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
Jul 18, 2013 • 28min
Water
Water is the world's most precious resource. It's also big business. As climate changes and populations shift, getting water where it needs to be is a huge global challenge. And that's without the added problem of leakage. And how much should consumers pay for something that none of us can live without?
Evan Davis and guests discuss an industry which has changed almost beyond recognition in just a few decades - from state-owned water providers to international business players.
Guests:
Peter Simpson, CEO Anglian Water
Bryan Harvey, Vice President CH2M HILL
Olivier Bret, CEO Veolia Water UK
Producer : Rosamund Jones.
Jul 11, 2013 • 28min
Futurology for Business
Predicting the future is a skill that can earn investors and businesses a fortune - but get it wrong and disaster looms. In sectors like energy and technology planning decades ahead is an absolute necessity - but how can CEOs know what the world will look like in 2030 and how do they persuade shareholders and staff to come along for the ride? Evan Davis meets three business leaders who are placing massive bets on the future of farming, biomass fuel and the creation of a hyper-connected global society and finds out about timing, balancing risk and holding your nerve.Also, the view from America, Sweden and the UK on corporate tax is discussed.Guests:
Dorothy Thompson, CEO, Drax
Hans Vestberg, CEO, Ericsson
Jim Rogers, investorProducer:
Lucy Proctor.
Jul 4, 2013 • 28min
Managing in a Crisis
What do you do when it all goes wrong? How to manage corporations in times of crisis is the subject under discussion by Evan Davis and his guests.Business leaders should expect the ride sometimes to be bumpy - but what is it reasonable to expect? And what is the best way to proceed when the truly unexpected happens?Guests
Michael Woodford, former chief executive & president, Olympus Corporation
Ann Cairns, President International Markets, Mastercard
Eddie Bensilum, Director, Regester LarkinProducer : Rosamund Jones.
Jun 27, 2013 • 28min
Start-ups
Entrepreneurs discuss how much money you need to start a business - and where to get it from - with Evan Davis.Why do some start-ups require millions and others just a few hundred pounds? And what are the benefits and pitfalls of finding investors on the web? It's called crowd-funding and many consider it to be the next big thing in venture capital.Guests:
Mark Popkiewicz, founder, MirriAd
Julie Deane, founder, The Cambridge Satchel Company
Jonathan Medved, venture capitalist and founder, Our Crowd
Producer : Rosamund Jones.
Jun 20, 2013 • 28min
Food
The food industry is increasingly in the spotlight as consumers and government worry about obesity, sustainability and safety.Evan Davis finds out from three very different food companies about how their supply chains work and how much oversight any company leader can have. Guests discuss how to create an efficient and cost effective system that delivers on quality and safety. Do consumers elsewhere in Europe and the world demand the same level of locally-sourced credentials as the British now do and are these ideals worthwhile?Guests:
Alastair Storey, CEO, WSH
Perween Warsi, CEO, S&A Foods
Gavin Darby, CEO, Premier FoodsProducer: Lucy Proctor.
Jun 13, 2013 • 28min
Travel
Travel companies have recently had to weather the storms of recession for their customers and major upheaval at popular holiday destinations around the world.Evan Davis finds out how airlines and tour companies plan for their seasonal business in light of economic crisis in Greece and political unrest in Egypt and North Africa - getting it wrong could lead to financial disaster. And guests will discuss the future for Greece, where tourism is seen as the biggest hope for reviving the economy.Guests:
Peter Long, CEO TUI Travel
Carolyn McCall, CEO Easyjet
Andreas Andreadis, CEO SANI ResortProducer: Lucy Proctor.
Jun 6, 2013 • 28min
Recruitment
Recruitment companies discuss the marks left by recession on their businesses and the employment market.Companies in the eye of the storm when the economy first collapsed have had to adapt to stay in business. Evan Davis finds out the survival strategies of three recruiters in very different markets - from board level headhunting to finding seasonal temps and mid-level professionals.Guests :
Virginia Bottomley, Odgers Berndtson
Matthew Sanders, CEO de Poel
Ian Temple, chair Hydrogen GroupProducer : Rosamund Jones.
May 30, 2013 • 28min
The App Industry
Evan Davis meets "appreneurs" trying to make money in a marketplace where traditional business rules do not apply. Becoming an appreneur is easy. All you need is a computer and a couple of hundred pounds. And an idea of course. No surprise perhaps that thousands of new apps are created every week to serve the ever growing smart phone and tablet computer market. But what happens next? How do you make a living if your product is free? And if you sell your app, how high can you go when buyers expect a lot for very little? And how do you market to customers without knowing who they are?Guests :
Barry Meade, co-founder Fireproof Studios
Professor Anthony Steed, co-founder Chirp
Max Whitby, co-founder & CEO Touch PressProducer : Rosamund Jones.
Mar 28, 2013 • 28min
The Education Business
Education and how to make a profit from it is the focus for Evan and his three guests this week - each of them business leaders in the learning sector.From low-cost private schools in Ghana to no-frills law courses and a University of Liverpool campus in China, our guests will share their business lessons on how to build a reputation and how to price a good education. They'll also talk about the challenges of taking on traditional, public institutions as well as the technological advances that look set to transform learning over the next 20 years.As usual, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world.Guests this week are Carl Lygo, Chief executive of BPP; Professor Sir Howard Newby, Vice Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and Professor James Tooley, chairman of Omega Schools.Series producer: Helen Grady
Series editor: Innes Bowen
Series researcher: Ben Carter.
Mar 21, 2013 • 28min
21/03/2013
The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.It's said that the best way to make a small fortune in the wine business is to start with a large one. Evan Davis and his guests explore just how profitable selling crushed grapes really is. How do they convince consumers they are offering quality and value?Joining Evan in the studio are Graham Sumeray, CEO Fine + Rare; Dan Jago, Category Director (Beers, Wines and Spirits) at Tesco's; Alok Mathur, co-founder and director Soul Tree Wines.Editor: Innes Bowen.
