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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.
412 Episodes
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Harry Destecroix was studying for his PhD at Bristol University when he co-founded Ziylo. Based on 20 years of Bristol chemistry research, the spin-out company created a new technology that can be developed to treat diabetes more effectively. It's a breakthrough that led to its acquisition by pharmaceutical firm, Novo Nordisk, in a deal reportedly worth up to 600 million pounds. Harry has also founded the incubator, Science Creates and is the founding managing partner of SCVC, a venture capital firm. Harry tells Evan Davis why his own experience of spinning out a company has made him passionate to help other early-stage companies in the Bristol area – whether that’s providing lab space, finance or advice.(Image: Harry Destecroix Credit: Peter Schiazza, Copyright: Science Creates)
Sophie Mirman was thrown in at the deep end when – at the age of 13 – she was in a car accident with her parents. They were both badly injured and, a few years later, Sophie felt she had to find a way to help the family finances. She started as a very junior secretary in M&S, applied for jobs she says she wasn’t qualified for, and went on to hold the top jobs at Tie Rack, SockShop and Trotters. She discusses the all-consuming nature of expanding outside the UK and how her more cautious approach these days is, ultimately, more enjoyable. Producer: Sally Abrahams
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Jackie Margerum
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison(Image: Sophie Mirman. Credit: Pylewell)
1When Jesper Brodin landed a job as IKEA’s purchase manager in Pakistan, he was only 26. And had no idea he was the only applicant. He’s now spent 30 years with the iconic Swedish brand - since 2017, as CEO of Ingka Group, which runs most IKEA stores. During that time, he’s led two major transformations - taking the company digital and making it more eco-friendly. Now, as he steps down from his role, he tells Evan Davis about the lessons he learned from IKEA’s legendary founder, Ingvar Kamprad. And why he’s planning to buy himself a new guitar.(Image: Jesper Brodin. Credit: JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images)
Heather Vernon never expected to become an entrepreneur. Her goal after university was to become a teacher, through the Teach First graduate programme - two years of intense learning on the job, schooling disadvantaged children in low income communities. It taught her resilience and prompted a move into politics, initially at a local level, then a job with the Labour party, advising members of the then shadow cabinet. She tells Evan Davis why working at Westminster was initially terrifying and what encouraged her to set up a PR business with a friend. (Image: Heather Vernon Credit: Woburn Partners)
Three business leaders tackle fictional dilemmas that test their instincts, experience and nerves. To make it more realistic, none of the guests have any idea what the scenarios are in advance. Guests:
Ben Branson, Founder, Seedlip and Sylva
Sophie Mermin, Founder, Trotters Childrenswear
Margaret Heffernan, former CEO, entrepreneur, author and professor of practice at the university of Bath school of management Production team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producer: Sally Abrahams
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound: Nathan Chamberlain and Gareth Jones
Editor: Matt Willis
Productivity drives prosperity, yet the UK continues to lag behind countries like the US, France and Germany. We work harder, yet produce less than our peers. In this episode, Evan Davis and guests discuss what productivity really looks like in practice – from offices and factories to call centres and operating theatres. And ask whether AI could be the boost Britain's economy needs. Guests:
Katy Davies, Managing Director, Cap Air Systems
Louise Stead, Group Chief Executive, Royal Surrey and Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trusts
Sameer Vuyyuru, Chief AI and Product Officer, CapitaProduction team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producer: Sally Abrahams
Production Co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Sound engineers: Dafydd Evans and Duncan Hannant
Editor: Justine Lang
Do you ever feel the world is stacked in favour of the extrovert people – the most gregarious, the most outwardly confident, the perhaps sometimes sharp-elbowed, the loudest? What can natural introverts do to try and level the playing field and create a positive impression? Evan Davis asks Richard Etienne from the Introvert Space, Clare Farthing from South Somerset meet ups and Heather Vernon, co-founder of Woburn Partners.
Produced by Bob Howard.
Once known as “personnel”, Human Resources seems to have become a real centre of power in modern business. No longer just handing out payslips or organising the Christmas party, HR now shapes company culture, influences major decisions and – some say – acts as a kind of corporate police force and judiciary. The profession has doubled in size over the past two decades and grown in authority. How did it rise so fast and what does its growing influence mean for the workplace? Evan Davis and guests discuss how HR seemingly took control of the corporate agenda and ask whether company bosses have delegated too much power to a profession that comes with its own code of values and priorities. Guests:
Neil Morrison, HR Director, Severn Trent
Nicole Whittaker, Associate Director of HR Consultancy, Peninsula
Pamela Dow, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Civic Future Production team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producer: Sally Abrahams
Production Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Sound: Pat Sissons and Duncan Hannant
Editor: Matt Willis
Can chaos ever be good for business? From Donald Trump’s unpredictable tariff policies to Elon Musk’s disruptive leadership style, some of the world’s most high-profile figures seem to thrive on disorder. But does chaos drive innovation – or just confusion? In a world where start-ups often celebrate mess and speed over tidy management, we ask if “getting things done” sometimes means throwing out the rulebook. Evan Davis and guests discuss whether the best results really come from a bit of chaos. Guests:
Jesper Brodin, CEO, IKEA (Ingka Group)
Erin Meyer, Professor at INSEAD and co-author of ‘No Rules Rules’
Simon Dixon, CEO, Hatmill, supply chain and logistics consultancyProduction team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Sally Abrahams, Phoebe Keane, Kirsteen Knight
Production co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Sound engineers: Kris Hansen and Neva Missirian
Editor: Matt Willis
What happens when university research becomes a business? It’s called a spin-out and it’s built Silicon Valley, with Stanford University at the centre. In the UK, Oxford alone has launched more than 200 in the last 15 years. Whether it’s a new drug, software or material, brilliant university research can create huge rewards – for founders, universities and the economy. But also battles over who really owns the idea and should get a share of the equity. Does the spin-out system deliver or does it stall? Evan Davis and a panel of guests discuss. Guests:
Molly Allington, CEO of Albotherm
Harry Destecroix, co-founder of Ziylo and also founder of incubator Science Creates in Bristol
Amber Hill, founder of Research GridProduction team:
Presenter: Evan Davis
Producers: Phoebe Keane and Sally Abrahams
Production co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge
Sound engineer: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Matt Willis
It's easier than ever to create a website for your business and talk directly with customers, but what are the pitfalls to avoid? Three business leaders discuss the pros and cons of selling 'D2C' with Evan Davis. Sellers no longer need to convince bigger retailers to carry their products or invest in inventory just to fill the shelves. Selling direct to consumers online also means businesses know exactly what their best sellers are, and who is buying what. These businesses can make improvements quickly and market only to those people most likely to buy. But as online selling becomes more competitive and targeted advertising gets more expensive, how can 'direct to consumer' businesses grow? Does the answer lie in bricks and mortar?Panel:Alexandra Thurstan, co-founder Different Dog, fresh dog food company
Lucas London, co-founder Lick, paint company
Neil Campbell, Chief Growth Officer SMOL, eco cleaning product company
Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Greg Jackson left school at 16 to write computer games, later joining Greenpeace before returning to study economics at Cambridge. Growing up in a family so stretched that the energy supply was cut off, he channelled that experience into a drive to make energy fairer and more affordable. By his twenties he was running a mirror business, before moving into tech start-up investing. In 2016 he founded Octopus Energy. Less than a decade on, it serves more than 7 million customers in 18 countries, manages a £6 billion renewable portfolio, and licenses its Kraken technology to utilities worldwide — with the company now valued at close to $9 billion.Producer: Georgiana Tudor
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison and Rosie Strawbridge
In 2019, Charlie Bowes-Lyon co-founded Wild with childhood friend Freddy Ward, frustrated by the lack of sustainable options in personal care. Their first product — a refillable deodorant in compostable packaging — struck a chord with consumers looking to cut down on plastic. From a standing start, Wild became one of the UK’s fastest-growing consumer brands, selling millions of units, building a loyal online following and moving rapidly into high-street stores. The company has already replaced hundreds of tonnes of single-use plastic. In 2025, Wild was acquired by Unilever in a deal worth hundreds of millions. Charlie speaks to Evan Davis about building a disruptive eco-brand, and what it takes to scale a start-up into a global business.Producer: Osman Iqbal
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison and Rosie Strawbridge
Mark Dixon left school at 16 and began selling hot dogs before building a bread roll business. In 1989 he founded Regus, spotting the need for flexible offices after watching people hold meetings in coffee shops. From a single site in Brussels, he grew the business into IWG — now the world’s largest provider of flexible workspace, with thousands of locations in more than 120 countries. Along the way he faced fierce competition and survived the dotcom crash. Mark speaks to Evan Davis about his journey from hot dog stands to global boardrooms, the setbacks that nearly ended it all, and how he built a company now worth billions.Producer: Osman Iqbal
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Tom Beahon played youth football for Tranmere Rovers from the age of eight, but when he realised he’d never make the very top, he walked away to chase a new dream: building a sportswear brand with his brother, frustrated by the lack of quality kit on the market. Today, Castore is valued at almost a billion. Tom joins Evan Davis to discuss giving up football, starting a business from scratch, and how they persuaded stars like Andy Murray to invest in the brand.Image used with permission by copyright holder Castore
When he finished university Anthony Eskinazi was destined for a graduate scheme with a top accountancy firm, but he couldn’t resist a business idea he’d had while trying to get to a baseball game during his gap year. The tech entrepreneur tells Evan Davis how he gave up job security, and a promising career path, to try to connect drivers with under-used parking spaces. Producers: Simon Tulett and Georgiana Tudor
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison (Image: Anthony Eskinazi Credit: Simon Tulett/BBC)
When an investor pulled the plug on a £3m cash injection for Joanna Jensen’s fledgling business, it could not have come at a worse time. The Childs Farm founder was just about to launch in two of the UK’s biggest high street stores, and was also going through a divorce and moving out of the family home with her two young daughters. Joanna tells Evan Davis how the last-minute let-down taught her who she could trust in business and what she needed to look for in a future financial partner.Producer: Georgiana Tudor
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones and Matt Cadman
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison(Image: Photographer: Emily Patrick. Copyright: Joanna Jensen)
When Nick Grey started his cordless vacuum business 20 years ago he took a big risk by handing a lot of control to a much bigger rival. The entrepreneur, who’d designed and built prototypes in his garage, tells Evan Davis about that decision and the moment he knew it had really paid off. Production team: Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones and Jonny Baker
Production co-ordinator: Katie MorrisonImage: Photographer: Jack Pope. Copyright: Gtech
Zak Brown didn’t graduate high school – he was thrown out for fighting - but he loved sport. He watched his first Formula 1 race when he was 10, and became captivated by the cars, sound and speed. An appearance on a teen version of Wheel of Fortune, aged 13, won him some Cartier watches that he would later pawn for $1000, using the money to buy a go-kart and launch his racing career. But when it became clear he wouldn’t reach the heights he hoped for, he had a big decision to make. He tells Evan Davis about his path to becoming boss of one of the biggest names in motorsport. Production team: Producer: Osman Iqbal
Series producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Gareth Jones and Pete Wise
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
Which business leader, or company, has had the most outstanding 12 months? What's been the biggest disaster or blunder? Evan Davis and guests look back over the business highs and lows of the last year.Evan is joined by:Sir Martin Sorrell, executive chairman, S4 Capital;
Greg Jackson, founder and CEO, Octopus Energy;
Joanna Jensen, founder, Childs Farm.Production team:Producers: Georgiana Tudor and Osman Iqbal
Series Producer: Simon Tulett
Editor: Matt Willis
Sound: Neil Churchill and Matt Cadman
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison
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What a shame. Rachel's voice is hardly recognizable
What a frustrating program. I couldn't get a handle on any tangible positives or negatives just a lot of opinionated waffle. Remainers still talk against Brexit, Leavers talk up Brexit. I'm still bamboozled. Let's have a factual check and compare it to the opinions of the same people in 2yrs.its just too soon
She's proud that 44% of her new hires are bame? That wayyy over represents them. Sounds like their 'blind' methods were actually discriminatory as heck. Also, a company that helps companies to ONLY find explicitly black candidates is overtly racist and should (if it isn't already) be illegal.
Why all the PC nonsense suddenly?
One of the speakers sounds like a mouthpiece of the CCP.