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by The Times
Hannah Prevett and Dominic O’Connell bring you one big business story you need to know every week. Uncovering the personalities, power plays, boardroom dramas and sheer ambition that drive the world of business, Hannah and Dominic get the inside story from the people who are in the room when the deal goes down - from start-ups to tech titans, market movers to City CEOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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- 6 days ago35 min
Does Andy Burnham’s government have the guts to deliver growth?
Andy Burnham is officially in No. 10, and his cabinet is in place. Replacing Rachel Reeves’ as Chancellor is John Healey - not, in fact, Shabana Mahmood or Ed Miliband, both names that were thrown around in the lead up. Can the so-called “King of the North” deliver the growth and stability the business community says has been so badly lacking? Amidst a flurry of policy announcements - bus fare caps and a 20 percent cut in business rates for hospitality - is real change a possibility?“The UK is very unique in the fact that we pay two forms of income tax … national income is a tax on employers and work” Mehreen Khan, economics editor at the Times, tells The Business. “Let's see how brave they want to be…I think this is a long overdue reform.”With Times business editor Richard Fletcher, Khan discusses the upcoming budget, how the relationship between the Chancellor and Prime Minister may play out - and just how much change the business community is expecting to see from this new leader. “ I do suspect we'll get a little bounce in consumer confidence, and hence growth, just from a new face in No. 10. How long that lasts - who knows?” Richard Fletcher said. “I think that it is going to take some quite serious reforms to do that and I'm not sure the backbenchers particularly have got the guts to do that.” Hosts:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor, The Sunday TimesDominic O’Connell, business correspondent, Times RadioGuests: Richard Fletcher, Business editor, The TimesMehreen Khan, Economics editor, The Times Producer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producers: Miriam Hall and Emily LeahyPhoto Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago28 min
Peppa Pig World: What UK hospitality sector hopes for from Andy Burnham
In the words of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Peppa Pig World “is very much my kind of place.” But how does Paultons Park, one of the UK's most popular theme parks, navigate the shifting UK economy? Located in Hampshire, Paultons Park has been in the Mancey family since first opening its doors in 1983. The amusement park now welcomes a million visitors annually. In 2011, the park opened Peppa Pig World, a £6 million investment that became one of the park's most popular attractions.In this episode of The Business, Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor at The Sunday Times speaks with James Mancey, Deputy Managing Director, and Lawrence Mancey, the Marketing Director behind the park. The brothers behind the family-owned British business join Hannah to discuss working in rollercoasters, investing back into their brand, and what the UK hospitality sector is hoping for from a Burnham premiership.For years, Paultons Park has been the first job for thousands of young people. James and Lawrence discuss how inflation rates, increases to National Insurance contributions, and the national minimum wage have impacted their bottom line.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today to get full digital access.Presenter: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times Guests: James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park Lawrence Mancey, marketing director at Paultons Park Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam HallPhoto Credit: Paultons Park Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 2 weeks ago29 min
EasyJet Takeover: Inside the £5.7bn US private equity bidding war
What does the high-stakes easyJet takeover bid mean for the future of budget travel? We unpack the intense bidding war between US giants Apollo and Castlelake.Last Friday, in the latest twist in the saga for takeover of easyJet, Apollo secured an agreement to buy the airline in a £5.7B deal, gazumping an offer from US private credit group Castlelake. Just days earlier, easyJet had agreed to the Castlelake proposal - kicking off a proper takeover battle for one of the UK’s best known consumer brands. In this episode, we consider why easyJet has become a target, and what it could mean for the future of the company. Guest:Tim Jeans, former head of marketing for Ryanair, a former MD of Monarch AirlinesPresenters:Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondentHannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Photo Credit: Getty Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago29 min
Grindr CEO on Madonna, AI and UK age verification
How have UK age restriction laws affected Grindr’s users? What changes will AI bring to the dating app? And where does Madonna fit into all this?In this episode of The Business, Grindr CEO George Arison joins Dominic O'Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent, to discuss Grindr’s cultural prominence, the future of the app, and their recent collaboration with the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna. Launched in 2009, Grindr is the world's number one dating app for gay and bisexual men, with over 15 million active users in 190 countries and territories. Grindr CEO George Arison first interacted with the platform as a user, switching from a blackberry to an iPhone in 2009 in order to use the app. In 2022 he joined the company as CEO, believing in its mission to connect gay and bisexual men around the world, and build an online gaybourhood.Arison discusses his upbringing in the USSR, taking Grindr public a month after joining the company and how he believes leaning into AI, and ensuring an exceptional free service are the best ways of ensuring growth. “ Within six to 12 months, Grindr's gonna be an AI first product where AI is gonna be fully integrated into anything that a user does and the experience of that is gonna be exponentially better.”Arison also describes the effect UK Age restriction laws have had on the country’s Grindr user-base. According to Arison, the restrictions discourage closeted users who are uncomfortable sharing data with the app, removing an important space where these individuals can connect.Guest:George Arison, Chief Executive Officer of GrindrPresenter:Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondentProducer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Photo Credit: Getty Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago10 min
BONUS: The AI bubble, deepfakes and the future of UK tech
Is the AI bubble bound to pop? How can UK companies prevent the malicious use of AI? And is there a role for increased regulation in the AI industry?In this bonus episode of The Business, Synthesia CEO and co-founder Victor Riparbelli joins Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times, to discuss the company's success in a world of rapidly growing AI companies, the role he thinks regulation should play in AI-generated content, and what the next chancellor should prioritise to strengthen the UK tech industry and boost the UK economy.Synthesia - the AI video generation platform that allows users to create realistic avatars from plain text - is one of the UK's biggest AI success stories, with a current valuation of $4 billion. Headquartered in London, the company is used by 90% of Fortune 100 companies and 70% of the FTSE100, making it one of the most influential businesses shaping the future of enterprise AI.Riparbelli explains why he believes AI is more than just another technology bubble, despite sky-high valuations across the sector, and why he expects the industry to experience a period of consolidation rather than collapse. He also discusses the rise of deepfakes, the challenges AI poses for businesses and consumers, and why regulation should focus on preventing harmful outcomes without stifling innovation.The conversation also explores what policymakers can do to attract talent, encourage entrepreneurship and support the next generation of British technology companies. Riparbelli shares his views on AI adoption across Europe, why the UK must move faster to embrace new technology, and how stronger AI adoption could improve productivity and help drive long-term growth across the UK economy.To hear more about the young entrepreneur Victor Riparbelli and the story behind Synthesia, listen to last week's episode here: https://pod.fo/e/440334Guest:Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of SynthesiaPresenter:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producer: Miriam HallPhoto credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 3 weeks ago29 min
UK unicorn CEO: why Europe is lagging behind on AI
How can we develop an AI ecosystem for UK companies? How can tech startups and scale-ups thrive in the UK and Europe? And how did this UK company nearly double its valuation this year?In this episode of The Business, Synthesia CEO and co-founder Victor Riparbelli joins Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times, to discuss the company’s rapid success, what AI-generated video creation means for creative industries, and why Riparbelli believes Europe must do more to support the growth of its technology sector.This entrepreneur story charts the rise of one of Britain’s most valuable AI companies and explores what it takes to build a global business in the UK. Riparbelli argues that if Britain wants to grow the UK economy, it must create a stronger AI ecosystem that helps startups and scale-ups access investment, attract talent and compete internationally.Synthesia, the AI video generation platform that allows users to generate avatars from plain text, is one of the UK’s biggest AI success stories, with a current valuation of $4 billion. Headquartered in London, the company is used by 90% of Fortune 100 companies, and 70% of the FTSE100, making Synthesia a major player in the AI video generation space and a leading example of innovation in the tech industry.Riparbelli also explains why he sees little incentive for fast-growing technology companies to list on the London Stock Exchange rather than the Nasdaq and argues that Europe's cautious approach to innovation risks leaving it behind in the global AI race. He discusses what policymakers, investors and founders can do to create an environment where the next generation of AI startups and scale-ups can flourish."I'm not sure what we really believe in in Europe," Riparbelli says. "In the US, they believe in capitalism. In China, they believe in technology. I'm not sure what we really believe in in Europe."Guest:Victor Riparbelli, CEO and co-founder of SynthesiaPresenter:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producer: Miriam HallPhoto credit: Synthesia LimitedGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 25, 202633 min
Burnham and Business - what could a PM refresh do for the UK economy?
Sir Keir Starmer has resigned, and all eyes are on Andy Burnham as likely new Prime Minister. On The Times Business podcast, Richard Fletcher, business editor of The Times, and Mehreen Khan, economics editor at the paper, join the show to examine what a new Prime Minister might do for the UK economy, the business community and the world of entrepreneurship.Andy Burnham was educated at Cambridge and previously worked as a journalist at two trade publications - Tank World and Passenger World Management - before going into politics. He became an MP in 2001, and had ministerial jobs under Gordon Brown. He tried twice for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015, and went on to become Mayor of Greater Manchester. Now, after winning the Makerfield by-election, he is all but the anointed successor to Starmer.In this episode, we examine what business should expect from our likely new leader and, crucially, who will be his chancellor?"Keir Starmer was not interested in economics - he had no political economy; Andy Burnham does. We're not really sure what it is, but he does care," journalist Mehreen Khan says on the show. "But the relationship between Number 10 and Number 11 has always been the crux of how this country governs itself … I would probably argue it probably doesn't matter so much if it's Miliband or Wes Streeting [for chancellor].""I think the idea that there is this huge ideological gap between them is not gonna be true because actually it's gonna be Burnham that is driving much more policy from Number 10, and his chancellor will just have to bend to his will because he's the most popular politician in the country."Presenters:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor of The Sunday TimesDominc O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business reporterGuests:Richard Fletcher, Business Editor, The Times Mehreen Khan, Economics Editor, The Times Producer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producer: Miriam HallPhoto credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comClips: Sky News, PoliticsJOE, The Independent, TimesRadio, BBC News, BBC News (Newscast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 20, 202615 min
BONUS: Kemi Badenoch on UK economic growth at The Times CEO Summit
What will it take to see growth in the British economy again? In this bonus episode of The Business, Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, sets out her answer. Recorded live at The Times CEO Summit, which brings together business leaders and policy makers to discuss current economic challenges and opportunities, Badenoch joined Fraser Nelson to talk growth, regulation and the future of Britain's economy. Badenoch reflects on the Conservative Party's path back to power, and Labour's record of treating business "as if it's a problem to be managed rather than an asset to be championed."In this live interview with Times columnist, Fraser Nelson, Badenoch says the UK needs an "economic revolution" to reverse years of stagnation, outlining plans to cut red tape, lower energy costs and encourage greater risk-taking across business and government.Presenter:Fraser Nelson, Times Columnist Guest: Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition Producer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producer: Miriam HallPhoto credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About The Business
Hannah Prevett and Dominic O’Connell bring you one big business story you need to know every week. Uncovering the personalities, power plays, boardroom dramas and sheer ambition that drive the world of business, Hannah and Dominic get the inside story from the people who are in the room when the deal goes down - from start-ups to tech titans, market movers to City CEOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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