Episode 74
It's business as usual on Business Unmuted this week as once again Graham Robb is back to take on the big issues facing the business world this week.
In this episode, he, along with our expert panel, will discuss how growth is manifesting in the tech industry, take a look at the Local Digital Capital Index from techUK, and analyse the effects that recent government actions have had on the property market.
To navigate us through these topics we are joined by Matt Robinson, Head of Nations and Regions for techUK, and Martin Williamson, Director and Head of Residential Property at Latimer Hinks Solicitors.
Episode 75
This episode of Business Unmuted (which was recorded 5pm Wednesday 19th October) sees Graham Robb once again joined by an expert business panel to discuss some of the hot topics in the world of business.
The points of discussion covered this week include fuel pricing and taxation, how lithium could soon be mined in Weardale and getting inside the mind of your customers.
To help navigate these topics this week we welcome Howard Cox, from Fair Fuel UK, Stewart Dickson of Weardale Lithium, and Kate Cooper-Fay from CXY.
Episode 72
Following the Chancellor's "mini-budget" last Friday, our host Graham Robb takes a look at the budget itself, as well as the knock-on effects it has had in the markets.
The expert panel at his side this week is Kevin Gaskell, author of "Catching Giants" and business fixer, Pamela Petty, founder of Entreprenising, and Aman Chahal, CEO at TaperedPlus.
Together they look at the fiscal measures outlined in the mini-budget, and consider the reactions from financial institutions and the markets.
Episode 73
In the wake of the Conservative Party Conference, with its twists and turns regarding tax cuts, Graham Robb once again looks at the current climate in the business world.
This week he is joined by Julian Jessop and Sam Harrison. Julian Jessop, an independent economist, walks us through his views on the latest policy announcements from the government, how he thinks they could have been handled more effectively, and where he sees the future of the British economy.
Sam Harrison is the CEO of Animmersion, a Teesside based business specialising in augmented and virtual reality, and he walks us through what his business does and his insights into running a business in the ever-changing landscape of business in Teesside.
Episode 70
In this episode of Business Unmuted, Graham Robb and guests pay tribute to the late Elizabeth II before going on to discuss the UK's latest labour market statistics and how to fill the record number of vacancies, which could be holding back the economy.
In this episode he is joined by an expert panel: Donna James, research director at Populus Select; Nicky Jolley, founder of HR2DAY; and Nigel Peacock and Tim Lambert from architect firm SPA Architects
Episode 71
Ahead of the Chancellor's "Mini-Budget" (or Fiscal Statement) this week, our host Graham Robb takes a look at what could be announced.
In a special interview with David Smith, Economics Editor for The Sunday Times, he tells us about what he thinks will and what should be in the statement. We also have our expert panel in, this week featuring Martin Anderson, CEO of Lemon Contact Centre, and Reshma Begun, the FSB Development Manager for the North East of England and the Tees Valley.
Together they cover the topics of energy prices (including the details of the Energy Price Guarantee), what will happen to VAT, and the prospect of so-called Investment Zones.
Business Unmuted
Business Unmuted is back after the summer break, and alongside it comes a new government. Our host Graham Robb is here to take a look at what this new government means for the country and, in particular, the business community.
He is joined by an expert panel: Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors plc, Chris Lloyd, chief feature writer for The Northern Echo, and Emily Carver, acting Communications Director and Head of Media at the Institute of Economic Affairs.
The panel discuss a range of topics about what direction the new government will be going in, chiefly looking at the energy crisis, taxation strategy, and what the change in leadership means for levelling up.
Sponsored by Vertu Motors plc.
Episode 67
In this week's episode, Graham Robb takes a close look at the state of the food and drink industry in the UK.
He and the expert panel discuss the food supply chain, the challenges and opportunities with regulation of food production, and they speak with an entrepreneur in the beverage space.
The panel today is Alan Wilkinson, Head of Food and Agriculture at HSBC, Mark Jones, Head of Food and Drink at Gordons LLP, and James Henderson, one of the founders of a premium hard seltzer brand Yan Tan.
Episode 68
In the final episode before our summer break, Graham Robb leads a discussion on some of the hot topics in business at the moment.
Social mobility; access to education and opportunities, the very latest retail sales figures, and how the Nation Insurance Contribution threshold will impact businesses bottom line.
Joining the discussion is Roger Clarke, from the Alumni Leadership Board of The Sutton Trust; Nicola Bellerby, Tax Partner at Clive Owen LLP; and Richard Lane, Chief Commercial Officer at DurhamLane.
Business Unmuted will be taking a summer break during July and August, but make sure to keep an eye out for its return in September.
The Business of Sport - Live from Vertu Motors BMW Sunderland
This is a special episode of Business Unmuted, recorded live in the Sunderland dealership of our sponsor, Vertu Motors BMW.
Sport is big business both in the UK and around the world - worth trillions to the global economy. Being such an important and high profile sector comes with a responsibility to its customers, fans and the communities which provide unwavering support to make their business viable.
Graham Robb is joined by Jamie Wright, Managing Director of Sunderland AFC's Foundation of Light; Paul Blake, MD of Newcastle Eagles, Britain's most successful basketball team; Robert Forrester, the CEO of Vertu Motors plc, which sponsors and supports teams in a wide range of sports, from professional to grassroots level.
There is also a special bonus interview with Justina Williams, owner of the EXCELR8 motorsport sport team, who touches upon the importance of delivering results to sponsors and growing female representation on the racetrack.
Episode 65
Caroline Theobald CBE is stepping in for our usual host Graham Robb this week.
She is joined by an expert panel to tackle some of the big talking points from the world of business this week. Together they'll discuss the current state of the construction, industry, how the function and use of office space is changing, and how we can go about encouraging new entrepreneurs to get into business.
The panel this week includes: Peter Snaith, Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, Tim Bailey, the Chair of Constructing Excellence in the North East, and Kevin Gaskell, a leadership and growth expert.
Episode 63
Our regular host, Graham Robb, is back at the helm this week, and he’s ready to tackle some of the hot button issues in business from the past week.
He, along with our expert panel, will be taking a look at the world of insurance, energy prices for businesses, and how small businesses are having to innovate.
To navigate these subjects, we have our panel: Sam White, Chair of Freedom Group Services, Phil Foster, Chief Executive at Love Energy Savings, and Elizabeth Grave, founder of Mocha Chocolate.
Episode 64
Our host Graham Robb is back again this week and he will be taking a look at some of the hot topics from the world of business in the last week.
This week, with figures from Zoopla showing growth in the housing market cooling, our panel will be talking about the state of the property market as a whole, how the process of moving house itself can be improved, and also taking a look at recruitment, specifically retraining fifty-somethings for new roles.
Joining us to tackle these issues are Ben Quaintrell, Founder of My Property Box, Jack Roberts, CEO of SlothMove, and Russell Haworth, CEO of NBS Construction.
Episode 61
Graham Robb is back again hosting this week's look at the hot topics in business.
This week, with an expert panel, Business Unmuted takes a look at the economic state of the North East, the future of education and what that means for business, and our panel give their "reasons to be cheerful".
On the show this week we have Steven Hugill, editor of North East Times, Dr Huw Williams, headmaster of Yarm School, and Gareth Smyth, CEO of Hilton Smythe Business Advisers.
Episode 62
This week sees the return of guest host Mike Hughes, the Business Editor for The Northern Echo.
In this episode, he'll be taking a look at what is up for debate in the world of business from the past week. On the agenda today: the recent launch of the Middlesbrough Development Corporation, the Power of Women campaign, and what needs to happen to combat the cost of living crisis. To tackle these topics
Mike is joined by an expert panel: Andy Preston, Mayor of Middlesbrough, Martin Williamson, head of the Residential Property at Latimer Hinks Solicitors, and Rosalind Stuart, a Director at the Power of Women campaign.
Episode 59
Business Unmuted host Graham Robb leads a roundup of the economy ahead of the Easter break.
Following a week of significant economic announcements, from GDP to jobs figures, inflation and car sales figures – plus big happenings in Westminster – an expert panel give their assessment of how the UK is shoring up.
Guests this week: Fraser Brown, Founder and Managing Director of motor trade consultancy MotorVise; Emily Carver from the Institute of Economic Affairs; and Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Business.
Episode 60
Business Unmuted is back after a brief break for Easter, and with it, Graham Robb returns to lead a discussion on the hot topics in the world of business this week.
Subjects up for debate in this episode include: how confident businesses are feeling in the north east, the latest trends in the commercial property market, and the importance of British manufacturing.
To join in the discussion we have our expert panel, made up of Chris Pearson, Partner at property consultancy Naylors Gavin Black, Darren Winter, Managing Director of Duco Digital, and also runs the Redcar & Cleveland Business Network, and John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, which represents the British manufacturing community.
Episode 57
We're back in the studio for the latest episode of Business Unmuted.
This week our host Graham Robb tackles the big issues in the world of business.
In the wake of the Chancellor's Spring Statement, we'll be looking at the changes in fuel taxes, as well as discussing cybercrime and any challenges with recruitment that our panel are facing. The panel this week is Steve Turner, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, Bob Borthwick, Director at Scott Bros, and Damien Harrison, Head of Operations at Bondgate IT.
Episode 58
This week Graham Robb once again hosts a panel of business leaders as they tackle the big issues of the week.
This week our panel will be talking about green technology, the record number of job vacancies, and how to attract talent into regions of the UK to help fill those roles.
Our panel this week is Sarah Ellerby, Chief Executive of Nova Pangaea Technologies, Alistair McLeod, Chief Executive of Gray Fox Consulting, and Sim Hall, Managing Director of Populus Select.
Episode 55
This week, Business Unmuted host Graham Robb is joined by an expert panel: Clara Challoner Walker of Cosy Cottage Soaps, Matt Hewison of CyberWhite and Rick Smith of Forbes Burton.
Together, our panel talk through some pressing issues - how retail has evolved and it's future prospects, impact of Russian sanctions, cyber security and the looming prospect of a recession.
Episode 56
This week we are on location for a very special episode. You join us at one of the dealerships of our sponsor: Vertu BMW.
This week we take a look at what the Chancellor delivered in his Spring Statement.
On our panel we have Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors, small business advisor Pamela Petty, Bill Scott, Chief Executive of WIlton Engineering and Joy Allen the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham.
Episode 53
This week our host Graham Robb is in our studio to discuss some of the biggest issues in business from the week.
This week we're looking at the end of Covid restrictions, tensions in Ukraine and North East Fintech.
He is joined this week by Rik Hellewell from Ovenu and Aaron Holmes of Kani.Episode 54
This week is a special episode, taking a look back at the last three years of the UK economy and looking at where experts think it will go in the future.
Our host, Graham Robb, is joined by a specialist panel this week: James Pomeroy, Global Economist for HSBC, John Elliott, Chairman of long-standing washing machine manufacturer Ebac, and Mandy Ridyard, Financial Director at aerospace engineering firm Produmax.
Together they reflect on the impact of Brexit, Covid, and the more recent conflict in Ukraine, then give their views on where they think we will go from here.
Episode 51
Our usual host Graham Robb is still enjoying some much needed time off this week, so Business Unmuted's producer Joss Havakin is in the hot seat. He's joined on the sofas by James Dentith from Baltic Apprenticeships, a leading apprenticeship training provider, and David Osborne from Roman, which has the UK's largest shower manufacturing plant. As it is National Apprentceships week, naturally they'll talk all things apprenticeships, along with taking a look at rising inflation and the levelling up agenda.Episode 52
Graham Robb returns from his time off to host this week's episode of Business Unmuted. Topics on the agenda this week include rising inflation and the corresponding wage inflation, increases in productivity and the knock-on effects of the crisis on the Ukraine border. He is joined this week by Fraser Brown from MotorVise, Richard Osborne from UK Business Forums, and Mike Hutchinson from NTG Precision Engineering.Episode 49
Our host Graham Robb is joined by Economist Julian Jessop, Ian Henderson of Boiler Plan UK, Anthony Chadwick of Alpha Vet International and Former Secretary of State for Defence, Sir Michael Fallon.Episode 50
In the 50th episode of Business Unmuted we are joined by guest host Mike Hughes, the Business & Commercial Editor at The Northern Echo.Mike, along with an expert panel, takes a look at the recently released Levelling Up White Paper, and examines what it means for different regions around the country, especially in the North East. Joining him to dive into the detail are Alan Neale from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board, Ian McElroy from Tier One Capital, and Lee Powell from GMI Construction Group.Episode 47
Business Unmuted returns with our host Graham Robb to take the first look of the year at the hot topics in the business world. This week we're looking ahead at 2022: the future of working from home, how the continuing omicron wave will affect businesses and how people and skills are moving around the country. Joining the panel this week are Mike Hughes, Business Editor for The Northern Echo, Sim Hall, Managing Director of Populus Select and Research, and Jack Latus, Managing Director of Latus Health.Episode 48
Graham Robb once again hosts the weekly discussion of this week's hot topics in business. He is joined by an expert panel: Dr David Moore of the British Constructional Steelwork Association, Ashley Fenwick of My Property Box, and Martin Anderson of Lemon Business Solutions. Together, our panel talk through some pressing issues. They cover inflation and the knock on effects of it, the recent unemployment figures and the current state of the housing market.Episode 45
Our host Graham Robb is joined by an eclectic panel this week to discuss the hot topics in the business world from the last seven days.
They talk about what the main challenges of recruiting in the pandemic are, the difficulties of starting a business during the pandemic and the possible impacts of new government restrictions on businesses.
The panel this week is Ian Wardle from Thirteen Group, Stephen Nicholson from S Nicholson & Sons, Dominic Bohanna from Santini 7 Sports and Rhiannon Beeson from Giacom.Episode 46
In the final episode of Business Unmuted for 2021, Graham Robb once again tackles some of the biggest issues in business from the week. This week he, along with the expert panel, takes a look at the new Omicron restrictions put in place, how payment options are changing for customers and how that sculpts change in businesses, and also how to go about recruiting and then retaining talent in the changing landscape of work. The panel this week is Nicky Jolley, Managing Director at HR2day, Colin Neil, UK Managing Director at Adyen, and Damien Harrison, Head of Operations and Bondgate IT.Episode 43
We have an interesting special episode this week, as host Graham Robb takes a look at what it means to be named the UK's City of Culture.
He is joined by representatives from two of the North East and Yorkshire's contenders for the 2025 title alongside one from the 2021 UK City of Culture, Coventry.
From Bradofrd we have Mick Chandsoor, Head of Partnerships at Bradford 2025, from County Durham's bid we have Sally Dixon, Assistant Director of partnerships at Beamish Museum, and from Coventry we are joined by Charlotte Booth, Programme Development Manager for Coventry City of Culture 2021.
What follows is an insightful discussion on what it means to become the UK City of Culture and why these two parts of the North East and Yorkshire think they should take the title.Episode 44
This week our host Graham Robb is in our studio ready to discuss the hot topics in business from the last seven days. On the agenda this week is the new restrictions in place for the Omicron variant, new government investment in the North East, the state of the market for people looking to invest in small businesses as well as Small Business Saturday, and a look at the possibility of a Bank of England base rate increase. Joining the panel this week are Rowena Wallace of Wharton Construction, Stephen Patterson of NE1, and Gareth Smyth of Hilton Smythe.Episode 41
This week Graham Robb is joined by a panel of industry experts to discuss this week's big hot topic COP26 and the wider conversation about building sustainable businesses for the future. The panel this week includes Chris McDonald, Chief Executive of the Materials Processing Institute, Jeremy Middleton, entrepreneur and angel investor as well as founder of Charity Escapes, and Neil Gaught, sustainability expert and co-founder of Single Organizing Idea. There is also information about a very important charitable project from Jeremy's Charity Escapes, so make sure to watch to the end!
Episode 42
Recorded live at the Entrepreneurs' Forum's "Together We Can Take On The World" conference on the 11th of November, this special episode takes a look at what came out of COP 26.
Graham Robb gives an introduction before we meet the panel, but the main discussion is in audio form only, so please feel free to keep the window open and take a listen to this episode.
On the panel to cover this big topic are: Prof. Matt Boyle from Turntide Transport, Kevin Brown from Pacifica Group, Tristan Zipfel from EDF Renewables UK&I and Natasha Boulding from Sphera.Episode 39: Budget Unmuted Special
This week is a special, not just because it is a budget reaction special episode, but also because it is the first Business Unmuted episode filmed live with an in-person audience at Vertu BMW Teesside.
This week's panel features three of the North East's most influential business leaders: Ben Houchen, the Tees Valley Mayor, Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors plc, and Gill Hunter, Managing Partner at Square One Law. They join us to give us their reaction to the Chancellor's latest budget, just a few hours after it was delivered in Parliament.Episode 40
We're back in the studio this week, as our host Graham Robb once again tackles the big business issues of the week with an expert panel.
This week topics include fighting inflation with interest rates, general business confidence and a discussion on the future of Teesside with regards to the Teesworks site.
Joining the panel this week are Steven Hugill, Editor of North East Times, Shak Asghar, Chief Executive Officer at Nudl, and Paul Davison, Managing Director at Serios Group. Elva Geaney of Deloitte also makes a brief appearance to tell us about an exciting upcoming event in the North East.Episode 38
This week our host Graham Robb brings another discussion on the hot topics of the business world from the last week. He takes a look at the HGV driver shortage, the current rate of inflation along with interest rates, and the state of the property market.
The panel this week includes Caroline Moody of Moody Logistics, Nicola Bellerby of Clive Owen LLP and Ben Quaintrell of My Property Box.Episode 37
This week our host Graham Robb takes another look at the key discussion point in the world of business from the past week. Topics covered this week include the record number of job vacancies continuing to rise, issues with supply chains and the knock on effects with credit and borrowing, and a look at how re-evaluating how apprentices fit into businesses could help fill vacant job roles. The panel also takes a longer term look at the future, to see where they see the economy in the upcoming new year.
Joining the panel this week are Harry Rix of Expensemate and James Dentith from Baltic Apprenticeships.Episode 36
This week our host Graham Robb leads a discussion on the hot topics in the business world this week. The panel discuss what the end of furlough means for the employment landscape, and how the pandemic as a whole has affected the structure of businesses. He also conducted a special interview with Mimi Spier from Turntide Technologies about the company's new green technology and their investment in the UK. The panel in the Studio is made up of Nicky Jolley from HR2day, who returns to share her findings from some important HR research, and Charlene Lyons of Black Sheep Brewery.Episode 35
This week, our host Graham Robb chairs a discussion on the hot topics in the business world from the last seven days. Topics up for debate include levelling up, with special interviews with Paul Howell MP and George Freeman MP, the Minister for Science, Research and Innovation. The panel this week is made up of Gill Hunter, managing partner at Square One Law, Philip Cunliffe, Insider editor for the North East, Ireland, South East and Central & East of England, and David Stockton, Chief Executive of the Great North Air Ambulance Service.