Director Podcast

We're back after the summer break, and as the political season gets underway, devolution is once again at the top of the policy agenda. Questions are growing about whether greater local powers can help unlock economic growth across the UK.In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by IoD Chief Economist, Anna Leach and Professor Philip McCann, Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School, to explore the economic case for devolution.Together, they discuss whether greater powers for city-regions have delivered tangible results, what Andy Burnham's devolution agenda could mean for growth and investment, and how policymakers can balance local autonomy with national priorities.

Business confidence remains fragile amid economic uncertainty and continued political speculation about the UK's economic direction. In this episode, IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach joins host Ben Walker to discuss the IoD’s latest business confidence index reading and what it tells us about the state of the economy.Together, they explore ideas being floated by Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham to boost growth, the impact of tax speculation on business confidence, and whether greater devolution can help unlock economic potential across the UK. They also discuss how political uncertainty is influencing investment decisions and what the next Prime Minister should do to rebuild business confidence.

Six months on from Royal Assent, the Employment Rights Actis beginning to reshape the UK’s labour market - but for many businesses, uncertainty and concern remain. With key provisions coming into force and others still to follow, employers are grappling with what the reforms mean in practice, and how to prepare for what’s next.In this episode, Alex Hall‑Chen (IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Employment) and Jim Wright CDir (International Employment Law Partner at Knights) join host Ben Walker to discuss the current state of play.Together, they explore why business sentiment has deteriorated since the Act came into force, how organisations are adjusting their hiring and the biggest risks for employers over the next 12 months. They also discuss the impact on IoD members and what practical steps employers can take now to navigate the next phase of implementation.

In this rapid reaction episode, members of the IoD policyteam unpack the business measures announced in the King’s Speech - and what they signal about the Government’s economic direction, amid continued political uncertainty in the UK. The discussion covers economic security, UK-EU relations, energy resilience and late payment reforms, alongside the wider question of how businesses are responding to an increasingly uncertain political and geopolitical environment. And - whether a potential change of Prime Minister has the power to unravel these measures…

As geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global energymarkets, UK businesses are facing persistently high energy costs and renewed uncertainty over supply. Against this backdrop, questions are growing about whether the UK’s energy system is fit for purpose - and why our industrial electricity prices remain among the highest in the G7.In this episode, Alex Hall‑Chen (IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Energy and Sustainability) joins host Ben Walker to examine what the current energy crisis means for UK business.Together, they explore why UK energy prices are so high, how exposed businesses are to future shocks, and why short‑term support measures like the British Industry Competitiveness Scheme fail to address the underlying problems in the energy market. They also discuss the case for structural reform - including decoupling electricity prices from gas - and what government must do to deliver a more affordable, secure and competitive energy system.