This week, Elon Musk’s satellite and rocket production company SpaceX confirmed its plan to take the company public. As part of the IPO, according to the securities filing, the company plans to offer retail investors the chance to buy stock. Could it all be a game changer for the space sector? And will this mean a wall of money chasing space-related opportunities? Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, columnist at The Times and business correspondent at Times Radio Guest: Mark Bogett, CEO at Seraphim Sp...
May 22, 2026•30 min
The uncertainty dominating British politics in the last half decade has ramped up to a full-blown drama in recent days. As uncertainty hangs over Prime MInister Keir Starmer's premiership and a possible leadership challenge looms, we consider: what does this chaos mean for the British business community? Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, columnist at The Times and business correspondent at Times Radio Guests: Richard Fletcher, business editor, The Times Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times Prod...
May 14, 2026•30 min
LinkedIn is not without its critics, but there is no doubt it provides a great way for professionals and founders to build a following, a presence and to share their ideas. We asked LinkedIn’s chief economic opportunity officer Aneesh Raman about the best ways to use the platform. Read more: Crying videos on LinkedIn? It’s not a good look, says top exec Presenter: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Guests: Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn Pr...
May 13, 2026•6 min
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on the workplace is inevitable - but are there ways to protect your business and career? Aneesh Raman, chief economic opportunity office and the co-author of Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI tells us why the impact of AI is not pre-determined, and how workers should go about adapting to this rapidly changing environment. Presenters: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Guests: Aneesh Raman, Chief Economic Opportunity O...
May 08, 2026•29 min
Cinemas have had a rough fight for audiences ever since television arrived in our homes. The competition is now tougher than ever - streaming services, all kinds of online content available for free, and a culture hooked on short, endlessly scrollable clips. What is cinema’s role in this new entertainment economy - and can it still thrive? Presenter: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Guests: Suzie Welch, Managing Director UKI & Group Chief People Officer at ODEON ...
May 01, 2026•27 min
How much pressure is there on companies to dial back on linking pay to ESG -- environment, social and governance -- in light of the Trump administration? Presenters: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Dominic O’Connell, columnist at The Times and business correspondent at Times Radio Guests: Pippa Begg, Board Intelligence Richard Belfield, WTW Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producer: Miriam Hall Photo credit: Getty Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Ac...
Apr 29, 2026•6 min
British companies have nearly always paid less than the Americans – but as the global war for talent heats up, is lower remuneration costing the UK a competitive edge? Read more: Could US-style 1,000% bonuses be heading to the City? Jaw-dropping salaries put top AI talent out of reach for UK unicorns Presenters: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Dominic O’Connell, columnist at The Times and business correspondent at Times Radio Guests: Pippa Begg, Board Intelligence R...
Apr 24, 2026•30 min
Last week, two successful young UK founders joined The Business - venture capitalist Harry Stebbings, who founded 20VC and Amy knight, whose company Must Have Ideas sells home cleaning products. Both have a full in-office policy, believing it is best for their companies, and the only way for their staff to thrive. In this bonus episode, we talk about why they believe "in-office" is the best, and only way to go. Presenter Hannah Prevett, associate business editor, Sunday Times Guests: Harry Stebb...
Apr 22, 2026•7 min
The Sunday Times Young Power List drops today: 30 of the nation’s most inspiring, influential people who are under the age of 30. On this episode, we’re speaking to two members of the next generation of British business talent about taking a leap, building a company in your early twenties– and what it’s like to launch a venture in the UK today. Is age a barrier to forming a business? Is university degree a waste of time? And is a commitment to hustle culture imperative to making something of you...
Apr 17, 2026•30 min
With stock prices and energy costs reeling as the fragile Middle East ceasefire threatens to shatter, we ask what happens next for global business? And what has the conflict taught us about long-term weaknesses in the British economy? Presenters: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday Times Richard Fletcher, business editor of The Times Guests: Simon French, Chief Economist & Head of Research, Panmure Liberum Jorge León, Senior Vice President & Head of Geopolitical Analy...
Apr 09, 2026•28 min
New week, the government’s Employment Rights Act begins to take effect. The legislation, a fulfillment of one of Labour’s biggest manifesto promises, changes sick pay, parental leave and unfair dismissal rights. Plus, future measures will target zero hours contracts. Keir Starmer has described the legislation as the “biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation”. But - coming on top of increases in the National Minimum Wage, higher national insurance contributions and increases in business...
Apr 03, 2026•30 min
As the conflict in the Middle East threatens to whack the world economy with an energy shock - and possibly a huge recession, the debate about the UK’s North Sea has re-ignited. Should we be drilling there to help our energy security in a volatile global market? There’s now a growing chorus of voices, from surprising places, calling on the government to support more North Sea exploration. So, will the government – having banned new licenses as part of net zero drive – now give them the go ahead?...
Mar 27, 2026•29 min
Drones are transforming war, from Ukraine to the Middle East - some 80 percent of battlefield casualties in Ukraine are now the result of drone strikes. The devices are cheap to manufacture, are transforming military strategy but represent a massive challenge for the British armed forces as they try to modernise. It is also a business challenge. So, which companies are best-placed to make the drones needed? And how do they get through the complexities of tight budgets, ever-changing technology a...
Mar 20, 2026•30 min
While the UK is a breeding ground for brilliant ideas, very few start-ups ever reach "supersize" status. So what are the hurdles preventing British companies from joining the £50M+ revenue club? This week we consider a new report from the Scale-up Institute about female-founded businesses which shows that it may not just be about the funding. Presenters: Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Times Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio Guests: Sam Smith,...
Mar 13, 2026•29 min
The attack on Iran and its consequences have sent shockwaves around the global economy, hitting stock markets, airlines and energy supplies. UK gas prices have nearly doubled and the flow of a fifth of the world’s crude oil supply - which travels through the Strait of Hormuz in tankers - has largely ground to a halt. As the ripple effect is felt across the world, how harsh will the economic fallout be, will inflation - only just under control - rise? And, with gas and oil stores in Europe limite...
Mar 05, 2026•29 min
This episode of The Business is sponsored by PwC. It was recorded before the recent attacks on Iran by the US and Israel. At Davos this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke of “a rupture in the world order”. And ahead of the Munich Security Conference, Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State described “a new era of geopolitics”. What does that new era look like for business? What are the tensions, the traps and the opportunities to look out for? In this episode of The Business, ...
Mar 02, 2026•35 min
Quantum computing has been described as “the next big thing “ - a tech revolution to rival AI that could have implications across sectors as diverse as finance, chemicals, life sciences and manufacturing. This cutting-edge tech - which uses quantum physics to solve problems much faster than today’s regular computers - is already being used by HSBC. The bank has trialled IBM’s quantum technology in trading. Over the past few decades the government has been investing heavily in quantum, and many s...
Feb 27, 2026•30 min
Making money out of airlines is tough. Warren Buffett once said if he had a time machine he would go back and shoot the Wright Brothers. Luis Gallego made his mark turning around the Spanish airline Iberia and in 2020 he got the top job at International Airlines Group, parent company of Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and British Airways. So how do you run an airline, how did covid supercharge our love of travel and how can Luis navigate the possible development of a third runway at Heathrow - Brita...
Feb 19, 2026•28 min
The numbers behind YouTube juggernaut The Sidemen - the seven-strong collective often referred to as the UK’s answer to MrBeast - are nothing short of staggering. What began as a group of friends playing Grand Theft Auto as a hobby and uploading it online is now a nine-figure empire spanning multiple channels, merchandise, a fried chicken chain, a vodka brand and a netflix reality show. The official YouTube channel has more than 22 million subscribers. So, what has driven their stratospheric gro...
Feb 13, 2026•37 min
Octopus Energy has gone from market entrant to market leader in just 10 years. Greg Jackson, chief executive and co-founder is at the forefront of this business success story. The secret sauce? It’s nothing to do with energy - it’s the Kraken software that links the company to its customers and suppliers. So how did he do it? Why does he think 'spaghetti stacks' of ancient software are what’s holding so many businesses back? And what plans does he have to float Kraken? From memories of his faile...
Feb 05, 2026•35 min
By 2030, there will be five generations in the workplace and the majority will be Gen Z. The first post-internet generation, some characterise them as entitled, anxious and difficult to manage. But they’ve also contended with a pandemic during their school and early career years, major financial insecurity and intense geopolitical concerns. So what makes them tick as workers? How can managers best motivate - and retain - their ambitious, outspoken Gen Z staff? And what does that future workplace...
Jan 29, 2026•35 min
US President Donald Trump’s much-anticipated appearance at the World Economic Forum at Davos certainly did not disappoint. After threatening to take Greenland into US control - and slap punitive tariffs on NATO allies that stood in his way - he promptly backed down late Wednesday. While the immediate reaction at the Swiss resort was one of relief, it has left world leaders and the global business community with a serious case of whiplash. In this episode, we consider how the world according to T...
Jan 22, 2026•45 min
“I blame it on my kids” - that’s how Louise Hill, founder of multi-million pound business GoHenry - a financial app for kids - describes what motivated her to start her business. And Olivia Jenkins, founder of jewellery company D. Louise, put down the ‘giant backpack’ of grief weighing her down to set up on her own. If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business, maybe January - and the beginning of a new year - is the perfect time to break free of the 9-5 drudgery and realise your own bri...
Jan 15, 2026•42 min
The economy is sluggish, growth elusive, and unemployment is heading for 5% - 2026 looks tough for business. But, the FTSE 100 has broken 10,000 points for the first time, gold keeps on going up, and up in value - and still the AI bubble hasn’t burst. From Davos parties, to driverless cars, what's up, what’s down? And how do you prepare yourself for 2026? Presenters : Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Times Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio Gues...
Jan 08, 2026•43 min
British tech billionaire Mike Lynch died in August 2024, on board The Bayesian , his luxury superyacht, sunk by a freak storm as it was moored off Sicily. He’d been there with his family and closest associates to celebrate his acquittal of criminal fraud charges in the US. It was a tragic end to the story of a self-made business man - a man who was one of Britain’s biggest titans of tech. So, who exactly was Mike Lynch? How did he manage to build such a huge tech success story? And how did it al...
Jan 01, 2026•1 hr 4 min
In space, a battle between big business is taking place as two of the world’s wealthiest men vie for dominance. Elon Musk’s Space X and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin have taken the space industry in the US out of the hands of government and into the hands of the private sector. But what are the consequences? Who will win the commercial race to extract crucial minerals from outer space? And who will police space if the rivalry between China and the US extends into orbit? As we end the year, Dom and Ha...
Dec 25, 2025•39 min
2025 has been a wild ride of big pharma - driven by explosive use of revolutionary weight-loss medication - pushing one of the biggest manufacturers, Eli Lilly, to a trillion-dollar valuation. A dramatic takeover war also saw Denmark’s pharma darling Novo Nordisk trumped by US giant Pfizer. Now, while Novo’s share price is down 50% over the course of the year, Lilly is in the stratosphere normally reserved for the likes of tech firms. But the story’s not over. These, and smaller, challenger comp...
Dec 18, 2025•52 min
Gold, the world's oldest asset, is experiencing a remarkable boom. Its value has surged from just over £2000 per ounce a year ago to well over £3000 today, reaching highs not seen since the 1970s. This rapid rise is unusual because gold typically peaks when stock markets decline, yet this rally has coincided with booming equity markets. So, what is driving the value up? Have we reached the peak, or is there more growth to come? Presenters: Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor, The Sunday Ti...
Dec 11, 2025•37 min
This episode of The Business is sponsored by PwC. As AI rapidly reshapes the world of work, businesses face the biggest transformation since the industrial revolution. While 90% of CEOs surveyed are investing in AI, only 15% are currently getting the value. So, what are the tools driving productivity gains? How can companies move AI from an IT project to one that’s truly integrated across the business? And how exactly are the UK’s largest employers preparing their workforces for the future? In t...
Dec 08, 2025•33 min
Fried chicken is booming in Britain - the market is now worth over £3bn a year. Up and down high streets, a whole new generation of fast food chicken restaurants have sprung up, buzzy US imports like Wingstop and Dave’s Hot Chicken, putting pressure on the established brands. In part, it’s down to Gen Z enthusiasm, driven by pop culture hits like Chicken Shop Date as well as viral ASMR videos of crunching, chewing and sizzling. So how can the market leader and established brand KFC maintain its ...
Dec 04, 2025•41 min
