Adam Cox talks to Matt Butcher from New College Swindon about Apprenticeships and new paths for young adults after their GCSEs. They talk about the discontent with universities, how apprenticeships have evolved and what paths are available for kids who believe that the academic route isn't for them. https://www.newcollege.ac.uk/
Rory McGowan speaks with Jack Smith, CEO of Love Finance, about the challenges faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK. They discuss the sectors that are struggling, particularly construction and hospitality, and the importance of quick access to finance for these businesses. Jack shares insights from his journey in the lending industry and emphasises the need for lenders to support SMEs effectively.
Rory McGowan speaks with James Kaberry, a non-executive director at IO Finance Partners, about the current state of SMEs in the UK. They discuss the significant role SMEs play in the economy, the challenges they face in accessing capital, and the rise of alternative lending solutions. James emphasises the importance of supporting SMEs to foster growth and stability in the economy, while also providing practical advice for those struggling to navigate the current financial landscape. https://iofp.co.uk/
Rory McGowan speaks with Sherine McCarthy, Director of Impact and Change at the Start Network, about the importance of anticipatory action in humanitarian aid. They discuss how pre-arranging funding can lead to more effective disaster responses, the role of governments in supporting these initiatives, and real-world examples of successful anticipatory action. https://startnetwork.org/
Etholle Davies fills in for Daniel Clewlow & Rory McGowan to speak to Chris Teasdale from Handelsbanken. They've conducted some new research regarding frustration and mistrust regarding automated customer service. In fact, a significant majority says they want the human touch back. https://www.handelsbanken.co.uk/en/
Rory McGowan is joined by Dermatologist, Dr Rima Clayton. With the kids heading back to school, Dr Rima gives her expert insight into the impact acne can have on teenagers. As well as some treatment advice. https://www.dermareading.co.uk/
Etholle Davies fills in for Daniel Clewlow & Rory McGowan. She speaks to Milly Dyer, a Student Success Manager at Le Wagon and Ellis Whaley, a former student of Le Wagon. They discuss alternatives to university and the benefits that Le Wagon can provide as A Level students get their results. https://www.lewagon.com/
Rory McGowam is joined by Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO & Founder of Pavegen. Laurence talks to Rory about how he has designed a system to convert our footsteps into electricity. With walkways popping up all over the UK and across the globe, could this be the solution to the energy crisis and a key tool in the fight against climate change? https://www.pavegen.com/ https://www.crowdcube.com/companies/pavegen2/pitches/qD9yNl?_gl=1*1jyl4zg*_gcl_au*MTM0MTM3MzY3Ny4xNzUzNzgwMjEy
Rory McGowan is joined by Dan Harwood, a wine expert and strategiest. They discuss Gen Z's desire to go out but drink less. They also look at the shift in drinking in social situations and mindful drinking. https://eisberg.co.uk/
Rory McGowan is joined by Craig Allan from ABAX. New research reveals how much of our workday is spent searching for misplaced items, rather than focusing on our job. Rory and Craig discuss this and more about all things tracking tech. https://www.abax.com/en-gb
Rory McGowan is joined by TV chef, baker, and presenter Briony May Williams! You may recognise Briony from The Great British Bakeoff, Food Unwrapped, Morning Live and more! They discuss new research regarding Brits' ice cream habits, as well as some of Briony's tips and tricks for making your own at home. https://www.cuisinart.co.uk/
Phil Jeynes, Head of Protection at MetLife UK, joins Rory McGowan in this episode. A new poll from accident & health protection experts MetLife UK has found that even in 2025, children still want mum when they're ill or injured. It raises the question: how do women and families balance home and work life? https://www.metlife.co.uk/
Rory McGowan is joined by Dr Olivia Ahn, co-founder of FLUUS and an expert in innovation and sustainability. With it being Climate Change Action Week, Dr Olivia talks about new research that shows a growing demand in sustainable period care. https://wearefluus.com/
Rory McGowan is joined by Adrian Ashford from Willow Meadows. Adrian shares his tips on festivals and how you can do them smartly and comfortably. With over 40% of festivalgoers now aged 44 and up, and a line-up packed with musical legends, the middle-aged festival crowd is having their moment. And while the music's still loud, the priorities have shifted - think good food, better sleep, and a clean loo! https://www.willowmeadows.co.uk/
Rory McGowan is joined by Dr Juho Jalkanen from Faron Pharmaceuticals. In this episode they discuss a new blood cancer trial has shown highly promising results, particularly for patients who have relapsed or live with hard-to-treat forms of the disease. https://faron.com/
Daniel Clewlow is joined by Shaun Forrester from Loomis UK. They discuss new research carried out by Loomis UK regarding physical money. Despite the UK's ongoing shift towards digital payments, a significant portion of the population continues to value and rely on cash. This new research reveals that nearly 8 in 10 Brits believe all UK businesses should be legally required to accept cash and over 3 in 5 Brits oppose a fully cashless society. https://www.loomis.com/en
Rory McGowan is joined by Michael Follett, Founder & Director of OPAL and an Internationla Play Consultant. They've found some new research that shows widespread support from the public for UK schools to change their policies and adopt an always active uniform. The Alliance, founded by Outdoor Play and Learning, the Youth Sport Trust, Play England, and the Centre for Young Lives claims traditional uniforms restrict movement, limit opportunities for active play, and don't reflect the needs of modern learning environments. https://outdoorplayandlearning.org.uk/
Rory McGowan is joined by Klim Artemov from Globaltic. In this episode, Rory picks Klim's brains regarding charcoal and why we need to be careful and make sure we know where we're getting it from. Some of these countries that our producing our charcoal are victims to deforestation and poor labour conditions. https://globalticltd.co.uk/
Rory McGowan is joined by Thea Watson from Bright HR. In this episode the two discuss a new report that Bright HR has carried out. It looks at workplace culture and how it still requires improvement in certain areas. https://www.brighthr.com/
Rory McGowan speaks to Damian Stirrett from ServiceNow. Damian tells us all about the 2025 Consumer Voice Report. This looks at Brits' attitudes towards AI customer service, with an increasing number expecting AI chatbots to pick up on and adapt to their mood. But there remains a lack of trust in AI to fulfil certain tasks and not make things more difficult. https://www.servicenow.com/uk/