Tony Fernandes has worked in the music industry, owned a formula one team and co-owned a professional London football club, but these days he’s concentrating on his core business as the CEO of the parent company of AirAsia, a Malaysia-based budget airline he co-founded that has transformed travel in South East Asia. We speak to him about his varied career, the airline industry’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, and the recent safety issues at Boeing. (Picture: Tony Fernandes. Credit: EPA-EFE/RE...
Feb 16, 2024•18 min
Only four sportspeople have turned success on the field to success in business, making it to the 10 figure club. Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Magic Johnson, the last to join in October 2023, according to the wealth-tracking business magazine, Forbes. Matt Lines finds out the secrets behind the fortunes of these four athletes and who could be joining the list in future. (Picture: L-R: Tiger Woods. Credit: Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports. Magic Johnson. Credit: Allison Dinner/EPA-...
Feb 15, 2024•18 min
Scaring people has become big business. There’s even a catch-all term for the trend: dark tourism, where thrill seekers visit the scenes or replicate the experiences of horrendous moments in history. Elizabeth Hotson goes to investigate. (Picture: Someone wearing a skeleton mask, pointing at the camera. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson
Feb 13, 2024•18 min
We hear from former moderator Daniel Motaung, who has taken Meta and their outsourcing partner, Sama, to an employment tribunal in Nairobi. US lawyer Cori Crider, from tech justice NGO Foxglove - which supports Daniel and others who have taken legal action - believes that content moderation is one of the most important tech jobs, particularly when there is a conflict in the region. The recent war in Ethiopia and some of the posts made on Facebook were the catalyst for another lawsuit challenging...
Feb 12, 2024•18 min
The secretary general of the world’s biggest humanitarian network – the International Federation of the Red Cross - rose from humble beginnings in Nepal. We hear how Jagan Chapagain became involved in humanitarian work, and how he deals with all of the current global crises, whilst remaining politically neutral. (Picture: Jagan Chapagain. Credit: Getty Images) Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Olie D'Albertanson
Feb 09, 2024•18 min
From tackling the long commute to sleeping on the job - we head to Lagos, New York, Tokyo, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) and Dublin to look at the diverse ways businesses are attempting to boost productivity and therefore also boost profits. We hear from businesses installing sleep pods in the office and others using technology to boost production on their farms and in their factories but are these techniques really working? Producer: Hannah Mullane Presenter: Leanne Byrne (Image: Buildings wor...
Feb 08, 2024•18 min
It's an exclusive business club with over 8,000 companies, which put environmental and social values at the heart of their work. But the B Corp badge has come under some criticism for taking on some multinational companies - some smaller businesses say that has diluted its values. We hear from Anjli Raval, who reports on what goes on inside the world's biggest companies for the Financial Times. One of the biggest growth areas for B Corps is expected to be Africa. Tahira Nizari is the co-founder ...
Feb 07, 2024•18 min
As Malmö receives the keys to this year's event, we look at how Copenhagen in Denmark could be the real economic winners - without having to pay for it. When the Swedish city last hosted the competition in 2013, officials estimated around a third of overnight stays were in the Danish capital. We speak to officials in both cities - just 30km apart and connected by the Øresund Bridge - to examine what fans can expect, and explore how other nations around the world get in on the action when a neigh...
Feb 06, 2024•18 min
From its emergence in London’s underground scene and pirate radios in the early 2000s, to becoming a major music genre, Grime has come a long way – contributing more than £2bn to the UK economy and creating opportunities to members of some of Britain’s most deprived communities. Dylan Kwabela Mills - professionally known as Dizzee Rascal - is someone who has been at the centre of this genre from its inception, and who many credit for Grime’s exposure to pop culture. Twenty years on, the electron...
Feb 05, 2024•18 min
The continent's fashion industry holds all the cards to becoming one of the world’s fashion leaders. It has the natural resources, the workforce and a growing middle class who want to wear African brands. However, there are challenges including poor infrastructure, lack of investment and limited training opportunities in fashion - highlighted in a recent Unesco report. We hear from designers on the continent and overseas to get their opinion on what’s needed to help the industry grow and learn w...
Feb 05, 2024•18 min
The island of Mauritius is well established as a luxury holiday destination with five star hotels, beautiful beaches and clear blue waters. But in the last couple of years it has also become Africa’s financial hub, attracting billions of dollars of investment by leveraging on decades of political and economic stability, a strategic location on the Indian Oean plus a multiple taxation system that incentivise investors. Critics say it’s a tax haven - an allegation the island is keen to put at bay....
Feb 02, 2024•18 min
We’re going behind the scenes at two former nuclear power stations – one that’s recently closed, and another that’s been out of action for 25 years. Both are at Hinkley Point in Somerset, in the south of England. What happens when the generators stop? We look into the unique challenges of cleaning up radioactive sites safely. Produced and presented by Theo Leggett (Image: Steam escapes from Hinkley Point B in 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
Feb 01, 2024•18 min
In the second part of the series, in the second part of the series, we look at supermarkets and restaurants. Dynamic pricing it could help cut down on food waste, but would it favour people who can choose when they shop? And we ask why restaurant-goers have yet to develop a taste for it. We also find out how artists like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have experimented with dynamic pricing to set the prices for their concerts. Finally, we ask if dynamic pricing needs to be regulated more str...
Jan 31, 2024•19 min
The retail strategy allows companies to constantly tweak their prices in response to changes in the market. In the first of two programmes, we look at how dynamic pricing works in the airline industry, at ride-hailing companies like Uber and on India’s sprawling rail network. And we speak to a director of e-commerce at US electronics firm Harman International, who tells us how dynamic pricing has enhanced its business, increasing revenue, margins and making the company more efficient. Archive of...
Jan 30, 2024•19 min
The tourism sector could be missing out on billions by not adapting to the disabled market. However, some businesses and individuals are trying to change that. Speaking to people in North America, Greece and Spain who are making a difference, we find out the challenges in accessible tourism and the potential revenue if things change. We also travel to Amsterdam to meet a woman helping businesses become more accessible. Presented and produced by Sean Allsop (Picture: Man using a wheelchair takes ...
Jan 29, 2024•18 min
Not many fashion designers can say they've starred in their own TV series alongside their mother. For this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta talks to Indian entrepreneur and social media influencer Masaba Gupta. The daughter of Indian actor Neena Gupta and West Indian cricketer Sir Viv Richards, Masaba discusses how her mixed heritage has inspired the vibrant prints she's become famous for. (Picture: Masaba Gupta) Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Lexy O'Connor...
Jan 26, 2024•14 min
We’re in the Paris suburb of Seine -Saint-Denis which will host most of the games this summer. It’s an area with some of the highest levels of poverty in the whole of France, and a bad reputation. In the minds of most French people, the area conjures up images of drugs, crime and riots. Locals say that reputation is unfair – and they’re hoping the investment of the games, and a place on the world stage, goes some way to changing that. But can it? Presented and produced by John Laurenson (Image: ...
Jan 25, 2024•19 min
We look at how many employers still base decisions on a person's age, despite the strong pressures in higher income countries to retain and encourage older staff. What are the underlying reasons for this prejudice? And Ed meets a cosmetic doctor at a central London clinic to discuss the increase in demand for anti-ageing procedures, for people who want to look younger at work. Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood (Picture: A man and a woman sit at a table at work, with a woman standing u...
Jan 24, 2024•18 min
One in two people are ageist, according to the World Health Organization. Ed Butler looks at the scale of the perceived problem, hearing from workers and experts. In the UK and US, for instance, more than a quarter of over-50s report experiences of ageism in the last 12 months. One recent global survey found that it’s the most socially accepted prejudice, more widespread than either racism or sexism. And how much is ageism a factor in this year’s US presidential race? (Picture: Timothy Tan worki...
Jan 22, 2024•18 min
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to deal with - and they're a nightmare for any town or city that relies on a thriving hospitality industry. In October 2023, French government officials had to act rapidly following news headlines claiming there'd been a rise in infestations in Paris, in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games. Infestations can damage reputations, and lead to financial losses due to compensation claims and costly pest control treatments. But scientists are developing solutions to ...
Jan 18, 2024•18 min
Once a much desired badge of authority and quality, on some social media platforms the blue tick (or check) is now available to anyone who chooses to buy one. But has this been a popular move? And has the monetising of verification meant that the blue tick has lost its credibility? We hear from industry experts who can shed some light on verification, which has dramatically changed since Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, in October 2022. Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings (Image:...
Jan 17, 2024•18 min
We look at how the country can grow its economy in 2024. In November 2023, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez won a second term as Spain's prime minister, and said his focus would be reducing public debt and helping key sectors such as tourism and the automotive industry. Plus the government wants to become a leader in renewables. Presenter: Ashish Sharma (Image: Woman takes a selfie in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)
Jan 16, 2024•18 min
The running shoe industry is worth around 50 billion dollars across the world, with more and more of us taking part in the sport. With more popularity comes more competition, so what are brands doing to keep consumers interested? We ask the chief marketing officer at Swiss sportswear company, ON, and find out how it helps sales when a top athlete wears their shoes. And as the debate around 'super shoes' rumbles on, are they really worth the expensive price tag? US marathon winner Kellyn Taylor t...
Jan 15, 2024•19 min
It's widely recognised that we are bombarded with fast-paced imagery in the modern world, whether it's social media videos, or digital billboards in city spaces. But there has been a similar explosion in sound, says advertising entrepreneur Michele Arnese. He thinks brands can only compete with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Dougal Shaw speaks to the Italian tech entrepreneur who trained as a classical musician, but founded an advertising company that helps companies stand out with di...
Jan 12, 2024•18 min
Semiconductors hit the news during the Covid-19 pandemic, as issues with supply chains led to shortages of cars and soaring prices. Since then, geopolitical tensions have impacted the industry. 90% of the world's most advanced chips are made by TSMC in Taiwan. Now, countries all over the world are investing billions of dollars into the industry, so that manufacturing of these chips can happen in more places and alleviate some of the problems supply chains have faced in the last few years. In tod...
Jan 11, 2024•18 min
The Caribbean island imports around 90% of its food and by law only US ships can be used to transport it – which pushes up the price. We speak to islanders who think that needs to change, and are pushing for Puerto Rico to become more self sufficient. Weather events like Hurricane Maria, which left many without power and water for months, have brought the issue to the forefront once again. We meet a new generation who are leading the way, using new technology to try and make it easier, and cheap...
Jan 10, 2024•18 min
Almost 60% of the world’s population live in cities. And this trend is expected to continue - by 2050 nearly 7 of 10 people will live in urban environments. Although more than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities, there are challenges: increasing carbon emissions and environmental pollution, traffic congestion and urban vulnerability, exposed by natural disasters such as floods and storms. The creation of a digital twin - a digital representation of a real city, infrastructure or even a whol...
Jan 09, 2024•18 min
Twice in 2023, the American government faced the prospect of having to shut down because politicians in congress couldn’t agree on a budget to fund it. Each time, a shutdown was narrowly averted – by last minute, short-term deals. Now, a third deadline is looming in mid-January. It leaves politicians – with fierce disagreements over what services the government should pay for, and how – little time to reach an agreement. We look at the impact of this uncertainty on businesses, and ask, in an ele...
Jan 08, 2024•18 min
For 70 years, Pearl & Dean has been at the forefront of cinema advertising in the UK. Its CEO, Kathryn Jacob has been leading the company for 18 of them. But it's been a rocky few years for the movie industry, as it battles the economic effects of the Covid pandemic. In this edition of Business Daily meets, Kathryn discusses how cinemas are recovering, and how the advertising industry is slowly embracing diversity. (Picture: Kathryn Jacob) Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw...
Jan 05, 2024•18 min
How easy is it to open a bank account in your country? Around the world, 1.4 billion people can’t get a bank account, and two-thirds of them are in low and middle income countries. People from migrant communities also struggle to access formal banking services. We hear from 19 year-old Josue Calderon. Originally from El Salvador, he arrived in the United States when he was 16. He tells Sam Fenwick about the challenges of only being able to use cash when he first arrived in the US. Sam also speak...
Jan 04, 2024•18 min
