The Bottom Line
BBC Radio 4
The definitive business podcast from the BBC. Each week, the BBC's Evan Davis is joined by bosses, entrepreneurs and industry experts, to lift the lid on how their businesses work, and what it’s like to be in charge. They discuss a big issue, a big challenge, or a big question facing their industry. From managing AI to managing millennials, from supermarkets to supercharging a new product.And our guests will share their stories of success and failure along the way. Podcasts are published every Thursday. And as well as being a podcast, we are also available every Thursday afternoon and Tuesday evening on BBC Radio 4. You can now also listen to The Bottom Line on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play The Bottom Line”. It works on most smart speakers.The Bottom Line has published a spin off series - Decisions That Made Me - where Evan asks entrepreneurs and business leaders about the most crucial moments in their lives and careers. You can watch these episodes here: https://t.ly/oJ8lW. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with Evan and the team on email at bottomline@bbc.co.uk.The Bottom Line is produced in partnership with The Open University and is an EcoAudio certified production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 20, 2017 • 24min
Is there a business case for having a diverse workforce?
What is the business case for having a diverse workforce? Evan Davis and guests debate whether a mix of talents in the workplace leads to better companies and translates into more profits. Joining the programme:
Ruby McGregor-Smith, former Chief Executive of MITIE, and author of a government commissioned review: Race in the Workplace.
Jane Farrell, group Chief Executive of Equality Works
Scott Page, author of The Diversity Bonus.
Oct 12, 2017 • 28min
Shake-up in the skies
What's behind the recent collapse of airlines such as Monarch, Alitalia and Air Berlin? Is it a case of supply outstripping demand or is there a larger crisis
looming? Will Ryanair's cancellation of thousands of flights do the company permanent damage? What's really happening to Europe's airline industry?
Evan Davis and guests discuss.GUESTSJohn Strickland, Aviation consultantPeter Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer, EasyJetAndRoger Flynn, Chairman, Loveholidays.com.
Oct 5, 2017 • 28min
Batteries
Is battery technology the key to decarbonising energy and reinventing transport? If so, can the current technology, Lithium-Ion batteries, evolve quickly enough to meet growing demand. If capacity is the problem, is Lithium-ion the answer and what are the alternatives? Can we expect to fly in battery powered aeroplanes in the near future? Join Evan Davis and his guests as they discuss the future of the power of batteries.GUESTSHuw Hampson-Jones, CEO Oxis EnergyCyrille Brisson, Vice-President, Eaton Chris Morrison, Head of Peaking Plant, Centrica.
Jul 27, 2017 • 28min
There's no business like show business
There's no business like show business. Evans Davis and guests explore the success story that is UK theatre. From splashy musicals, and classic revivals to cutting edge new dramas the sector makes more than a billion pounds in ticket sales a year. But there's trouble on the horizon. Public subsidies for theatres are being cut back. Can corporate giving and donations from philanthropists continue to plug the shortfall? GuestsBrenna Hobson, National Theatre of Scotland
Kate Varah, the Old Vic, London
Rachel Tackley, Chichester Festival Theatre.
Jul 20, 2017 • 28min
Cost cutting and business transformation
What is the best way of cutting costs and transforming a business? Bosses often have to prune their operations - either to reinvest the cash to grow the business in other directions or because costs have got out of control. But can cuts go too far and damage an organisation? It was reported that British Airways' computer meltdown earlier this year was caused in part because the company had moved too quickly to make efficiency savings. It now faces paying its customers millions of pounds in compensation. Evan Davis and panel discuss the good, bad and the ugly of cost cutting and business transformation.Guests:Ashley Almanza, Chief Executive of G4S
Gavin Oldham, founder of Share Radio
Marco Amitrano, head of consulting at accountants, PWC.
Jul 6, 2017 • 28min
One Company, Many Brands
Evan Davis discusses the reasons why some companies have multiple brands. Is it to bamboozle or does it help consumers navigate the wide variety of choices? Can there be too many? When does product proliferation make sense? Evan talks to three guests: a brand consultant, a marketing executive from drinks company Diageo and a representative from Johnson & Johnson about how we can better understand the world of brands.GUESTSRobert Jones - Brand consultant at Wolf Olins and a visiting professor at the University of East Anglia
Jana Ignatova - Head of Baby global franchise for EMEA at Johnson & Johnson
Ed Pilkington - European Marketing and Innovation Director at Diageo.
Jun 29, 2017 • 28min
Land - the mother of all monopolies
Evan Davis presents the business magazine.
Jun 22, 2017 • 28min
When Robots Take our Jobs
Are white collar workers under threat from the new robotic workforce? Manufacturing companies have been replacing production line workers with robots for years, but as the technology becomes more advanced, they are being increasingly used in healthcare, law firms and HR departments. So is the white collar worker under threat? Evan Davis talks to three guests, a roboticist, an Artificial Intelligence consultancy worker and the CEO of a hotel chain who is already using robots in his business. GUESTSThrishantha Nanayakkara - Roboticist, Imperial CollegeDr. Michael Chui - Partner, IT and innovation, McKinsey Global InstituteHubert Viriot - CEO, Yotel.
Jun 15, 2017 • 28min
Corporate Espionage
Corporate theft has played a big part in business history from Porcelain and Tea from China, to the French attempting to get their hands on the blueprint for the Spinning Jenny. In this week's programme Evan Davis and guests discuss more modern copyright infringement and how to protect against it. GUESTSChris Morgan-Jones, Crime fiction author and Consultant, K2 IntelligenceVicki Salmon, Lawyer and Patent Attorney, IP Asset Partnership, Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and Chair of CIPA's Litigation Committee Mandy Haberman, Director and Founder of Haberman Products Limited.
Jun 8, 2017 • 24min
The Future of Farming
What's the future for UK Farming? Evan Davis meets three food producers from across the country to talk about the daily challenges of farming in Britain today. Guests include one of the biggest carrot producers in the country, a Wiltshire Beef farmer and Deputy President of the National Farmers Union and a lowland sheep farmer whose herd shares the land with cadets from the Ministry of Defence in Kent. GUESTSGuy Poskitt, Managing Director, M H Poskitt LtdMarie Prebble, Lowland Sheep farmerMinette Batters, Beef farmer and Deputy President of the National Farmers Union.
