Director Podcast

Institute of Directors

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BUSINESS
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A series of podcasts produced by the Policy Team at the Institute of Directors.

4D AGO

Can the UK trade with everyone?

As geopolitical tensions rise and protectionist policies re-emerge, the global trading environment is becoming increasingly fragmented. Against this backdrop, the UK government has maintained a globalist approach, seeking to balance its relationships with the US, EU and China. But how sustainable is that strategy in a more divided world? In this episode, Emma Rowland (IoD Trade Policy Advisor) and Marco Forgione (Director General of The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade) join host Ben Walker to assess the viability of balancing Britain’s major trading partners. Together, they explore the opportunities and trade-offs across priority markets, the case for - and risks of - closer regulatory alignment with the EU, and whether ideas such as dynamic alignment or cooperation among middle powers offer a workable path forward. They also consider if retaliatory tariffs should ever be part of the UK’s toolkit, and what practical steps businesses should take to navigate a more uncertain global trading landscape.

34 min
JAN 15

NEDs reimagined: a post-Higgs review

“NEDs Reimagined: A post-Higgs review of the role and contribution of non-executive directors” is a landmark report from the IoD’s independent Commission chaired by The Rt Hon. Baroness Evans of Bowes Park. The report calls for a fundamental rethink of what makesboards effective in today’s complex business environment – more than two decades after the influential 2003 Higgs Report first set the blueprint for non-executive leadership in the UK. While the principles of the Higgs Review remain vital, the IoD Commission argues that the time has come for boards to evolve from a model of periodic oversight to one of active, informed, and adaptive stewardship. In this episode, Jonathan Geldart (IoD Director General) andIrene-marie Esser (author of the report) take a look at what the Commission investigated, the key themes emerging from its work, and the implications for boards and non-executive directors in practice.

33 min
12/10/2025

The year in policy: 2025

The policy landscape of 2025 presented a demanding set ofconditions for businesses, with economic and political developments creating persistent uncertainty. For many businesses, much of the year was spent absorbing and planning for the measures announced in last year’s Budget. As these policies began to take effect, director confidence fell to its lowest point on record. In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by Hugo Legh (IoD Head of Media, Campaigns and Public Affairs) and Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) to unpack the defining policy developments of 2025 and their impact on business. Together, they explore why director confidence remained subdued throughout the year, how business leaders are reacting in the wake of the 2025 Autumn Budget, and what support they want to see from government in 2026. They also look ahead to the IoD’s policy priorities for the coming year.

29 min
11/26/2025

Breaking down the Autumn Budget

With the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget now unveiled, businesses are already assessing what the new measures mean for them. In this special rapid-reaction episode of the Director podcast, IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach breaks down the key announcements - from headline tax decisions to the policies shaping the business landscape in the months and year ahead.

26 min
11/06/2025

The Autumn Budget 2025: Tax choices & challenges

As the Chancellor prepares to deliver her Autumn Budget on 26 November, her recent “scene-setter” speech has fuelled debate about whether tax rises are inevitable - and whether manifesto pledges on income tax, National Insurance and VAT can realistically hold. With protecting the NHS, reducing national debt and improving the cost of living set as her top priorities, the question now is not if difficult choices lie ahead, but which ones. In this Director podcast episode, host Ben Walker sits downwith Dan Neidle (founder of Tax Policy Associates and one of Britain’s most respected voices on taxation and public policy) and Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) to unpack the tax choices and challenges facing the Chancellor ahead of the Budget. Together, they explore the fiscal and political constraints shaping this Budget, what a pro-growth yet progressive tax regime could look like in 2025, and how stability in tax policy affects business confidence and investment.

31 min
10/15/2025

AI governance in the boardroom

As artificial intelligence accelerates across sectors andindustries, boardrooms can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. Once seen as a technical concern, AI is now firmly a strategic, operational and legal issue, demanding informed oversight at the highest level. In this Director episode, Ben Walker is joined by Dr ErinYoung (IoD Head of Innovation and Technology Policy), Pauline Norstrom (member of the IoD Science, Innovation and Technology Expert Advisory Group, founder and CEO of Anekanta®, and creator of the Anekanta® 12 Principles of AI Governance), and Mario Thomas (Chartered Director, Fellow of the IoD, and enterprise transformation leader) to discuss the evolving role of boards in governing AI responsibly. Drawing on the IoD’s latest paper, AI Governance in the Boardroom, they explore the practical steps directors can take today, from embedding ethical oversight and risk resilience to navigating complex regulation such as the EU AI Act. Together, they address key questions: What does good board-level AI governance actually look like? How can non technical directors challenge complex systems with confidence? And which principles are most urgent for boards to act on now? Full guest bios available on IoD.com

32 min
07/22/2025

The Employment Rights Bill

As Parliament heads into summer recess, the Employment Rights Bill continues its journey through the House of Lords, having reached report stage. Meanwhile, the government has released its implementation roadmap, offering a clearer, though still evolving, picture of how these reforms will roll out in practice. With the potential to reshape key aspects of employment law and practice, this Bill is one of the most significant developments for UK employers in recent years. In this episode, host Ben Walker sits down with Alex Hall-Chen, IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Employment, and Jim Wright CDir, International employment law partner at Knights, to unpack what the Employment Rights Bill means for businesses and business leaders across the UK. Together they explore how the Bill has been received by employers so far, what concerns have been raised by IoD members, and whether those concerns have been reflected in the government's approach. And from a legal perspective, they dive into the most impactful changes on the horizon and what organisations, particularly SMEs, should be preparing for now.

32 min
07/07/2025

The relaunch of Director magazine

On the 19 June, we were delighted to publish the first edition of the new Director magazine. The Summer 2025 edition of Director – HIGH OR DRY: Can Reeves’ growth plan win back business? – features articles including: Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds on the government’s plans to boost the British economyAn interview with TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak on productivityIoD Chief Economist Anna Leach on whether the economy is a game of chanceProfessor Andrew Scott on the silver generation and the need for businesses to have an ageing strategyProfessor Margaret Heffernan on the trouble with AIDr Tim Hames on why geopolitical ignorance will wreck your businessIn this episode, the podcast’s host and Director magazine Editor, Ben Walker, is joined by Dr Roger Barker, Hugo Legh and Anna Leach. As members of the IoD Policy Team and the magazine’s Editorial Board, they discuss the contents of the first edition and the thinking that shaped its direction.

32 min

A series of podcasts produced by the Policy Team at the Institute of Directors.

Creator

Institute of Directors
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

86
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Institute of Directors
Show Website

Director Podcast