The Sky News Business Podcast

Ian King speaks to a business looking to benefit from the potential building of the UK's largest battery gigafactory in Sunderland - after it emerged Nissan is in talks with the government over this. He's also speaking to the chief executive at Tate and Lyle as a move to healthier eating has bumped up profits and he chats to a boss at Pets at Home as a boom in pet ownership during the pandemic sends revenues soaring.

It's been a tough time for food to go retailers over the past 12 months and Ian King finds out more about a new, low-cost Icelandic airline. He also sits down with a director of Merlin Entertainment to hear about its 20-million pound Legoland investment.

The CBI sets out a new UK economic strategy following the shocks of Brexit and the pandemic and Ian King speaks with the chief executive of energy regulator, Ofgem, to find out how it's powering the electric revolution.

Ian King speaks to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, about plans to extend the Northern Line Tube service. Plus, hear from PwC's Leader of Industry for Consumer Markets, Lisa Hooker, about figures which suggest retail sales are on the rise. And Nationwide's Chief Executive, Joe Garner, joins the show to discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic helped boost profits.

Ian King speaks to EasyJet boss Johan Lundgren who’s questioning the government’s reasoning behind amber list countries. All change! Hear from the general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers - Mick Lynch – about how Britain’s network is facing its biggest shake-up in a generation. And in his first broadcast interview, Kingfisher's chief executive Thierry Garnier talks about a strong rise in sales during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jumps in the price of energy and clothing have led to a big increase in the cost of living, as the Office for National Statistics says UK inflation doubled to 1.5% last month. Ian is joined by HSBC Economist, Liz Martins.Also in today's episode, pub group Marston's slumps to a pre-tax loss after lockdown and Ian discusses why the Bank of England and several media organisations are moving some roles to Leeds.

Ian King speaks to Ruth Gregory from Capital Economics about a fall in unemployment between January and March this year. Plus, hear from the chair of the Carbon Trust, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, about how the cost of decarbonising the economy could be done much cheaper. And the president of Discovery International - Jean-Briac Perrette - joins the show to discuss the $43bn merger that could help create a new streaming giant.

As coronavirus restrictions ease further Ian King speaks to Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary about foreign travel restarting under the government's traffic light system. Plus, hear from the managing director of Odeon Cinemas, Carol Welch, about the future of the big screen. And Sunny Jouhal, general manager of the lastminute.com London Eye, joins the show to talk about an expected surge in demand for UK tourist attractions as more people plan staycations over the summer.

Monday sees the opening of pubs and the restart of international travel. Ian King talks to a pub Landlord and Fionn Hart from Flipdish, an app which helps pubs and restaurants remain Covid compliant.He also speaks to David Tyler, the Chairman of Domestic and General and former chairman of Sainsbury's - he's an advisor to the campaign "Good Business Pays" which is trying to get suppliers paid on time.He'll talk to John Hitchcox, Chairman of Yoo Capital, which is behind the £1.3 billion regeneration project of Olympia in west London.Elsewhere - Ian chats to Steve Hare, Chief Executive at Sage, one of the UK's biggest software companies, after it reported a 30% fall in half year operating profits to £203million.And he also takes a look at the history of company boards with the renowned economist and author Dambisa Moyo.

Ian speaks to the boss of HS2 as the biggest tunnelling machine used on the British rail network starts work. He also speaks to former City minister Lord Myners as David Cameron faces questions from MPs about his lobbying efforts. He'll have more on the story of Premier League clubs agreeing to renewing a deal for broadcasting rights to show matches for the next 3 years. Elsewhere - ahead of the next big easing of lockdown in England, Ian chats to a boss at Hilton Hotels as holidays can take place again. As well as holidays we will be able to go indoors at a pub - Ian is speaking to the founder of a brewery and the President of Ford in Europe talks to Ian on electric cars.