James Reed: all about business

Most people underestimated lab-grown diamonds. Conventional wisdom says that luxury is about heritage, exclusivity and the power of a brand. So why are consumers embracing them so quickly? And what does that tell us about the future of luxury businesses and the shift in consumer values? In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Nathalie Morrison, founder and CEO of Astrea London. He...

Financial crises can hit any business- especially in today's economy. Selling might feel like the only option. But is it? What should founders do when things look bleak? How do you rebuild momentum, and give your business the best possible chance of surviving and thriving? When one pair of siblings were running The End nightclub, they found themselves £1.5 million in debt and facing enormous press...

Scaling a business seems like the obvious goal. But what if growth without the right strategy leads to losing control? In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with David Palmer, founder of Life of Fish, the modern London fishmonger that started as a lockdown pop-up outside a Peckham cafe, and has now grown into a multi-site retail and wholesale business built on sustainability, craft,...

Thirty years of building a business without a board, without investors, and without ever wanting to sell, and it just keeps growing, there’s something to learn from that. In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Victoria Stapleton, founder of Brora, the British luxury cashmere and clothing brand. Victoria has built Brora over 30 years from a single supplier and a home phone number...

Most people think successful entrepreneurs spot brilliant ideas. Sahar Hashemi believes the opposite. In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Sahar Hashemi, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Buy Women Built. They talk about Sahar’s journey over three decades building businesses, backing herself, and why entrepreneurship is far simpler than most people make it. Sahar shares the...

60% of the UK diet is ultra-processed. And the food industry is manufacturing your addiction. So why is this public health crisis continuing in plain sight, and what it would actually take to change it? Two things are clear. Britain's food system is more broken than most people realise. And Gousto is far more interesting a business than its recipe boxes suggest. In today’s episode, James speaks wi...

What does it take to build a luxury brand by accident and keep it thriving for 30 years without ever taking outside investment? In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Tom Faulkner, award-winning British furniture designer and founder of Tom Faulkner Limited. They talk about the unlikely journey from redundancy at a record label to running one of the UK's most distinctive handcraf...

How can a major museum be run with the same entrepreneurial mindset as a high-growth business? In today's episode, James Reed speaks with Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO of the London Transport Museum. While many perceive museums as static archives, Elizabeth explains how she applies commercial strategy to ensure one of London’s most iconic cultural landmarks remains financially sustainable and...

Why are millions of jobs going unfilled in one of the UK’s biggest industries, while so many young people are struggling to find work? In this episode of all about business, James Reed speaks with Sarah Bradbury, CEO of the Institute of Grocery Distribution, about the future of the UK food industry, the growing challenge of attracting young talent, and why the sector may offer far more opportuniti...

Running a business is hard, but what is it like when your work sits at the centre of people’s most emotional moments? In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Damian Melville, Managing Director of Melville & Daughter Funeral Directors. Together they explore leadership in one of the most emotionally demanding industries there is. Damian shares his journey into the family...

Is an awkward conversation the only thing standing between you and the salary you deserve? In this episode of all about business, Connor Scully, Senior Executive Consultant at Reed Specialist Recruitment, sits down with James to discuss how professionals can effectively secure a pay rise in their current role. Connor shares practical advice on how to move beyond the discomfort of pay discussions b...

How do you know if you’re being offered what you’re worth? In this episode of all about business, Leanne Appleton, recruitment expert at Reed, speaks with James about how professionals can increase their earning potential and achieve a higher salary. Leanne shares practical insights into what really drives salary growth, from understanding your market value to building in-demand skills and positio...

How do you grow an idea into a multi-million pound business before the age of 40? In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Andrew Hulbert, entrepreneur and founder of Pareto Facilities Management, a company he built from his bedroom into a £50 million business before successfully exiting in his thirties. Andrew shares the journey from a difficult start in Oxford and an unco...

Could the answer to a more sustainable handbag or wallet lie at the bottom of your pint glass? In this episode of all about business, James Reed sits down with Dr. Edward "TJ" Mitchell, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Arda Biomaterials, a London-based startup redefining the future of leather. Using cutting-edge technology, Arda transforms waste grain from brewers and distillers into sus...

How do you turn a single idea into a global brand and keep winning in an industry where most products fade away? In this episode of all about business, James sits down with Steve Perez, founder of Global Brands, to unpack the reality behind building one of the UK’s most successful drinks businesses from scratch. Steve shares how he identified a gap in the market early on, and backed his instincts...

Why do some candidates succeed in interviews while others fail, even with the same experience? In this episode of all about business, James speaks with Will Moore, Senior Area Manager at Reed Specialist Recruitment, about how to effectively prepare for a job interview. With more than a decade of experience in recruitment, Will shares practical advice on how candidates can approach interviews with...

What is the biggest mistake people make when writing a CV? And how can yours land you an interview in 7 seconds? In this episode of All About Business, James is joined by Libby White, Senior Consultant at Reed specialising in marketing, communications, PR and design recruitment. While some people claim the CV is becoming outdated, Libby explains why it remains a critical tool for getting interview...

What’s the difference between chasing the next job and building a long-term career? In this episode of All About Business Shorts, James Reed speaks with Sophie Clarke, recruitment expert at Reed, about how professionals can think more strategically about their careers. Sophie explains why focusing only on job titles or salary increases can sometimes distract from long-term career growth. Instead,...

How do you build world-class standards in hospitality and then lead at the highest level of business? In this episode of All About Business , James speaks with Stuart Gillies, chef, restaurateur, and former CEO of the Gordon Ramsay Group, about building excellence in hospitality and leading through growth, crisis, and reinvention. Stuart shares his journey from starting out in kitchens through int...

How do you build a creative agency that cuts through in a crowded, fast-changing media landscape? In this episode of All About Business, James talks with Gregory Nice and Jack Stanton, co-founders of NICE Productions. Together they discuss growing a modern creative agency in the age of social-first content, multi-channel marketing, and AI disruption. Gregory and Jack share how they built NICE Prod...

How do you turn a bold idea into a national institution that changes lives? In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Jenifer Rosenberg OBE, entrepreneur in fashion and social impact leader, about building purpose-driven organisations that create lasting change. Jenifer shares her journey from spotting a gap in support for families facing serious illness, to co-founding Heart Cells...

What if becoming mortgage-free wasn’t about earning more money, but about using what you already spend more intelligently? In this episode of All About Business , James speaks with Jinesh Vora, Founder and CEO of Sprive, the UK fintech app helping homeowners pay off their mortgages faster without changing their lifestyle. Jinesh shares his journey from a 14-year career at Goldman Sachs to fintech...

How do you build a creative business from scratch and ensure it steadily grows without compromising on quality, craft, or values? In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Penelope Chilvers, English footwear designer and founder of the eponymous luxury brand, and they talk about building a resilient business rooted in craftsmanship, customer closeness, and long-term thinking. Pen...

How do you create a modern PR strategy that builds brand relevance and marketing-led businesses able to thrive through cultural and technological change? In this episode of All About Business, James sits down with Francesca Gamble, founder of GTN Consultancy, to explore the future of PR, marketing, and business in an AI-driven world. With a career spanning global agencies, luxury fashion brands, a...

What if the future of food isn’t bigger, faster, and more centralised, but local, decentralised, and community-powered? In this episode of the All About Business podcast, James is joined by Pete Russell, Founder of Ooooby and Co-Founder of DECENT, to explore how technology, ethical entrepreneurship, and optimism can transform the global food system from the ground up. Pete shares his journey from...