The Business

The best analysis and interviews to help you succeed in business. Hannah Prevett and Dominic O’Connell talk to the people in the room when the deal happens – from start-ups to tech titans, market movers to City CEOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5 days ago

    Dubai Airports CEO: "This war could be our new normal"

    Can Dubai’s $35 billion Al Maktoum International Airport expansion survive growing Middle East conflict, or will regional tensions stall the world's biggest aviation megaproject? In this episode of The Business, Dominic O’Connell is joined by Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, to discuss the ambitious expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport. Designed to handle 260 million passengers across five runways, the airport represents a massive investment in the future of global travel and trade. Griffiths reflects on navigating regional instability, missile threats, and managing airport security during heightened tensions. “I think there are some things that we are considering which could harden some of the infrastructure against possible threats, but I think most of this is going to be technology that actually stops the impact of any conflict being felt by the infrastructure, that’s the most important thing,” Griffiths says on the show. Following Houthi missile attacks on Saudi’s Riyadh airport, the UK Foreign Office has now advised against all but essential travel to a large portion of Saudi Arabia. Griffiths tells the program Dubai’s airspace is so far unaffected. “The attacks on civilian infrastructure that are happening in Saudi are very regrettable and abhorrent in so many ways,” he says. “We have to remember that the Middle East is a pretty big place - and Riyadh and Jeddah are as far away as Italy is from the UK, so it is a war between two countries that are not fortunately touching the UAE. Obviously we are maintaining vigilance.” From his early career alongside Sir Richard Branson at Virgin Atlantic to running Gatwick and leading Dubai Airports, Griffiths outlines his corporate strategy for connecting world markets. He also discusses how international aviation disruptions impact passenger recovery, supply chains, and the wider UK economy - as well as how he has balanced his other career as a pipe organ musician. Guest: Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producer: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Picture: Getty More from the Business: EasyJet vs Wall Street: The £5.7bn Battle for a British Budget Airline Inside the Multi-Billion-Pound Resurgence of Marks & Spencer Wealth and inheritance tax driving away the UK’s super rich? More from the Times: Saudi Arabia airport hit by second Houthi strike after 13 killed in attack — as it happened Dubai airport prepares for take-off amid US-Iran conflict Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Dubai Airports CEO: "This war could be our new normal"
  2. 7 Oct

    Help to Buy reboot: Can Labour fix the housing market?

    Will a re-imagined version of Help to Buy solve Britain's housing crisis? Dominic O’Connell examines whether government mortgage subsidies can rescue Labour's ambitious homebuilding targets. In this episode of The Business, we explore "Your First Home" - the government's proposed scheme to resurrect Help to Buy and subsidise mortgages for first-time buyers without the bank of mum and dad. With construction stalling across the UK economy, we ask whether restarting Help to Buy will stimulate homebuilding or simply inflate property prices. Dominic is joined by Jennie Daly, chief executive of Taylor Wimpey - one of Britain's largest house builders - and Carol Lewis, property editor at The Times. Together, they discuss planning delays, red tape, and how changing government fiscal policy impacts British business confidence. They analyse whether mortgage subsidies and supply chain reform can overcome material costs, unlock land development, and deliver long-term economic growth. “We have to step back and think: what does housebuilding deliver? It’s a fundamental human right,” Jennie Daly said on the show. “New home building is the only route to increasing the housing stock. So there's a fundamental economic and social case for intervention at times in the economic cycle where house building is particularly in danger of contracting.” Guests: Jennie Daly, chief executive of Taylor WimpeyCarol Lewis, property editor at The Times Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producer: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy Video Producer: Bronwen Latham Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Hear more from The Business: Why are the super rich leaving Britain? Does Andy Burnham’s government have the guts to deliver growth? The rise of the corporate landlord - with Grainger’s Helen Gordon Read more from The Times: New home approvals sink to 13-year low as PM revives Help to Buy How housebuilders won argument to revive help for first-time buyers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Help to Buy reboot: Can Labour fix the housing market?
  3. 30 Sept

    Reindustrialisation: Can Labour rebuild British manufacturing?

    Is Labour’s promise of reindustrialisation realistic for the UK economy? Dominic O’Connell explores the future of British manufacturing. In his speech to the Labour Party conference, Chancellor John Healey promised "a new age of industrialisation". But with UK manufacturing output stagnant and England losing over 6,000 manufacturing businesses in the past five years according to the Office for National Statistics, can government fiscal policy turn the tide? In this episode of The Business, Dominic O’Connell considers whether genuine reindustrialisation is possible, as well as the obstacles in the way including the impact of high energy costs, skills shortages and the global impact of Chinese manufacturing competition. Joined by David Smith, economics editor at The Sunday Times, and Liam Sides, director of regional analysis at Oxford Economics, we examine the structural shifts that transformed Britain into a service-based economy over the last 50 years and evaluate what a realistic reindustrialisation strategy looks like for British business, from growing advanced manufacturing sectors like aerospace and pharmaceuticals to regional investment and planning reform. Guests: David Smith, Economics Editor at The Sunday TimesLiam Sides, Director of Regional Analysis at Oxford Economics Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Picture: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Reindustrialisation: Can Labour rebuild British manufacturing?
  4. 24 Sept

    M&S revival: how the retail giant is defying high street trends

    How did M&S pull off one of the biggest turnarounds in British retail? Hannah Prevett speaks to operations director Sacha Berendji about the high street giant's transformation. In this episode of The Business, we explore how M&S transformed its food, fashion, and shop location strategy to capture market share across British business. From store renewals and digital growth - to managing a cyber attack - we consider what its resurgence reveals about wider retail trends and consumer spending across the UK economy. M&S operations director Sacha Berendji joins Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times, to discuss the corporate strategy behind the multi-billion-pound revival of M&S. He explains how leadership set the course to revamp its product lineup, handle the logistics of "fortress factories" and is now approaching shoplifting challenges. He also discusses the tax burden on high street retailers, along with what M&S wants from government fiscal policy to address rising costs and the youth unemployment crisis. He breaks down the company's decision to close a number of high street shops across the country: “We're very well aware of the role that we play on a high street and within a local community, so we never take these decisions [to close a location] lightly - but when you look at the economics at play, not just for us, but for all retailers, and, really importantly, where customers are shopping, it has become more and more difficult to justify being in locations where there isn't customer foot fall,” he says on the show. “It's not an anti-high street agenda … If the high street is the right place, then we'll be on the high street.” Guest: Sacha Berendji, operations director at M&S Presenter: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producer: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com Picture: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    M&S revival: how the retail giant is defying high street trends

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The best analysis and interviews to help you succeed in business. Hannah Prevett and Dominic O’Connell talk to the people in the room when the deal happens – from start-ups to tech titans, market movers to City CEOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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