anthony Clarke from the AAT, to share his advice for those considering a career change and promote the benefits of proficiency with numbers when doing so. He will also be able to discuss how, with the UCAS deadline and National Apprenticeship Week fast approaching, there are many routes to achieving a successful career in accountancy – providing support to the 61% of school leavers who said they felt pressure to go to university after leaving school. This comes as a recent analysis by the AAT has revealed that 71% of accountancy apprentices reported a salary increase since beginning their apprenticeships, enabling them to earn close to £60K in the time it would have taken them to accrue an average £50K debt had they decided to go to university! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: About the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) is the UK’s leading qualification and professional body for technical accountants and bookkeepers and has around 130,000 members and students in over 100 countries. We have been helping people enter and develop their skills within the accounting sector for the past 40 years. RESEARCH INFORMATION: Research A for the AAT was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 12.01.2023 – 15.01.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 2,000 nationally representative UK adults (aged 18+) responding. Research B for the AAT was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 12.01.2023 – 15.01.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 500 UK children aged 14 – 18 years old, who are still in school, responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SECTOR ORGANISATIONS URGED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN IMPROVING APPRENTICESHIP SUCCESS RATES | Sarah Dhanda 10:07
Sarah Dhanda, Head of Policy and Partnerships at Enginuity speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why GOVERNMENT AND OTHER SECTOR ORGANISATIONS URGED TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN IMPROVING APPRENTICESHIP SUCCESS RATES With the number of people completing their apprenticeships successfully falling tolittle more than half (53%) within a 12-month period, this National Apprenticeship Week (5th-11th February), the UK’s leading engineering and manufacturing skills charity, is calling on the sector and the government to support small businesses to help improve completion rates. Despite a rise in the number of people starting Apprenticeships , up to 27,800 in 2021/22, the charity Enginuity highlights a 4% fall in completion rates of overall apprenticeships, warning the higher education sector is going to struggle to meet the government’s target rate of 67% achievement, if the situation isn’t tackled. Furthermore, of concern is that the Engineering and Manufacturing achievement rates in England for females, non-white ethnic minorities, and learners with disabilities are consistently lower than their corresponding groups. Enginuity will be conducting new research in partnership with The Engineer magazine to understand why SMEs struggle more than larger employers to attain good apprenticeship achievement rates, identify the key barriers and explore how businesses and apprentices can be better supported. Sarah joined Enginuity (then SEMTA) in October 2018 as Head of Strategic Partnerships following a successful career in the Marine sector, where she worked for many years latterly as Chief Officer of Membership & Services at British Marine, the trade Association for the marine sector. Sarah’s background is in skills and she initially joined British Marine as Director of Training Services to head up their apprenticeship & qualifications development activity. Prior to joining British Marine, Sarah worked at City & Guilds where she was the Sector Manager for IT and Business qualifications. Sarah is responsible for Enginuity’s work on Standards and Frameworks, as well as taking the lead on Enginuity Policy work across the 4 Nations and working with regional and local stakeholders. One of her key objectives is the sharing of knowledge and good practice across sectors to ensure connectivity on key skills and workforce development challenges. The Enginuity group is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for engineering skills for the future of the UK's most advanced sectors. Led by employers, its job is to transform the skills and productivity of the people who power our engineering and advanced manufacturing technologies sectors, enabling UK industry to compete on the global stage.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Claire Neal, Head of Workplace Mental Health, at Mental Health UK speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BURNOUT IN THE WORKFORCE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN - 1 IN 5 IN THE UK TOOK TIME OFF LAST YEAR DUE TO WORKPLACE PRESSURE One in five workers have been forced to take time off work because of poor mental health caused by pressure or stress in the workplace, according to Mental Health UK with the charity also finding that 35% have experienced high or extreme levels of stress in the past year, suggesting workplaces could be ill-equipped to prevent and combat burnout. About 49% say their employer does not have plans in place to help colleagues spot the signs of chronic stress and prevent burnout, while 35% of employees would not be comfortable letting their line manager or senior leader know if they were experiencing high or extreme levels of pressure and stress at work, with high or an increased workload or volume of tasks (54%), working unpaid overtime beyond contracted hours (45%) and feeling isolated at work (42%) the main factors for contributing to burnout. Only 29% of working adults say their workplace has measures in place to spot the signs of chronic stress and prevent burnout in employees, however, 38% of workers have taken on additional paid work because of the cost-of living crisis contributing to high or extreme levels of pressure or stress.…
Thorbjørn Fink COO at Pleo speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss SHOULD WE PAY REMOTE WORKERS LESS? IMPROVING OVERSIGHT OF BUSINESS OUTGOINGS SHOULD BE NO 1 PRIORITY BEFORE CHANGES ARE MADE, SAY PLEO The majority of UK SMBs are optimistic at the start of 2024, with 49% saying the year will be easier than 2023. But it remains that 25% are looking to reduce outgoings as high costs continue to impact operations. One key area they will look to do this is by rethinking their approach to remote working with 20% exploring whether they can reduce pay for remote workers. However, with 27% lacking confidence in their financial ability to recruit in 2024, this should be done with caution. Before attempting this, a firm should have a strong financial visibility and assess all areas. But, only 36% report feeling they have a good grip on their expenditure, and only 28% have strong visibility of their financial health and performance. Pleo COO, Thorbjørn Fink believes that, for businesses to meet their revenue growth and saving goals of 2024, they need to ensure they have full visibility and insights into all outgoings. “When there is real pressure on financial growth, companies can no longer afford to silo their outgoings into expenses and spend. Choosing to ignore low-cost items means CFOs are needlessly putting blinkers on and, in the process, only getting half of the spend management picture,” he says This comes as the data reveals 20% treat business spend and expenses as two separate outgoings streams, with 23% “not too bothered” about tracking smaller expenses. Pleo is the Europe’s leading spend management platform for SMBs, compiling and streamlining all outgoings to provide leaders with contemporaneous and exhaustive insight on operations.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Nicola Drury UK Apprenticeship Manager at Amazon speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why Two thirds of small and medium sized businesses considering technical education schemes, such as apprenticeships and T-levels, this year The Skills Horizon 2024 Barometer shows two-thirds of SMEs in England are looking at low-cost recruitment tactics to invest in talent in light of financial challenges Appetite for technical education schemes has increased, as confidence grows through success stories – nearly 74% report seeing other businesses benefit Despite concerns the economic landscape, SMEs expect to grow 26.43% in the next year while recession fears are down The opportunity to shape young talent (55%) and the ability to upskill existing team members (52%) are considered the top benefits of technical routes by SMEs More small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) are turning to technical education schemes, according to a new report. As many as two thirds of SMEs are considering schemes such as apprenticeships (53%) and offering work placements, such as T Levels (60%) this year. Now in its second year, the Skills Horizon 2024 Barometer, launched in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, found appetite for technical education is increasing as confidence grows through success stories – with nearly three-quarters reporting seeing other businesses benefit. SMEs consider the top benefits of these technical education options to be the opportunity to shape young talent (55%), the ability to upskill existing team members (52%), and the chance to address skills gaps in the business (50%). The latest findings from the Skills Horizon Barometer coincide with National Apprenticeship Week - a moment dedicated to celebrating apprenticeships, and new routes that can lead to them such as T Levels, as well as their positive impact on communities, businesses, and the wider economy. The current top skills SME employers are looking for in job candidates are reflective of this change in approach: ‘A particular level of qualification’ might have once been a non-negotiable on most job descriptions, but it is now at the bottom of the agenda (14%) for employers. Instead, ‘a good work ethic’ (38% of employers agree), being ’a team player’ (37%) and ‘a quick learner’ (31%) are the top traits employers will look for in 2024. Diversity, equity and inclusion also remain crucial for employers, with two in five (40%)hoping new talent recruited in 2024 will help diversify the workforce ahead of 2025 –up from 30% in 2023. CONCERNS AND CONFIDENCE The report also identified that over half of SMEs agree that the top concern for the year ahead is increased running costs (51%), with many also concerned about staff wellbeing linked to the cost of living (41%). Despite this, there is optimism for the year ahead as a high majority (86%) of businesses plan to grow revenue in 2024, a 3% increase from last year. On average, SMEs expect to grow 26.43% in the next year and recession fears are down on last year’s report (16% in 2024 vs 26% in 2023). These ambitious targets may well be reflective of the advantage SMEs feel they have with nearly three quarters (73%) believing they can be more agile than larger businesses when it comes to recruitment and upskilling their workforce. This ambition is shared by the Skills for Life campaign which helps SMEs understand all the technical education training and employment schemes available to them, including the aforementioned Apprenticeships and T Levels as well as Skills Bootcamps, HTQs and Multiply numeracy courses. ENDS About the Research Research carried out with 3Gem Research & Insights between 11/12/2023 - 22/12/2023, commissioned by DfE and Kindred, with 1,500 SME senior decision makers in England Skills for Life The Skills for Life campaign aims to help SMEs understand all the training and employment schemes available to them, including Apprenticeships, T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, HTQs and Multiply numeracy courses. Employers who are considering hiring employees, offering work experience or upskilling existing staff are encouraged to visit the Find Training and Employment Schemes for your Business webpage which allows SMEs to compare schemes and find out more. These include: Apprenticeships - Paid employment for over 16s, combining work and study in a job allowing you to develop your workforce and business T Levels: industry placements - Offering a T Level placement gives you early access to the brightest young people entering the market and the opportunity to develop your workforce of the future Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) – Up to six week placement for benefit claimants for those aged 18 and over designed to help you recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow your business Skills Bootcamps – Flexible training courses for aged 19 and over to fast-track specialist skill development, for existing or new talent for your business Multiply - Free numeracy initiatives, offers and courses from pre-entry to level 2 for those aged 19 and over in your workforce Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) - Level 4 or 5 qualifications, for those 18 and over, with no work placement but flexible for employees to study while working Supported Internships for learners with an education, health and care plan – An unpaid 6 to 12-month work placement for 16 to 24-year-olds with additional needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), supported by a qualified job coach Care-Leaver covenant – Help 16 to 25-year-olds who were in local authority care become independent through practical job-related support, in whatever way suits your business Employing prisoners and prison leavers – Employ prisoners and prison leavers aged 18 and over to help your business fill skills gaps and develop a loyal and talented workforce Free courses and additional training for your employees – Additional ways to train up existing employees through free qualifications, career advice and financial support…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Paul Baxter, CEO at The Green Insurer speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why MOTORISTS FEEL THE PINCH & QUESTION CAR OWNERSHIP The UK’s first truly green car insurance broker is opening for business and is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way while offsetting all emissions from driving. The Green Insurer has launched today with car insurance policies and customers can buy direct fromthe website at www.thegreeninsurer.com and through leading price comparison websites. The company expects strong demand – new research [1] shows motorists are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of driving on the environment and are cutting the miles they drive each year in response. More than half (53%) of drivers questioned are more aware of the impact on the environment thanthey were a year ago, while 69% are more aware of the impact than they were three years ago. Around 28% say they plan to drive fewer miles in the next 12 months. More than six out of 10 (61%)say they’re cutting back on the miles they drive to help the environment while 76% say they are doing so because of the cost of living. The Green Insurer will cut insurance costs for drivers at a time of rapidly rising premiums by negotiating special deals with insurers. The company will also offer rewards for environmentallyfriendly driving worth on average £20 a year through its Leaves scheme as well as discounts of up to 6% on weekly supermarket shopping through a range of partnerships. It expects to be mostcompetitive for drivers doing low annual mileage. A customer’s Green Driving Score in the app will be used to calculate their renewal premium and to offer discounts when they renew. Environmentally conscious driving also means lower fuel costs andbeing safer in their car. Policies are linked to a mobile app, which monitors how customers drive. The data is logged in a free App, which measures how the customer drives and how far they drive to enable The Green Insurer to calculate rewards and how much carbon to offset. New analysis [2] from Consumer Intelligence for The Green Insurer reveals that the average car insurance premium has increased by on average 66.5% in the year to October 31st. They are now 79.1% higher than five years ago. The Green Insurer’s Reward partners include major supermarkets, leading retailers such as Boots, Currys PC World, B&Q, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and WH Smith as well as restaurant chains including Pizza Express and transport groups Eurostar and National Express. Other partners include environmentally conscious companies that share its green ethos. Every mile driven by customers will be offset using a range of carbon offset projects which are assessed for their carbon and environmental effectiveness as well as the social impact on the people and communities where they are based. Customers can see how much carbon has been removed to offset their driving emissions on TheGreen Insurer app. They can also see how much has been offset for all customers. About The Green Insurer The Green Insurer offers car insurance policies via its website www.thegreeninsurer.com and throughleading price comparison websites. The UK’s first truly green car insurance broker is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way whileoffsetting all emissions from driving. A customer’s Green Driving Score in the app will be used to calculate their renewal premium and to offer discounts when they renew. Environmentally conscious driving also means lower fuel costs and being safer in their car. Policies are linked to a mobile app, which monitors how customers drive. The data is logged in a free App, which measures how the customer drives and how far they drive to enable The Green Insurer to calculate rewards and how much carbon to offset. The Green Insurer is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, under the registration number 998384.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Chris Mills, SME Productivity Expert at Slack speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why FLEXIBILITY AND EMBRACING TECH IS HOW SMEs WILL WIN IN 2024 The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt laid out plans to unlock growth and boost productivity in last week’s Autumn Statement and new research has shown this is high on the priorities for UK small businesses with 1 in 3 (34%) recognising flexibility to embrace new ways of working as their biggest business opportunity in 2024.SMEs are keen to also implement new technologies (32%) after both employees and employers struggled withloneliness and ineffective remote working set-up in this year. Despite the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and inflation, many SMEs go into the New Year confident with 28% saying their financial stability and cashflow had improved in 2023, while 24% said employee engagement and well-being was the most improved area. The findings from productivity platform Slack also show that a quarter (24%) of SMEs are prepared to shift the way they work in order to be successful in 2024, withover a quarter (26%) of small business owners calling communication and collaboration within teams vital. In fact, many are now calling on staff to experiment with new tech to save times and costs (30%) and embrace transparent and collaborative communication (29%) When it comes to communication, internal communications were identified as the most important (76%) employee skill for SMEs going into next year, followed by teamwork (74%) and external communication (73%). Another challenge to many UK small businesses is the increased energy and operational costs (27%), followed by recruitment and talent retention (26%) and supply chain disruptions (25%). Now, in the run up to Small Business Saturday, we are being encouraged to support local businesses to help them in their New Year goals with the festive season traditionally being a “make or break season” for many businesses and a time where SMEs start to think about the next financial year. With a massive 80% of SME owners believing small businesses are crucial to the UK economy. Slack's productivity expert Chris Mills is on hand to offer small business owners advice on how to help increase team connection and boost productivity.Mills can also discuss the research and explain why communication is so important in overcoming many of the UK Small Businesses’ challenges. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/ BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION: The research for Slack was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 15.11.2023 - 17.11.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 502 SME owners (18+) responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Luke Broad, CEO of Dacia UK speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why CONSUMERS ARE WISING UP TO BLACK FRIDAY “DEALS” This Black Friday may be the biggest yet, as recent data [1] suggests many consumers have delayed their Christmas gift shopping and other big-ticket purchases to make use of the deals and discounts offered. Despite this, Dacia, the best value for money car brand in the UK, is taking a bold step by officially shutting down online sales on the day, in a bid to prove that you can get value all year round. Black Friday will no doubt be vital to bolster the bottom line for many businesses – both large and small – and particularly the retail sector, which has seen costs rise but footfall fall over the last few months. However, not all industries need to take part, with consumers warned that the day may not always offer the best deals, and can in fact encourage unnecessary spending and overconsumption. New research suggests consumers are becoming wise to this as 21% are sceptical about the deals on offer, with 70% seeing Black Friday as nothing more than a marketing gimmick, and 1 in 10 lacking trust in brands that take part (11%). Meanwhile,a third (33%) say they would prefer good deals all year round, while 1 1% want to avoid scams, and 8% would rather save the money for a rainy day. Dacia is shutting down its UK online sales on Black Friday to reinforce its commitment to offering its range at the best value all year round. The brand’s range of cars provide everything you need, and nothing you don’t, reinforcing its belief that consumers should be able to buy the essentials at the best value for money on the market. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Dacia’s online sales will be closed for the whole of Black Friday (00:00 – 23:59). The car configurator (which helps customers build their car) will also be closed for the duration of Black Friday. About Dacia Born in 1968, then relaunched by Renault Group from 2004 across Europe and Mediterranean countries, Dacia has always offered the best value for money cars by constantly redefining the essentials. As a game-changer, Dacia proposes simple, multi-purpose, reliable cars in tune with customers’ lifestyles. Dacia models have become a reference on the market, including Sandero , the best-selling retail car in Europe each year since 2017; Duster , the best-selling SUV to European private customers since 2018; and Jogger , the C-segment versatile family car. Present in 44 countries, Dacia has sold more than 8 million vehicles since 2004. Dacia launched in the UK in January 2013 and enjoyed the most successful start ever for a new car brand in the UK. More than 250,000 Dacia vehicles have been sold in the UK to date. RESEARCH INFORMATION: The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor (RSM), October 2023 (published 07/11, accessible here ) The research for Dacia UK was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 10.11.23-13.11.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 2,003 UK adults aged 16+ responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registeredwith the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Claire Hawkins, of Phoenix Group speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why an AGEING WORKFORCE MEANS BETTER SUPPORT NEEDED FOR OLDER WORKERS As we live longer, how long we work for, the jobs we do, how and when we learn and acquire new skills and how and when we care for others need to change. With an aging workforce and labour shortages, the over 50s are becoming increasingly dominant and important in the workplace. Today, three in 10 of the working age population are over 50. This means employers need to have the right policies and procedures in place to attract and retain older workers, or risk losing out on valuable experience and talent. But despite their importance to the workforce, over one in three 50-to-70 years olds feel disadvantaged when applying for a job because of their age, and over half of over 50s in the UK agree that “older people are left behind by employers”. This can have a huge impact on businesses, societies and individuals. Claire Hawkins at Phoenix Group – the UK’s biggest long-term savings and retirement business - believes we need to develop a successful strategy for ‘good work’, which will lead to more fulfilling longer lives, and enable better financial security in retirement. Ahead of National Older Workers Week, beginning on 20 November 2023, Phoenix Group is launching its ‘Good Work for Longer Lives’ Report, which highlights the diverse challenges facing older workers in the UK, from a lack of readily available career advice to the impact of managing long-term ill health and caring responsibilities. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Phoenix Group is the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business with £259 billion of assets under administration. As life expectancy continues to increase and the pension landscape continues to shift, we offer our 12 million customers a broad range of pensions, savings and life insurance products across our family of brands which include Standard Life, SunLife, Phoenix Life and ReAssure. Our vision is to help even more people on their journey to and through retirement, providing the right support at the right time. We are a growing and sustainable business united by a common purpose – helping people secure a life of possibilities. This drives everything we do and means taking responsible and sustainable investment decisions, and using our presence and voice to drive forward change for the better, for our customers, our colleagues, and our wider community. We have been recognised as a leading employer for many years. We are accredited as a Living Wage Employer, Living Pension Employer and as a Carer Positive Exemplary Employer for offering the best support to colleagues who are carers. In 2022, Phoenix Group introduced its policy of up to 10 days paid carers leave. Data from Phoenix Group shows that providing adequate statutory support for carers is not just a societal issue it also makes good economic sense. In 2022 and 2023 , 7% and 5.7% respectively of the organisation’s registered carers in a workforce of over 7,000 staff, took an average 3 paid leave days pa Providing unpaid carers leave takes time away from paid work, affects individuals’ ability to save in the short and long term, and limits their possibilities for later life. As our society continues to age, a focus on working carers is essential to enable more people to remain in good work and is key to ensuring that more people aged over 50 are able to participate in the labour market for as long as they wish. National Older Workers Week, sponsored by Phoenix Group, is being held on 20 – 24 November. You can find out more information here .…
Arne Bangsgaarrd Mathiasen, Educator & Founder of Dumbphone speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHEN IT’S SMART TO BE ‘DUMB’ The urge to switch off from social media and the internet is growing with two in five (43%) of UK adults voluntarily undergoing a digital detox with some managing to separate themselves from their smartphones for as many as 26 days at a time. But it is younger phone users who are the most likely to go cold turkey with three in five (61%) of Gen Z - those born between 1996 and 2010 - regularly hanging up on their smartphones in favour of reconnecting with the communities around them amid concerns for their health. However, with a consultation process launching today (Thursday 9th November) on the long-awaited Online Safety Act, which aims to protect young people, make social media companies accountable for child abuse on their platforms and empower parents in controlling what their kids see online, there are benefits of turning to so-called ‘dumb phones’ which shield you from smartphones’ negative aspects. For a quarter (25%) of smartphone users the acts of doomscrolling, the act of spending loads of time scrolling through bad and negative content is having an adverse effect on their mental health, with the pressure of being in constant contact too much for 25% while the constant pinging of emails and messages makes more than a fifth (22%) feel anxious. The average person spends 3 hours 46 minutes [1] on their phones every day and LarsSilberbauer, Chief Marketing Officer, HMD Global, believes the trend of taking a break from the digital world and its constant barrage of incoming messages and notifications, social media posts and alerts is becoming increasingly important to us as we look to dial down the stress and anxiety of being always on, having to constantly watch our smartphones for fear of missing out. Silberbauer, who previously worked in senior marketing roles for the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and LEGO after he was Senior Vice President of MTV Digital Studios, believes people want greater simplicity, fewer interruptions, and more time face to face with family and friends in which to have conversations free from distraction and time to enjoy beautiful moments. In addition to Lars Silberbauer, Danish entrepreneur Arne Bangsgaarrd Mathiasen, the owner of Dumbphone,an educator of digital wellbeing, knowsonly too well about helping children detox from their smartphones and can offer tips and advice to parents wanting to help younger audiences move away from the all-consuming devices and any inappropriate content and help build resilience without having to rely on navigation and search apps or a digital wallet. Arne can offer tips on how to use a dumbphone for many tasks which we are accustomed to using our smartphone for, like ordering an Uber and using online banking. He is taking part in the online 10 day detox challenge taking place from 20 November 2023. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Research of 2,000 Britons was commissioned by HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones and was conducted by Perspectus Global in April 2023.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 Get People, KeepPeople: A Dale Carnegie & Directors Insight into Workplace Stress | Andy Collings 12:09
Andy Collings, Chief Executive of Dale Carnegie speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss Get People, KeepPeople: A Dale Carnegie & Directors Insight into Workplace Stress Free “Directors Lunch, including panel discussion and workshop focusing on Workplace Stress” in the Midlands Learning and development firm Dale Carnegie will be hosting a half day seminar, workshop and lunch for senior business leaders on Friday 17 November. The complimentary session, called Get People, Keep People, will be held at The National Motorcycle Museum, Solihull, and will feature a diverse panel of senior experts from across various industries, including Leatham Green (Transformation Director at Oracle), Charlotte Johns (Global Talent lead at Eilda Unilever), in an event not to be missed. Those in attendance will hear thought-leading insights on how to understand stress in our teams, manage and understand the signs of personal stress as a senior leader, and also take part in an engaging and inspiring session to help individuals leverage outstanding communications, learn how to manage different personalities and how to use time-tested human relations to reduce stress in the workplace. All this with the opportunity to collaborate with other leaders. Get People, Keep People, is a must attend session for leaders looking to better empathise with and understand their people, to achieve outstanding results. “We’ve seen a huge increase in workplace stress, and it’s more important than ever, as leaders, to equip ourselves with the necessary skills to acknowledge our own challenges and find the tools to support our people. In order to make our organisations successful, increase efficiency, productivity and engagement. It’s vital that we not only hire the right people, but we must keep them. Our sessions can help you do just that” says Andy Collings, Chief Executive of Dale Carnegie Central England. “Dale Carnegie wrote the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People over 100 years ago and since then we’ve been running sessions and courses just like this, we’re proud that all our attendees see positive change in their personal and professional lives. We all have it in us, but sometimes we just need a hand to remind ourselves of the skills we have and feel empowered to use them. This will be a great session, rich with ideas and tools as well as a great opportunity to network with peers facing the same challenges””. The free to attend session will have an interactive format, allowing attendees to engage in discussion with a panel of top leaders as well as enjoy a 45-minute highly engaging session delivered by one of the Dale Carnegie training team, giving attendees a taste of the Dale Carnegie principles. Guests will leave the day inspired, armed with new tools and new contacts from across the industry. To top it off, there’ll also be the opportunity for a tour of the National Motorcycle Museum when the session ends. Get People, Keep People: A Dale Carnegie & Directors Insight into Workplace Stress is specifically designed as a forum to access the latest thinking on overcoming workplace stress. To attend the event, please register for your complimentary ticket: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/directors-lunch-get-people-keep-people-an-insight-into-workplace-stress-tickets-737874411227?aff=oddtdtcreator Editor’s notes: Get People, Keep People: A Dale Carnegie & Directors Insight into Workplace Stress Friday 17 November 2023 The National Motorcycle Museum, Coventry Road Hampton in Arden B92 0EJ Agenda 11.00 Reception drinks meet and greet 11.30 Panel discussion (panellists TBC) 12.15 Dale Carnegie session 1.00 Lunch 2.00 Wrap up 2.30 Optional tour of museum About Dale Carnegie Dale Carnegie have over 100 years experience in business, guiding their clients to outpace their competition. Dale Carnegie has witnessed the world experiencing its most rapid cycles of change and advancement. The way Dale Carnegie’s elite trainers and facilitator’s engage, the environment they create and the way they coach and give feedback following Dale Carnegie’s DNA, makes them different to other training organisations. Their trainers undergo more than 250 hours of rigorous in-house development before they can become certified to deliver to their clients. Learning is ongoing throughout their Dale Carnegie career, with regular re-certification and updates to their skills and methodologies. https://www.dalecarnegie.co.uk/…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Lucy Davies, SAP Emarsys speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss CAN RETAILERS RELY ON LOYALTY THIS FESTIVE SHOPPING SEASON? Retail sales slumped in September, with data showing many avoided big-ticket purchases [1] – perhaps preparing for the upcoming sales season with its slashed prices and lucrative deals. As this golden quarter approaches, retailers are being warned not to rely on customer loyalty and continue to be competitive, as 60% of consumers report having switched from a favourite brand due to cost considerations. But being competitive is not just about offering deals. Looking ahead to Black Friday, 20% intend on spending more this year than they did the last, with more than a quarter (27%) seeking to purchase most of their Christmas presents. Interestingly, 39% remain loyal to retailers they spend with on the day, even after the sales end – rising to 47% among men and falling to 32% among women. But what causes a customer to remain with a brand or to shop around for a better deal elsewhere? Confusingly, ‘incentivised’ loyalty, that is loyalty to discounts and deals has dropped from 71% in ‘22 to 51% in ’23, indicating people are tempted by low prices but without those deals, their custom will disappear into thin air. So what do retailers need to do to make customers stay? Winning brands are embracing the concept of a ‘value exchange’ with their customers. Not all shops want to get stuck in a downwards spiral of lower prices but there is an alternative… That’s according to customer engagement experts SAP Emarsys, who have conducted new research to gain fresh insights into the evolving dynamics of customer loyalty in 2023. The SAP Emarsys Customer Loyalty Index 2023 dives into insights on the future of loyalty and is available now. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: About Emarsys, an SAP company: Emarsys, an SAP company, is the omnichannel customer engagement platform that empowers marketers to build, launch, and scale personalized, cross-channel campaigns that drive business outcomes. We partner with more than 1,500 companies from global enterprises to fast-moving mid-market brands across industries. For more information about Emarsys, please visit: www.emarsys.com . RESEARCH INFORMATION: BRC and KMPG Retail Sales Monitor, here: https://brc.org.uk/insight/content/retail-sales/retail-sales-monitor/reports/202309_uk_rsm/ The research for Emarsys was carried out online by Opinion Matters among 2,001 general respondents in the UK from 17.08.2023 ‐ 23.08.2023. Opinion Matters abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Eddie Lamb, Director, Cyber Education and Advisory from Hiscox speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WHY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE A GROWING TARGET FOR CYBER CRIMINALS Businesses with less than 10 employees have been hit harder by cyber attacks over the last three years, and despite battling high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, cyber attacks are a top business risk for companies in five of eight countries. That’s according to the new Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, which has revealed many small business owners with less than 250 employees do not feel confident on the cyber issue, with only 3 in 5 (61%) saying they could handle an attack, compared to 71% in larger firms. This is worrying as the issue is only growing, with more cyber attacks reported by business leaders – both big and small – for a fourth consecutive year, as more than half (53%) admit they have been attacked at least once in the last year (up from 48% in 2022). Business email compromise has been revealed as hackers’ favourite way to attack a business, targeting human employees before attempting to all corporate servers or the cloud. Therefore,awareness, employee training and security controls are paramount. But there is reason to be hopeful, as we are spending more on cyber security (up 39% over the last three years) and becoming wise to popular attacks such as ransomware, with the number likely to pay dropping from 66% to 63%. We take the threat seriously, fostering a more cautious and careful workforce, and containing the cost – with the average amount lost to cyber attacks falling from around $17,000 to just over $16,000. But small businesses can learn something from their larger counterparts, and that is the positive action taken after an attack – such as implementing better processes and procedures,or taking out cyber insurance cover. GUEST: Eddie Lamb, Director, Cyber Education and Advisory, Hiscox Eddie joined Hiscox in September 2019 and leads the cyber education and advisory services. Prior to joining, he spent 10 years in consultancy including tenures with Deloitte,KPMG, and CGI. Eddie spent the first 12 years of his career with British Intelligence, and is a trusted advisor to executive decision makers in the EU, UK and US. He typically works with Financial Institutes, Government, Energy and Technology clients. During his military intelligence career, he spent nine years involved in covert operations, and specialised in cryptography, offensive hacking, and social engineering– before spending three years at GCHQ designing and building national intelligence and security infrastructure. He played a significant role in defining the UK’s first national cyber strategy. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: About The Hiscox Group Hiscox is a global specialist insurer, headquartered in Bermuda and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:HSX): Our ambition is to be a respected specialist insurer with a diverse portfolio by product and geography. We believe that building balance between catastrophe-exposed business and less volatile local specialty business gives us opportunities for profitable growth throughout the insurance cycle. The Hiscox Group employs over 3,000 people in 14 countries, and has customers worldwide. Through the retail businesses in the UK, Europe, Asia and the USA, we offer a range of specialist insurance products in commercial and personal lines. Internationally traded, bigger ticket business and reinsurance is underwritten through Hiscox London Market and Hiscox Re & ILS. Our values define our business, with a focus on people, courage, ownership and integrity. We pride ourselves on being true to our word and our award-winning claims service is testament to that. For more information, visit www.hiscoxgroup.com. RESEARCH INFORMATION: A total 5,005 professionals responsible for their company’s cyber security strategy were surveyed – including 900 each from the USA, UK, France, and Germany – 400 from Spain, and 200-plus from Belgium, The Netherlands, and the Republic of Ireland. Respondents completed the online survey between 09.01.2023 – 02.02.2023.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Lorraine Mensah from The Barrister Group speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WORKPLACE SEXUAL HARRASSMENT RUNNING RIFE. Shocking new research shows more than a quarter (29%) of employees in the UK have experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from a colleague in the workplace, with the majority of those (69%) by someone more senior. The report, by The Barrister Group, also highlights how staff are reluctant to report inappropriate behavior with almost half (48%) choosing to keep quiet. The reasons given for not reporting a colleague included a reluctance ‘to cause drama’ (39%), a lack of faith in official channels holding them toaccount (16%) and a fear that they would be treated negatively if they reported an incident (12%). The issue is impacting women more than men, with a third (31%) of women admitting to experiencing harassment in the workplace, compared to a quarter of men (26%). Touching breasts, unwanted sexual advances and sexual slurs top the list of the most inappropriate workplace behaviours, with a wide disparity between what men and women found acceptable workplace conduct. With high-profile celebrity scandals of sexually inappropriate behavior at work, continuing to dominate headlines, the report shows sexual charged behaviour is endemic through workplaces with most victims suffering silently. 34% believe that management accept or ignore inappropriate behaviour while 23% think that their business has a misogynistic and sexist culture. One in ten report (12%) leaving their job due to sexually inappropriate behaviour from a colleague, with a similar amount moving to another role (10%). The Barrister Group commissioned the report to gain a greater understandingof the public’s perception of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, with the aim opening up the conversation about fostering a more inclusive and respectful professional environment. We are offering employment law experts who can talk about the issues surrounding sexual harassment, why so many employees don’t feel they canspeak out and how employers should be doing more to support their staff. BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION: The research for The Barrister Group was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 25.09.2023 - 27.09.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 2,019 UK workers. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Professor Binna Kandola OBE, diversity and inclusion specialist from Pearn Kandola, speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss TIME TO TACKLE WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE. Discrimination against overweight people is rife across the UK’s workplaces, according to a major new report looking at a deeply entrenched prejudice. Research released today reveals more than two-thirds of employees (69%) believe weight discrimination exists in their workplace, with nearly half of respondents (47%) considering it to be a problem. Concerningly, more than three in 10 workers said they had witnessed discrimination against someone else because of their weight and over a third of people (35%) who reported weight discrimination in their place of work saw no action taken as part of their complaint. In fact, 4 in 10 of UK employees (40%) didn’t report wight discrimination totheir workplace HR department as they did not consider it serious enough to report. The Weight Discrimination at Work (2023) Report , highlights how prejudice based on weight was entrenched in many workplaces and often goes unchallenged. While the Discrimination Act makes it illegal to discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation – weight isn’t a classed characteristic, with no legal protection to those who experience it. According to the data from Pearn Kandola, weight discrimination can start even before an individual joins a company. More than 1 in 10 (11%) would decide against hiring someone who is overweight, believing they are unhealthy (31%), lazy (21%) and unmotivated (17%). The impact of weight stigma can have a widespread impact on the workforce, as 1 in 5 (20%) men and 13% of women believe that their weight has had a detrimental impact on their career prospects. To discuss the findings of their research, is Professor Binna Kandola OBE, diversity and inclusion specialist from Pearn Kandola, who can discuss why weight discrimination is still an issue and can explain what is needed to be done to address it in the workplace. About Pearn Kandola Pearn Kandola LLP is a Business Psychology consultancy based in Oxford with expertise in the areas of Diversity & Inclusion, Inclusive Recruitment and Inclusive Development. It develops and delivers tailored, innovative, pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to develop the potential and performance for businesses and their people. BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION: The Weight Discrimination at Work (2023) Report was carried out by Pearn Kandola. The research is a study identifying people’s attitudes, perceptions and experiences of weight discrimination at work. Additionally, it gauges the action taken by organisations and the perceived impact this has by employees and concludes by presenting implications and recommendations for organisations. This report presents our findings from respondents living and working in the UK in 2023. UsingProlific (an online research recruitment platform), an online survey collected data from 1,427 respondents in the UK. The criteria to be included in the analysis were: respondents had to be currently employed and living in the UK.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 HOW TO BE PART OF THE LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Holly Tarquini, Director of Filmbath & Founder of F-RATED 20:48
Holly Tarquini, Producer, Director of Filmbath & Founder of F-RATED speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss how A CAREER IN FILM AND TV BEING MORE THAN JUST LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION It’s been a spectacular summer for film fans. The power of the blockbuster has once again shown the love us Brits have for a trip to the cinema, with Barbie hitting the billion-dollar mark within just 17 days from release. But while many of us celebrate familiar faces on-screen, it’s important thehard-working team behind-the-scenes are also celebrated, and their roles are recognised. This is especially important as new research from the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) reveals most young people (53%) are interested in pursuing a career in TV and Film, but only (18%) believe it’s realistic. Top Director and Producer, Holly Tarquini is hoping a spellbindingly pink summer at the movies will inspire the next generation to work in the film and TV industry. With Barbie filmed in the Leavesdon Studios (UK) and other popular franchises such as Indiana Jones or Wonka filmed in locations such as Glasgow and Bath, working in the film and TV industry has never been so close to home! With more than two-thirds (67%) believing the only roles in film and TV are acting and creative roles, she wants to tell them that couldn’t be further from the truth. From financing aproduction, to ensuring filming runs on schedule and on budget, to marketing, distribution and revenue streams: the business of film offers a whole host of career paths and skills. In fact, only 4% of young people think finance skills are essential in the industry and only 5% think marketing and sales skills are. Last year, a record £6.27 billion was spent on high-end film and television production in the UK, giving 122,000 people a job. Many young Brits are already gaining skills and a passion for film, with more than half (51%) enjoying filming and creating their own content for social media and 47% with ambitions to make their own film or TV show. With almost two-thirds (59%) interested in knowing more about behind-the-scenes roles within the industry, successful Director and Producer Holly Tarquini is available to give a window into the business of film, share her top tips on filmmaking and explain how to equip young people with the skills to make an award-winning production and blockbuster hit. The new research also comes at a time when there is a growing attitude thatyoung people should prioritise alternate career routes instead of university. AAT’s research amongst UK adults shows 41% think school leavers should prioritise combining learning with earning most, up 9% YOY (32%), followed by further education (e.g., university degree, 21%), paid work (21%) and taking time out (8%). As many students are set to receive their A-level results, Holly wants to highlight the variety of valuable skills and abundance of routes available to pursue a career in film and TV.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Olivia Selley of Harcus Parker Solicitors speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss how ENERGY BROKERS POCKETED SECRET COMMISSIONS AT EXPENSE OF CHARITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES Bad practices have resulted in the most vulnerable – including care homes and churches – being targeted, and locked into deals that were not in customers’ interests, in return for financial incentives. Energy companies have been incentivising brokers to lock small businesses into energy deals that were not in their best interests, but earned them lucrative commissions, a former energy broker-turned whistle blower has revealed. Unscrupulous brokers have even been deliberately targeting specific types of organisations – such as churches and village halls, charities and care homes – which they viewed as less sophisticated; locking them into deals that would end up costing them more money, even though better deals were available. The commissions were merely built into the bill. According to the whistleblower, who is working with Harcus Parker – the firm spearheading legal action, brokers knew they could get away with pocketing what could be thousands a month because they would not face any sanction from Ofgem. They were routinely taking four-figured commissions at the expense ofcustomers, as they viewed the regulator as toothless, and uninterested in ever cracking down on the practice. With energy companies confident little would be done, brokers taking advantage of loopholes, and customers unable to easily complain, the practice flourished, even as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis meant businesses were fighting to keep their heads above water. Even if an organisations realised they had been misled about the best deals available for them, brokers did not fear any consequences, with complaints directed to the energy supplier, who would merely refer them back to the broker to resolve. In any case, the brokers would have to receive a large number of complaints before a supplier would take any action. A cooling off period and a proper complaints system are not available to organisations. Leading litigation law firm Harcus Parker has written to several of the main gas and electricity suppliers in the first step in group litigation to reclaim commissions paid by suppliers to brokers without customers’ knowledge. More information on the claim, of which 5,000 businesses have already signed up, can be found here: www.energylitigation.com…
Mina Van Pigellen of Experis speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss USING AI TO PROMOTE MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES. Contrary to recent headlines focussing on layoffs in some of the world’s biggest tech firms, research has outlined the positive impacts of AI and automation to the workforce and that it can indeedcreate more job opportunities. IT and Tech organisations in the UK predict they will increase their headcount in the next 12 months, highlighting an encouraging landscape for jobseekers looking for opportunities within tech. New data has shown there will be increased availability of roles, with employers in the IT sector looking for candidates who demonstrate skills in communication, collaboration and teamwork (36%), and critical thinking and analysis (30%). The research will coincide with the ‘Disrupt the Tech Layoffs’ event by Experis,set to connect 15,000 skilled tech professionals with thousands of available tech and IT roles across the country. The event will bring together several teams based in five office locations across the country: Bristol, Solihull, Manchester, Edinburgh and London.…
Paddy Osborn, Academic Dean & Managing Director, London Academy of Trading (LAT) speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss FIGHTING THE RISE OF THE " FINFLUENCER" . Regulators are cracking-down on those who recklessly promote investment or trading opportunities on social media platforms – known as ‘finfluencers’ – but their presence online is only growing. That’s according to new research from the London Academy of Trading (LAT) which has found two in five (40%) report seeing more people promoting such opportunities online, while 42% have seen an increase in content. This rise may be fed by a hungry market, with more than half (56%) actively seeking ways to supplement their income, but only 8% dealing with independent financial advisors (IFAs) 1 . Perhaps to limit costs, with more than half (55%) reporting the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on them, more than one in five(21%) admit they turn to finfluencers when making financial decisions. This figure rises to almost half (49%) of those aged 16-34 years old, suggesting they are seeking advice on a platform they are more familiar with, or from people around their age – with only 6% of qualified IFAs under the age of 30, 2 . Meanwhile, over a quarter (26%) have even seen friends offer financial advice online. Doing so without knowledge on what they should and should not be promoting could cause harm to their followers, and even put them on the wrong side of the law. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is tackling this issue, set to publish new guidelines for firms promoting financial products 3 .It has also partnered with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to raise awareness of the risks involved in promoting such services and deter malpractice 4 . But it remains that 47% want to earn money quickly, while 23% are concerned about their job security, and 24% going as far as being interested in ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Triple-accredited provider of financial trading education, the London Academy of Trading (LAT) teaches individuals about financial markets and trading and provides the practical knowledge and skills which can be applied in real-world environments. RESEARCH INFORMATION: The research for the London Academy of Trading was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 11.08.2023 – 14.08.2023 amongst a panel resulting in 2,012 nationally representative UK respondents (16+). General Consumers responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998). 1. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-publishes-evaluation-financial-advice-market 2. https://www.ft.com/content/fd8230d8-0680-48d8-99aa-fc2ae95f8ef2 3. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/social-media-guidance-set-revamp 4. https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-asa-sharon-gaffka-warn-finfluencers-illegal-get-rich-quick-schemes…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Ellie Austin-Williams, Author of Money Talks & founder of This Girl Talks Money speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why Almost a fifth of Brits dip into savings every week Almost a fifth (17%) of Britons are dipping into their savings on a weekly basis, with those accessing their rainy-day funds doing so to cover bills (38%), rent (9%), transport (9%) and even medication (8%). What’s more, almost a quarter (23%) of Brits are unable to put anything away each month, while another 27% struggle to save a tenth of their income. It is leaving half (46%) feeling that they should be saving double, if not triple, the amount each month. The new study by online savings provider Ford Money, also found that over a third (34%) believe saving as much as possible, even up to 50% of their income, each month is the best strategy. But evidence suggests that this approach may not be suitable for all, with a third (33%) of those in debt believing they are due to their own unrealistic savings goals that just cannot be maintained. Even for those with savings, a lack of understanding on how to make the most of them is also having an impact on the amount of cash Britons have access to. According to the research, over 70% of people have never considered switching bank accounts in search of a better interest rate for their savings, despite almost two-fifths (37%)agreeing that it is in fact better to move money around. However, many well-intentioned savers could be missing out on opportunities that could make their money work harder. Whether it be switching banks or upgrading accounts with existing providers, small changes could make a big difference over the course of a year. This failure to maximise savings is particularly noteworthy considering the current high base interest rate of 5%. About the Research Ford Money commissioned research firm, Censuswide, to conduct the research. The study was conducted from June 30th to July 5th, 2023, and involved a comprehensive poll of a diverse sample size comprising 2015 individuals aged 16 and above.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
1 WAIT 2 DAYS AND 21 HOURS TO AVOID BUYER’S REGRET | Fiona Anderson, Managing Director of Cards at Vanquis 15:28
Fiona Anderson, Managing Director of Cards at Vanquis speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss WAIT 2 DAYS AND 21 HOURS TO AVOID BUYER’S REGRET. With the ease of online shopping 24-hours-day, it’s easier than ever to spend money and buy something almost instantly. But how often do you regret it? Well, regret no more as there’s some Maths worth listening to. It’s been revealed that the ideal time to wait before making a purchase is 2 days and 21 hours. That’s the answer Mathematician Bobby Seagull has come up with when he ran the numbers. His advice – wait…wait…and wait some more. This comes as new research from Vanquis has found the average UK adult makes no less than seven impulse purchases, worth £150 or more, each year. That’s at least £1,050 of hard earned cash we may end up regretting spending. Generation Z are the most likely to buy without deliberation, with an average 14 impulse buys worth £2,100. As a nation, the items we most regret buying are bikes (19%), games consoles and gadgets (17%) and clothes (16%) – with the least being experiences (6%) such as holidays and weekends away, and household items such as freezers (13%) and fridges (11%). Interestingly, household items have the best cost-per-use figure, according to Bobby’s mathematical formula. He found that hoovers have the lowest average cost per use, followed closely by freezers and fridges. When looking at the why , 50% say they simply enjoy treating themselves, with almost a third (31%) admitting to using an impulse purchase in an attempt to make themselves feel better. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION About Vanquis Vanquis offers credit cards and loans for people who want to improve their credit profile. With online servicing via their award-winning app (Moneyfacts Consumer Awards 2023), Vanquis empowers customers to take control of their finances, helping them on their journey to an improved financial future. To date, Vanquis has accepted over 5 million customers who want to improve their credit score. Established in 2002, Vanquis is a subsidiary of Vanquis Banking Group. www.vanquis.co.uk RESEARCH INFORMATION: Mathematician and National Numeracy Ambassador Bobby Seagull modelled data supplied by Censuswide to create two Mindful Spending formulas. The first formula found people should wait 69.7 hours between finding an item and deciding to purchase it, to avoid regretting their purchase. The second formula calculated the individual cost-per-use across 21 different purchasing categories. Unless otherwise stated, Vanquis commissioned Censuswide to survey 4,000 UK adults in July 2023 among a sample of 4,000 18+ Nationally representative consumers. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Professor Binna Kandola OBE, diversity and inclusion specialist from Pearn Kandola, talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss TIME TO TACKLE WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE. Discrimination against overweight people is rife in workplaces across the country with 69% of employees believing weight discrimination exists in their workplace, 47% considering it to be a problem and 32% saying they have witnessed discrimination against someone else because of their weight. But, 35% of those reporting weight discrimination in their place of work saw no action taken from their complaint, according to Pearn Kandola research which highlights two in five of employees did not report workplace weight discrimination because they did not consider it serious enough to report. Prejudice based on weight is entrenched in many workplaces and often goes unchallenged with no legal protection afforded by the Discrimination Actas weight is not a classed characteristic. It can begin before employment with one in nine (11%) saying they would decide against hiring someone who is overweight, believing they are unhealthy (31%), lazy (21%) and unmotivated (17%) - a fifth of men and one in eight (13%) of women believe their weight has had a detrimental impact on their career prospects. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION About Pearn Kandola Pearn Kandola LLP is a Business Psychology consultancy based in Oxford with expertise in the areas of Diversity & Inclusion, Inclusive Recruitment and Inclusive Development. It develops and delivers tailored, innovative, pragmatic and cost-effective solutions to develop the potential and performance for businesses and their people. BACKGROUND AND REGIONAL INFORMATION: The Weight Discrimination at Work (2023) Report was carried out by Pearn Kandola. The research is a study identifying people’s attitudes, perceptions and experiences of weight discrimination at work. Additionally, it gauges the action taken by organisations and the perceived impact this has by employees and concludes by presenting implications and recommendations for organisations. This report presents our findings from respondents living and working in the UK in 2023. Using Prolific (an online research recruitment platform), an online survey collected data from 1,427 respondents in the UK. The criteria to be included in the analysis were: respondents had to be currently employed and living in the UK.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Chintan Patel, Chief Technology Officer for Cisco UK & Ireland speaks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss CAN INFRASTRUCTURE KEEP UP WITH INNOVATION AND OUR DIGITAL DEMAND? From AI to quantum, every new technology milestone requires more from networks that were built for a world of web browsing and email, and at a time when consumer expectations are growing – not just for speed, but security and sustainability too – the internet is cementing its role as critical national infrastructure (79% agree). In fact, new data from the broadband survey highlights how networks must scale to support the growing Internet of Things (IoT), with new research finding that more than half of consumers (54%) have indicated feeling positive about new ways to connect their homes and lives to the internet. In tech: AI is the biggest technological advancement since the Internet. Promising to vastly improve productivity, creating opportunities to innovate and transform entire sectors. Every AI query, every AI model programmed requires networks to support it – with increasing demands on capacity. In parallel, developments in Quantum computing mean that we may well soon see a need for ‘Quantum networking’. The ability to secure communications at rates never seen before. From consumers: In parallel, we’re still in the infancy of what’s possible when we start to connect ‘things’ and processes, with new research finding a majority already have made the switch, or expect to have, with their cars (67%), lights (74%), appliances (71%), energy (76%) and water (64%) connected to the internet. Despite our reliance on and acceptance of moving more of our lives online, security remains a concern with traditional passwords (53%) still the way we protect ourselves online, but surprisingly, only 1 in 4 of us have switched on our router’s firewall despite 57% worrying about cybercriminals hacking our devices. While we want connectivity that will deliver speed as a priority (40%),that will be secure (38%), 65% are now concerned about its carbon footprint. https://www.uktech.news/guest-posts/generative-ai-bottlenecks-uk-20230529 https://blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/unlocking-the-ai-powered-opportunity-in-the-uk/ About the Cisco Broadband Survey The Cisco Broadband Survey is based on a survey of 21,629 workers across 12 countries: UK, Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, UAE and the Netherlands. It was completed during January and February 2023. The sample included respondents based in every region of each country, who either work full-time remotely; full-time in an office; hybrid, between home and the office; or on the frontline. The poll was conducted by independent research consultancy Censuswide, who abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society - which is based on the ESOMAR principles. About Cisco Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide technology leader that securely connects everything to make anything possible. Our purpose is to power an inclusive future for all by helping our customers reimagine their applications, power hybrid work, secure their enterprise, transform their infrastructure, and meet their sustainability goals…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
JD Donovan, Creative Industries Liaison at LCCM talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why Music Tourism Hits The Right Notes# UK Music has today published Here, There and Everywhere – a new report that reveals the huge contribution of music tourism to the UK economy, celebrates music’s regional contribution and sets out a plan for local authorities to enhance local music sectors. The numbers show in certain terms what many felt in 2022: the excitement for live music to come back for the first full year since the COVID-19 pandemic. With 14.4 million music tourists helping to generate £6.6 billion in spending across the year and supporting 56,000 full-time jobs, it was quite the return. With this comes the growing recognition of the need to support and boost music at the regional level to ensure the UK’s music scene can thrive. Local authorities are now actively exploring innovative strategies and initiatives to leverage music tourism as a driver of economic and cultural growth. This is where the report’s toolkit to transform cities, towns and regions into music powerhouses can help. As the report demonstrates, music has been a key ingredient in the success stories of countless towns and cities. By harnessing the power of music, regions across the UK can generate thousands more jobs, boost economic growth and attract even more visitors. Music offers huge potential for transformative placemaking – whether you are a policymaker, an industry professional or someone who cares about your local area, this report will have relevance. The final version of can be found here . JD Donovan, Creative Industries Liaison at LCCM Bio: JD Donovan is a platinum-selling, multi-million-streaming young music executive. JD has worked with some of the biggest global names in music after getting his break at 22 under US ‘super-producer’ Dallas Austin as a staff writer and producer. He struck out on his own in 2017 founding his own specialist agency focused on developing new industry talents in an ethical way and consulting for industry companies on artist relations and marketing. At LCCM (London College of Contemporary Music) JD works in-house to fuel the growth of emerging artists, songwriters, producers and executives including industry partnerships. JD’s recent roll-call of clients and collaborators includes Mabel, Desiinger, Clean Bandit, SyCo, XFactor and AEG Festivals.JD can provide expert insight and comment on: Music education,Widening Access and Participation, artist development, music legal cases/disputes, Music/Celebrity developments & insight.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Lisa Johnson, Business Strategist & Entreprenur talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss why it's TIME TO RAISE THE PROFILES OF WOMEN AND CLOSE THE GENDER BREAK. Women created a record number of 151,603 new companies last year , yet there’s still a stark gender inequality when it comes to raising early-stage finance. New figures reveal male-owned startups receive, on average, 6.2X as much funding as those founded by women . The research also shows, on average, half of female-led companies are self-funded compared to just 32% of male organisations. It comes as no surprise that female entrepreneurs come up against additional barriers when starting a business, compared to their male counterparts, including unconscious bias from those in the business world, being responsible for domestic household duties and childcare. “Who runs the world? Girls!” – are memorable Beyonce lyrics from 2011…however there still seems to be an ‘ego gap’ when it comes to women receiving the recognition they deserve for their success in the business world. Business Strategist and female business owner Lisa Johnson believes this knocks the confidence of women who have a desire to start their own business and/or applying for the recognition they deserve. Lisa is of the view that women get stick and ridiculed for bragging about their abilities and achievements whereas men are seen as strong for doing the same. Lisa, a successful entrepreneur herself has avoided recognition by way of awards until this year, where she is the only female finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. She is now encouraging other female entrepreneurs to do the same and raise the profile of women in business and show why record numbers of women are finding success in running their own business.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Priya Lakhani, CEO & Founder of Century Tech, talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business to discuss BUSINESSES STRUGGLING TO RETAIN DIVERSE TECH TALENT. The tech sector continues to be a driving force behind the global economy, forecasted only to grow. But, it has yet to wholly address an ongoing problem – a marked lack of workforce diversity. By embracing diversity and creating inclusive workplaces, businesses can improve commercial performance1. However, 64% struggle to retain diverse tech talent, with a digital skills shortage widely publicised. Significant progress has been made, but 40% accept they still lack gender diversity, 41% ethnic diversity, 31% neurodiversity, and 34% socio-economic diversity, according to a new report from talent and reskilling specialist, Wiley Edge. More must be done. The Diversity in Tech 2023 report from Wiley Edge investigates why this diversity dilemma remains, and makes recommendations as to how it can be addressed. Declining Degrees Only 4% businesses consider all types of higher education qualifications when hiring for tech roles. Almost three in ten (27%) exclusively hire from top universities, and 44% admit they are more likely to do so. However, this is in decline, with 53% considering dropping the degree requirement from certain roles within the next year to open the door to more candidates and widen their talent pool. This could be because 45% find candidates often lack core technical skills despite holding a relevant degree (26% from top universities) while this is only true for 13% who explore a wider talent pool. If greater diversity is to be achieved, the belief that candidates need a degree from a top uni to succeed in technology must be addressed, and candidates must be provided more explicit and pragmatic guidelines for accessing the sector. Meanwhile, businesses must continue to heed the evidence that a diverse workforce offers much more than placated stakeholders, and value can be leveraged by widening talent searches beyond leading universities. The Big Tech Preference The tech sector is not limited to Big Tech, but 53% Gen Z tech specialists want to work for Big Tech over any other sectors – with financial services lagging far behind in second place (16%). This gravitational pull comes at a time when Big Tech firms are slowing or freezing recruitment, and making redundancies. In the last year alone, Google, Meta, Amazon, and other Big Tech laid off more than 100,000 employees2. Fierce competition for these firms is contributing to an environment where Gen Z professionals are struggling to secure roles. Education here is paramount, and the demographic needs to be made aware of the rewarding, well-paid, but often overlooked tech roles elsewhere in the sector. Improving Retention with Inclusion Despite great strides, three in five (60%) Gen Z tech workers feel uncomfortable in their role due to their gender (33% women), ethnicity (16%), socio-economicbackground (14%), and neurodevelopmental condition/disability (25%). Stigma must be tackled, with 18% blaming company culture, 25% bias from managers, and 23% microaggressions or aggressions from colleagues. Structural deficiencies must also be addressed, with 24% lacking mentoring, 20% lacking support for additional needs, 20% lacking career advancement opportunities, and 18% citing poor benefits packages. Reskilling to Increase Diversity Upskilling and reskilling initiatives have been proven to help improve recruitment drives (59%), retention (56%), and have enhanced workforce engagement (37%). A significant majority do back this, with 48% offering one or the other to existing tech employees, and 49% to all. If used more widely, this vital toolwill become vital in cultivating more diverse entry-level talent pipelines. Priya Lakhani OBE, Founder & CEO, CENTURY Tech Priya Lakhani OBE is the Founder CEO of CENTURY Tech, an artificial intelligence education technology company that develops AI-powered learning tools for schools, colleges, universities and employers across the world. Barrister and entrepreneur, Priya founded CENTURY in 2013 after being struck by underachievement rates in schools. A frequent keynote speaker and media commentator, Priya is also a co-founder of The Institute for Ethical AI in Education. Priya has been a member of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills’ Entrepreneurs’ Forum and an advisory board member to several educational/skills organisations. Priya was awarded Business Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009, The Mayor of London Fund’s Special Recognition Award 2016 and Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2014.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Sally Cope , Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for UK & Northern Europe talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business about Australia as it extends the Working Holiday Via Age to 35. For many, working abroad is nothing more than a pipe dream. But that could soon change from tomorrow (1st July 2023) with Australia’s long-awaited amendment to their Working Holiday Visa maximum age limit coming into place. There is now a five-year increase to the maximum age limit taking it to 35 from the original 30 years of age, meaning more Brits between the ages of 18-35 have the chance to work “down under”. The first change to the visa since it was introduced in 1975, it comes as the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement (UKFTA) enters into force from tomorrow (1st July 2023), with further changes to Australia’s Working Holiday Visa expected exactly a year later (1st July 2024), where Brits will be able to apply for up to three years to live and work in Australia without any specified work requirements. The life-changing opportunity could be grabbed by many UK workers, with new research from Tourism Australia revealing 45% of 25-to-34-year-olds wished they had taken a gap year when they had the chance, and close to 1 in 10 who believe they are too old to start again. Close to half of 25- to 34-year-olds (43%) are considering working abroad to advance their careers, so this five-year age range increase presents a world of openings to these young professionals. The higher minimum wage than the UK, coupled with an unemployment rate that remains near its lowest since the mid-1970s, also makes Australia an attractive option. The 2,800 hours of sunshine annually contributes to why weather (30%), lifestyle (27%) and new experiences (23%) are among the top reasons Brits choose to live and work abroad. Sally Cope, Tourism Australia’s Regional General Manager for UK & Northern Europe, believes the five-year age range increase presents a world of openings to young professionals and also offers an incredible lifestyle with Australia ready to welcome them. For more information on living and working in Australia, visit www.australia.com/workingholiday…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Jane Gratton, Head of Policy, British Chamber of Commerce talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business about how the UK is overlooking hidden talent as the skills gap remains high. Almost three in four (73%) UK organisations are experiencing skills shortages,remaining a top challenge facing employers, according to new data in the latest Business Barometer from The Open University and the British Chambers of Commerce. The annual report, which provides a temperature check on the UK skills landscape, highlights that despite the ongoing skills shortage, more than half (54%) do not have initiatives, skills programmes, or workplace adjustments in place for specific talent pools – including underrepresented groups, such as people with disabilities or workers from diverse ethnicities. The report suggests that employers are missing out on a “hidden talent pool” and an opportunity to “grow your own” talent, at a time where two in four (42%) organisations say they have been prevented from filling roles due to lack of applicants. The skills shortage also has a knock-on effect on existing staff morale and wellbeing, with three in four (72%) reporting increased workload on existing staff. Organisations also reported an impact on reduced activity or output (42%) and reduced long-term growth plans (40%), meaning the additional pressure is impacting the future of organisations which could lead to further challenges for the economy as well as meeting NetZero and equality, diversity and inclusion goals. Another concern is the threat of an ageing workforce retiring without employers having the skills to replace experienced employees, with almost a third (31%) reporting an increase in the number of employees over the age of 50 in the last three years. Despite this, 85% do not have a specific initiative in place for workersover 50, while 77% do not have any written annual plans to prepare for people exiting the business. While there is a collective effort to address the skills shortage as most organisations (79%) intend to use some form of training for their staff over the next twelve months, the reportreveals that organisations – especially SMEs – lack the necessary expertise and resources to strategically address the skills gaps and challenges effectively. As a result, many firms are trapped in a cycle of continual recruitment and retention challenges. About British Chambers of Commerce TheBritish Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sits at the heart of a powerful network of 53 Accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing tens of thousands of businesses of all sizes and within all sectors. Its Global Business Network connects exporters with more than 75 markets around the world. http://www.britishchambers.org.uk…
Chris Gale, Head of Social Impact at eBay talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business about CHANGING PERCEPTIONS AND HELPING REFUGEE ENTREPRENEURS TO SHINE. The homes for Ukraine scheme and almost 6,000 people who were granted resettlement from Afghanistan, are just a few examples of why the UK is known for being one of the most welcoming countries when people are fleeing conflict. Last year the UK government offered protection to 23,841 people (including dependants), but the long-term ambition is to enable people seeking asylum to start a new life here in the UK. Chris Gale, Head of Social Impact at eBay , explains how the online marketplace is supporting TERN to help refugees start up their own business and make a life for themselves in the UK. Thanks to eBay’s partnership with The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN), a social enterprise focused on providing mentorship, networking opportunities and access to funding for UK refugee entrepreneurs, those ambitions are already becoming a reality for hundreds of refugees in the UK. This World Refugee Day (Tuesday 20thJune 2023), the two organisations have made a joint commitment to support 60-100 refugee entrepreneurs who will be offered startup support, help developing their business acumen and peer-to-peer learning. A pilot for the TERN x eBay Seller Programme has already changed the life of Ehsan, who came to the UK from Iran with a degree in electronic engineering. He recently graduated from the Seller Programme, starting his own business the Tech Cell Group. Ehsan, who has always been fascinated by technology and used his skills to start his own business, developed an online eBay store restoring electricals which has gone from strength to strength. He’s now sold more than 42,000 refurbished phones and has even recruited two interns, who he is now training to repair electricals too.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
Donna Lyndsay, Strategic Market Lead – Environment and Sustainability at Ordnance Survey talks to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business about how the MAPPING TECH THAT COULD RESTORE TRUST IN CARBON CREDIT INDUSTRY WORTH BILLIONS A pilot scheme, that combines pioneering geospatial technology, Earth observation from space and AI, could provide the blueprint to help accuratelymonitor the booming global industry in carbon offsetting that is worth billions. Carbonoffsetting allows countries, companies or even individuals to compensate for their own carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits. These credits are essentially financial investments in schemes that restore large tracts of degraded ecosystems such as woodlands, rainforests or peatlands. These restored ecosystems help to remove largeamounts of carbon from the atmosphere. But the industry has attracted controversy over the lack of proper monitoring and accountability. Just how effective is that investment? And how rapidly and effectively is each ecosystem restoration project being repaired? Britain’s national mapping service, Ordnance Survey (OS) is piloting a scheme on a peat moor in Yorkshire that could be a game changer for theindustry by providing highly accurate monitoring of such restoration projects. OS say that using the innovative technology would embed trust back into the system and would enable investors to understand what they are investing in, the quality of that offset and to accurately measure it for the duration of the fund. The pilot scheme involves OS working with the government agency Natural England and scientists from Durham University to analyse the current condition of Thorne and Hatfield Moors, part of Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve near Doncaster. The vegetation is separated into different species and then each individualplant is located and identified. Then a digital signature is created for each plant type which will allow satellite imagery and AI to track the change in the different plant types through continual monitoring and recognise how well the peatland is being restored. Peatlands,are the largest natural carbon store on land, storing more carbon than is currently in the global atmosphere and have a net cooling effect on climate change but it is estimated that eighty percent of the UK’s peatlands are now degraded as a direct result of drainage for agriculture, burning and peat extraction for horticulture. If successful, the technique could be rolled out nationwide to increase investment for large-scale peatland restoration projects from carbon offsetting or carbon credits as the government believes restoration of the nation’s dwindling peatlands can help the UK reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050. And if it proves scaleable then OS and partners have the tools to test millions of hectares of sites around the globe.…
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Podcast Radio Business Interviews
JASMINE BIRTLES – FINANCIAL JOURNALIST AND TV PRESENTER + ANDREW LINDSAY – CO-CEO, UTILITY WAREHOUSE talk to Clayton M. Coke of Podcast Radio Business about The Rise of the Second Jobber! Whether it’s to meet a financial need, test driving a new career or to fulfil a lifelong passion, the way we work is evolving and more people are finding new and innovative ways than ever before to generate extra income – according to a landmark report. In collaboration with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), an in-depth study by Utility Warehouse (UW) indicates one in three Britons have multiple income streams – including taken on a second job, side hustle and even renting out spare rooms – with the equivalent of over 20 million now defined as Multi-income individuals (‘Miis’). Furthermore, almost half of the UK’s workforce (47%) are predicted to earn extra income by 2025 – up from 10% in 2017. As we move away from the traditional 9 to 5, the side hustle has grown in popularity. Indeed, hard-working Brits can earn almost £10,000 a year through a side-hustle or second job to supplement their main salary, earning on average around £780 each month from their secondary income. Conducted with over 10,000 UK adults with a second source of income, the research explores the main motivations as to why Britons are taking on a second job. Reasons for earning an additional source of income vary, but the cost-of-living crisis and rising household bills are the main factors, 35% and 34% respectively, while 18% of people cited the Covid-19 pandemic, 15% fear of a recession and 8% Brexit. When asked about the main benefits of their source of secondary income, 40.6% of Miis responded they have been able to make money in their free time. 30.1% stated that they have more money to spend themselves or their families and 23.6% responded they have been able to make money from their hobby or passion. Growing your savings is important for protecting against unexpected costs and an increase in the cost of living. A second income can also provide you with job security in the event you decide to change careers or work less hours. However, the report finds that almost a quarter (23%) say they don’t talk about their additional income with family or friends in case they assume they are struggling with money. Despite this, Miis are helping to power the UK economy and last year spent £55 billion of their extra income on UK businesses – supporting more than 364,000 jobs to deliver a £30 billion boost to the nation’s coffers. * JASMINE BIRTLES – FINANCIAL JOURNALIST AND TV PRESENTER TV and radio presenter, ‘Miss Moneysaver’ columnist for the Daily Mail, director of three companies, author of 38 books, money expert, techlash exponent and stand-up comedian (yes really), Jasmine has run things her way for the whole of her career. She is best known as a Money Expert and TV and radio personality who puts the ‘funny’ into ‘money’. Her fun, lively style and common-sense manner means that she can explain any complicated concept in a way that normal people like you and I can understand. Jasmine is also the founder and editor of the country’s best-known money-making website MoneyMagpie.com which is the go-to site for information and help on making, as well as saving, money day-to-day. ANDREW LINDSAY – CO-CEO, UTILITY WAREHOUSE Born in Portree ( Isle of Skye ), Andrew Lindsay MBE won an historic gold medal rowing as one of the coxed eights team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.Lindsay walked away from the sport to pursue a career in business and is the Co-CEO of The Utility Warehouse.…
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