Director Podcast

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 B...

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 Empl...

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...

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 Advis...

As the government continues to prioritise economic growth, questions are mounting over whether its strategy is delivering meaningful results. Against a backdrop of recent geopolitical shocks and domestic political pressures, the challenge of balancing long-term growth with short-term stability has become increasingly acute. In this episode, Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) and Giles Wilkes (Instit...

In this snap reaction episode, Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) and host Ben Walker break down the Chancellor’s Spring Forecast and the latest outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility. With no new tax announcements but higher public spending and shifting fiscal headroom, what does it mean for business confidence and competitiveness? We explore downgraded growth projections, pressure on th...

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...

“ 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...

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...

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.

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 diff...

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 (m...

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 o...

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 economy An interview with TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak on productivity IoD Chief E...

As the government prepares to unveil its Spending Reviewthis week, “growth” remains the political buzzword of the moment. But with the UK still struggling to regain economic momentum more than a decade after the financial crisis, are ministers pursuing the right kind of growth—and do they even understand what drives it? In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by Anna Leach (IoDChief Economist),...

Investor confidence in London’s stock market has hit aworrying low, with fund managers warning the government that sentiment is at “rock bottom.” In a recent Downing Street meeting, industry specialists raised concerns over the state of UK equities - highlighting key challenges such as declining IPOs, a widening valuation gap between UK and US companies, and increasing acquisitions by private equi...

On the day of his inauguration, President Trump promised todeliver the “most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history”. True to his word, the first 100 days of his second term have been labelled as some of the most destabilising in the country’s recent past. In our latest Directors’ Briefing episode, the author of ‘Trump II: Why He Won – What It Means For the World’, Tim...

In today's rapidly changing world, effective risk management is more crucial than ever for boards of directors. As organisations navigate complex economic and geopolitical landscapes, the ability to anticipate, assess, and mitigate risks can make the difference between success and failure. In this episode, Ben Walker explores the intricacies of risk management with Professor Bryan Foss (Co-Fou...

Europe's innovation scene has found itself under the spotlight, with many wondering why it's lagging behind the US. Limited funding for startups, a fragmented market, and tough regulations are often blamed. In this episode, Dr. Erin Young (IoD Head of Innovation and Technology Policy) and Professor David Beatty OBE (Professor Emeritus of Strategy, Rotman School of Management, University of...

In the boardroom, directors often face tough decisions thatbalance competing interests and moral norms - impacting employees, customers, shareholders, and society. These decisions are frequently misunderstood, criticised,and sometimes seen as unethical, potentially harming corporate reputation. Despite their significance, we rarely ask: How are these decisions made? What role do moral norms and id...

The UK’s relationship with the EU is in the spotlight this year, as both sides prepare for the review of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. And in light of an unpredictable US Administration, the reset of relations is ever more important. But the politics has always been a barrier to real policy change.   In this episode, Tom Bruffato (Director of Policy & Research at Best for Britain) and E...

At the end of November 2024, IoD members were asked to assess the main challenges facing their businesses. Unsurprisingly, domestic concerns ranked high on the list, especially the future outlook for the UK economy and the impact of recent government policy decisions, such as the hike in employers’ national insurance and proposed changes to UK employment law. However, UK businesses must also navig...

Today, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. When up against his previous appointments, Trump has always been seen as the most likely to cause the greatest international impact, and following the election results in November 2024, the reaction so far across the globe has slightly felt like a collective bracing against the oncoming ripples. So, what exactly do...

2024 was a year of two halves for UK business. After a promising first half, when green shoots of recovery gradually began to emerge, business sentiment took a sharp turn for the worse in the latter months of the year, as business leaders digested the full implications of the new government’s early policy decisions.   As we begin to navigate the world of policy in the yearahead, in this episode, m...

This is the final episode of the IoD Business Book Club 2024! In this episode, Ben Walker (Head of Media at LID Business Media) is joined by Adrian Pryce DL (Chair of the IoD’s Sustainability Special Interest Group) and Pedro Santos (IoD Membership Operations Executive). Together, the review two books from the FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year longlist 2024. The books up for review are: T...