Business Daily

Nigeria's most well-known economist Tony Elumelu tells us why Africa needs to rethink it's relationship with business. He explains "Africapitalism", the idea that the private sector can transform Africa's economy and society for the better. He also discusses a number problems slowing economic growth in Africa, including young, well-educated people leaving for better opportunities elsewhere and a l...

We hear about one Sri Lankan woman’s struggle with debt after taking out a small loan - what does her story tell us about how to lend to people unable to access finance through banks all over the world? In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler investigates what's gone wrong with microfinance. It was once seen as a progressive way to help people like Renuka Ratnayake improve their liv...

Offering small unsecured loans to the world’s poorest was meant to transform the lives of millions but in Sri Lanka microfinance has left many women with debts they simply can't repay. In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler visits the villages in Sri Lanka where many of those otherwise excluded from organised finance have taken small loans only for their finances to spiral into deb...

Musicians, promoters and comedians take us inside the grass roots gigging industry. David Reid speaks to guitar band Vernons Future about their experience gigging at small venues in the UK and getting their music out to international audiences via streaming platforms. We also hear from gig promotions company Bugbear about organising gigs and comedians trying their luck at an open mic night, hoping...

Gospel: Is the spiritual message of the music getting lost in the world of commercialism? It's the two billion dollar music industry with faith at the forefront. We investigate whether mainstream music artists are diluting an industry that dedicates itself to the word of god. Hear from one of gospel's best selling artists, Marvin Sapp, and a gospel choir leader in Rwanda. Presenter / producer: Izz...

The music industry is worth billions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs across the world, but how do you become part of such a lucrative but exclusive industry? The global head of music operations at Tik Tok tells us how the app has become a game-changer in the industry. Kenyan DJ Coco Em talks about about the barriers African artists have to overcome and British rapper Aitch’s manager expla...

All this week on Business Daily, we’re focusing on the music industry, which is worth $26 billion a year globally. Today, we’re joined by the hugely successful musician, content creator and businessman Jason Derulo. He tells us what it takes to build a brand as successful as his, and about the unlikely investment that's made him millions of dollars. Presenter/producer: Izzy Greenfield Image: Jason...

Grand Theft Auto changed gaming forever. In this programme we find out how. Chris Warburton meets the creative team from Dundee in Scotland who came up with the concept for Grand Theft Auto 25 years ago. We look into how it was picked up, marketed and ultimately sold to millions and millions of us. Grand Theft Auto was revolutionary, but it was also controversial with its depictions of shocking, g...

Mate Rimac tells us how he designed and now produces the world's fastest electric car. He started out converting petrol racing cars to run on electricity and proving those vehicles could achieve top speeds. Mate Rimac then built a business to produce the car from scratch, with little money and no experience. His company is now valued at more than 2 billion dollars after securing investment last ye...

Would you like to work fewer days, but get paid the same? The biggest global trial of the four day week has just come to an end in the UK. We hear from some of the companies who took part, including employees making the most of their extra day off, and employers looking closely at productivity figures. It’s an idea that other countries are looking at closely, so we’ll be looking at the global impl...

In the past year, Sri Lanka has endured political pandemonium and the worst economic crisis in its modern history. The situation has led to the highest number of people leaving the country on record. The Sri Lankan government has secured an IMF bailout - but will that help stop the exodus? In this episode we’ll hear from entrepreneur Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam, who has stayed put – as well as from...

A new coal mine in the north west of England could bring much-needed jobs and investment to the area. However there are concerns from environmentalists about the impact on the climate. The mine, in the Whitehaven area of Cumbria, is the first deep mine approved by the UK government for 30 years, and will provide fuel for steel-making. Rowan Bridge travels to Whitehaven, the town next to the site o...

As 150,000 extra visitors are poised to descend on Liverpool in the north-west of England for the Eurovision Song Contest, Olivia Wilson heads to the city to see how businesses are preparing. Plus, we speak to fans travelling from across the world about how much it costs them to go to the event. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane Reporter: Olivia Wilson (Image: Eurovision 2023 logo. Credit: Eurovi...

Turkey election: 5 million young people are expected to vote for the first time this weekend. We explore how the state of the economy will affect their decisions. Victoria Craig heads to Antalya a swing city with a young population to hear how they are managing to make a living in difficult economic circumstances and how they plan to use their vote. Presenter / Producer: Victoria Craig Image: Anta...

Joe Biden says American firms are ready to triple investment in Northern Ireland, we look into whether that's really likely to happen. Leanna Byrne is in Northern Ireland to take a look at the current levels of investment and speak to those businesses already benefitting from their relationship with the US. She also explores how Brexit and domestic politics could impact what happens next. Presente...

For over 80 years the US dollar has been king when it comes to global trade, is that beginning to change? We look at how the US dollar came to dominate global trade, ask what happens when a country runs out of dollars and explore why countries like China, India and Russia are starting to increase trade in their local currencies. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: US dollars; Credit: Getty I...

Some see them as polar opposites, but more people than you might think are moving between the creative and technology industries; using the skills from one to further success in the other. But how easy is it to cross between art and engineering? David Harper meets Jan Harlan, who started his career in the embryonic IT industry of the 1960s. The precision and planning skills he developed would help...

What's the future of the advertising industry? The industry veteran who was behind some of the most memorable ads of the 80s and 90s speaks to Dougal Shaw about the rise of digital platforms and social media. Hegarty is a revered figure in advertising because of the famous brands he helped to build. He was a founding partner of Saatchi & Saatchi and co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH). Th...

Social entrepreneurship is often borne out of the need to address social issues, but it is fast becoming a major contributor to economic growth – contributing billions of dollars to global economies and providing millions of jobs whilst maintaining its core altruistic values of making the world a better place. We meet Zimbabwean born Max Zimani – who runs an African/Middle-Eastern restaurant in Sl...

Electrical line workers work all kinds of hours in very challenging conditions to keep electricity flowing to our homes and businesses. It's traditionally been a very male occupation but that's changing as more women break into the industry. We speak to Colombia’s first ever intake of female apprentice line workers about their intensive training experience, and Rosa Vasquez – one of the first wome...

The Swedish start-up that's worked out how to use hot fumes from kitchens to heat restaurants. Hear from the entrepreneurs who've developed this new technology. They tell us how it works and how it can help restaurants lower bills and carbon emissions. However this technology is expensive for restaurant owners, especially at a time when hiring workers and buying ingredients has got a lot more cost...

We meet the Londoners moving into their first flats thanks to a ownership scheme which started in the US in the 1960s. Community land trust properties can only be bought by local people, and the price is set by average local income levels, not the open market. Dougal Shaw goes to a block of flats in Lewisham where buyers are just settling in. He speaks to a lawyer and community activist in the US...

The Silicon Valley veteran created the first commercial website to support advertising in 1993. He is a publisher and author and now runs an online learning platform. He talks to Ed Butler about the recent dips in tech stocks, and the future of AI. Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Olivia Wilson (Image: Tim O'Reilly. Credit: Getty Images)

Could growing genetically modified mustard be the answer to oil shortages in India? Each year India spends billions of dollars importing 70 percent of its cooking oil from other countries like Argentina, Malaysia and Brazil. We speak to a farmer struggling to make a profit growing un-modified mustard crops. We also explore the debate in India around genetically modified food crops and speak to one...

How Peru went from having virtually no blueberry plantations to being the world's top exporter in just ten years. In this episode Stefania Gozzer visits a plantation in the region of Ica and hears from experts, firms and farmers about the key developments that made blueberries growing such a success, despite Peru’s ongoing political crises. Presenter / producer: Stefania Gozzer Image: Blueberry fa...