James Reed: all about business

Building a billion-pound business is one thing, but what does it take to scale globally, exit successfully, and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs? In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Sir Richard Harpin, founder of HomeServe, the home emergency repairs and improvements launched in 1993. Sir Richard talks about his journey from early failures to growing a FTSE 100 mul...

Winning Olympic gold is one of the highest achievements in sport, but what are the skills that you can apply to build an elite team in your business? In this episode of All About Business, James meets Adrian Moorhouse MBE, three-time Olympian and gold medalist. Adrian talks about his journey from the pool to the boardroom, exploring big hairy audacious goals (BHAGs), the power of curiosity, and he...

Building a career in television is one thing, but what does it really take to produce global hits like The Crown and Outlander while building and scaling a production empire? In this episode of 'All About Business,' James speaks with Andy Harries, co-founder and CEO of Left Bank Pictures. Together they discuss Andy's 50-year journey from a promotion scriptwriter at Granada Television, to launching...

Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is one of the most famous houses in the world. But what does it really take to run it as a modern business? In this episode of All About Business , James speaks with Fiona, Lady Carnarvon, custodian of Highclere Castle, about managing a 1,300-year-old heritage estate with roots dating back to 749 AD. She shares how Downton Abbey transformed Highclere’s glo...

Some of the biggest global businesses started the same way: someone spotted an opportunity early- and then chose the right partner. In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with serial venture builder James McHugh, founder and chairman of Tquila . James reveals the “build-operate-transfer” playbook behind multiple eight-figure exits and how he’s now riding the AI wave with agentic syste...

How do you build a culture where risk-taking is celebrated, bureaucracy is banished and everyone thinks like an entrepreneur? In this episode, James is joined by Chris Hulatt, Co-founder of Octopus Group, a multi-billion-pound investment and energy business that started in a living room and grew into a global force spanning fund management, renewable energy and technology. Chris shares how Octopus...

Building a career in food is one thing - but what does it really take to become one of the UKs most famous chefs?  In this episode of 'All About Business,' James Reed speaks with renowned British chef Tom Carriage, exploring Tom’s journey from washing dishes in small kitchens to becoming a Michelin-starred chef and a successful business owner with a portfolio of restaurants.  Tom discuss...

How can businesses gain a true understanding of what drives customer decisions? And how can science be applied to create marketing that not only feels deeply human but also delivers measurable results? Today on All About Business, James is Raphy March, Managing Director at Cowry Consulting, a pioneer in combining behavioral science with AI to help global brands like Coca-Cola, EasyJet, and Sky, in...

Being successful in hospitality is incredibly tough. But how do you keep a focus on quality and authenticity whilst expanding into multiple new locations? In this episode of All About Business, James is joined by Sir Rocco Forte, titan of the luxury hospitality and hotel industry. They explore his incredible journey as an entrepreneur within a family whose history in hospitality spans over a centu...

Socialism doesn’t work. Hyper-capitalism doesn’t work. Is this the answer? What happens when the DNA of a corporation changes? In this episode of 'All About Business', Alex interviews the usual host, James Reed, about his new book, 'Karma Capitalism.' The discussion revolves around the concept of Karma Capitalism, which James defines as a people-centric variant of capitalism where companies, known...

The question is...are you a faithful, or are you a traitor? Television is something we all enjoy. But few of us get to see how the shows we love actually come to life and why some of them grip the nation in what can only be described as a phenomenon.  Today on All About Business, James is joined by Stephen Lambert OBE. Stephen is a producer and founder of Studio Lambert, the production compan...

Is it possible to be a highly successful entrepreneur without compromising your commitment to customers, staff, and society? In this episode of All About Business, we’re joined by John Spiers, entrepreneur, philanthropist, veteran of the wealth management industry, and Chairman of EQ Investors, one of the UK’s leading B Corporations. John shares why he returned to the sector to found EQ Investors,...

What is the secret to building an iconic brand that resonates with millions of customers on a global scale? In this episode of All About Business , we're joined by Johnnie Boden, founder and creative director of the iconic British clothing brand, Boden. Johnnie shares his unconventional journey from an unfulfilling career in the city, to founding a fashion brand that now generates over £350 millio...

How do you balance innovation with ethical responsibility? This week on All About Business , we’re joined by Felix Henderson, Co-founder and COO of Ohchat, a generative AI business that builds "digital twins" of real-world content creators. In this episode, Felix shares his journey of building a business from the ground up, and provides insight into the AI future of adult entertainment and how an...

How do you build a resilient brand and lasting reputation and control chaos when a PR crisis hits? This week on All About Business , we’re joined by Sarah Woodhouse, co-owner and director at Ambitious PR. With over 25 years of experience in strategic communications, Sarah helps high-growth businesses manage their public image and tell their story with transparency. In this episode, Sarah offers pr...

Dame Irene Hays built Hays Travel with her husband John, growing it from a small counter at the back of a babywear shop into the UK’s largest independent travel agency with 512 branches nationwide. Along the way, she navigated major industry shifts, acquired the legendary Thomas Cook brand, founded the Hays Travel Foundation, and built a leading apprenticeship programme that now employs hundreds o...

Reed's Report: Employer Attitudes to Hiring People with Criminal Convictions Resettling into society after prison is a huge challenge — especially when employers are reluctant to hire people with a criminal record. Too often, talented individuals are overlooked, leaving skills and potential untapped, and making them far more likely to reoffend. In this episode, we dive into the findings of the lat...

Education is changing fast, and the old ways of running learning institutes are no longer working. Philippa De’Ath set out to solve this when she co-founded Arbor Education, a platform designed to shift the focus of teachers away from admin work and back to what matters most: the students. In this week’s episode of All About Business , Philippa shares how she and her co-founder built a mission-dri...

Fresh from the holidays? Here are 5 top summer takeaways to get you inspired and ready for September. In this special bonus episode of All about Business, we’ve handpicked some of the most valuable insights from our incredible podcast guests. Since launching last October, we’ve had the privilege of hearing the powerful journeys, lessons, and strategies from some of the most successful entrepreneur...

Fresh from the holidays? Here are 5 top summer takeaways to get you inspired and ready for September. In this special bonus episode of All about Business, we’ve handpicked some of the most valuable insights from our incredible podcast guests. Since launching last October, we’ve had the privilege of hearing the powerful journeys, lessons, and strategies from some of the most successful entrepreneur...

Great business ideas don’t have to be original, they just have to work. Some of the most successful startups are built by borrowing proven concepts, improving them, and executing better. That’s exactly how Toby Burns, founder and CEO of The Silent Disco Company, built a scalable business from a simple idea.  In this week’s episode of All About Business, Toby shares how he turned a simple idea...

Just last week, a Data Analyst was forced to turn to charity to feed his family. Once secure in a stable profession, he is now among the growing number of educated, working professionals whose livelihoods have been eroded by soaring inflation, pushing them into hardship. And the crisis shows no signs of easing. In this week’s episode of All About Business, Mark Game, Co-Founder of The Bread and Bu...

AI isn’t the future, it’s already reshaping the way we work, build, and compete. If you’re starting or looking to scale a business right now, understanding how to actually use AI, not just talk about it, could be your biggest edge. In this week’s episode of All About Business , Microsoft UK’s Chief Digital Officer Jed Griffiths shares what he’s seeing at the front lines of AI adoption. From how en...

Most graduates leave university with a degree but little direction, but how do you figure out what to do with your life, and how do you actually get your foot in the door? In this week’s episode of All About Business , the founder of Bright Network James Uffindell shares the full journey. From his first venture helping students access top universities, to scaling Bright Network into one of the UK'...

Five years. Zero sales. No paycheck. Most people would’ve given up. Byron Dixon didn’t. Instead, he turned his chemistry knowledge and desire for change into Micro-Fresh. A breakthrough technology now used globally to fight mold, bacteria, and bad smells in everything from school shoes to hospital bedding. In this episode of All About Business , we meet Byron Dixon, scientist, entrepreneur, and fo...