James Reed: all about business

He pushed himself to the limit and lost everything. But that didn’t stop him from coming back stronger than ever and building a global brand from scratch. On this episode of All About Business we meet Matthew Jones, founder of Bread Ahead, who teaches us why the road to success isn’t always smooth. For him it was full of late nights, hard lessons, and a brutal turning point that forced him to rebu...

Nearly 10,000 apps are uploaded to the app store every week, and most of them are ignored. So how do you launch one that becomes a movement? In this episode of All About Business , we’re joined by Michelle Kennedy, founder and CEO of Peanut; the social networking app that has transformed how women connect and help each other through every stage of motherhood. What does it take to walk away from a...

Did you know that nearly half the planet still isn’t connected? In many places, getting essential supplies like medicine and food is not only costly, it’s nearly impossible. But what if we were standing on the edge of a breakthrough that could change all of that? On this episode of All About Business, we're joined by Mark Dorey, co-founder and CEO of Straightline Aviation. A pioneering company bui...

We've long been taught that hard work is beneficial for both body and mind, but is that truly the case? Could there be inherent value in slowing down, embracing rest, and allowing ourselves the space to simply be idle? Today on 'All About Business', we meet Tom Hodgkinson, founder and editor-in-chief of The Idler Magazine, a publication that teaches its readers the value of slowing down. In this e...

The UK is ranked last in Europe for bathing water quality. With a small team and limited resources, how have a ‘bunch of surfers from Cornwall’ got parliament to listen and launch a commission on England’s chemical cocktail of stinking sewage? Today’s guest on All About Business is Giles Bristow, CEO of Surfers Against Sewage, a water reform charity that’s been around for over three decades. In th...

What should you do if you have a brilliant business idea but don’t have the funds to bring it to life?  In today’s episode of All About Business, I'm joined by venture capitalist Sasha Kaletsky. Sasha is the co-founder of investment firm Creator Ventures which he started with his cousin Caspar Lee. They have injected millions of dollars into digital tech companies in six short years.&nbs...

How can you use psychology to quickly go from struggling employee to productivity machine?  Today’s guest on All About Business is Octavius Black CBE, the co-founder of MindGym, a corporate learning company that merges behavioural science with leadership development to turn struggling teams into powerhouses of productivity. In this episode, we discuss the psychology behind high performance, w...

How would a Jeweller who has become a favourite amongst the royal family start from scratch in 2025? In this episode of All About Business, James interviews Kiki McDonagh, a fifth-generation jeweler renowned for her work with high-profile clients including Princess Diana and the current Princess of Wales. They discuss how she transformed the perception of fine jewellery, making it more accessible...

How do you build a brand that not only speaks to a whole generation of women, but also transforms an entire industry? In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Sharmadean Reid MBE, the trailblazing entrepreneur behind brands such as WAH Nails, Beautystack and The Stack World.  We discuss her experiences navigating the fashion and tech industries, how the pandemic changed her...

In December 2020, the UK signed its first post-Brexit trade deal with Turkey, safeguarding a £18.6bn relationship. But how did Turkey become so important for UK business? In this episode of All About Business, I’m joined by Livio Manzini, Chairman and CEO of Bell Holding, a packaging and services company based in Turkey. We explore Turkey’s secret to efficient manufacturing, why trade wars are bad...

Consistent branding has the power to increase your revenue by up to 20%.  But with massive rebrands making headlines for all the wrong reasons, how can you refresh your image without alienating your audience? In this episode of 'All About Business,' I sit down with David Robertson Mitchell, who spent almost a decade working as a brand consultant for Mercedes’ Formula One team. We discuss how...

With new economic policies forcing UK businesses to tighten their purse strings, how can we keep the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit alive, while also getting the economy back on track? In this episode of All About Business, I’m joined by Luke Johnson, the serial entrepreneur who spotted some of the UK’s most popular food brands, including Pizza Express, The Ivy and Gail’s Bakery. We discuss how to sp...

With 77% of 13-18 year olds using artificial intelligence in some way, how can we make sure young people are using AI effectively while also protecting them from its potential dangers? In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Philip Colligan, the CEO of Raspberry Pi Foundation, which provides free AI education to children across the globe. We discuss why AI is becoming more and more...

The UK’s life science sector is booming, generating over £100 billion in turnover in 2022. And with more and more companies entering the space, how do you marry business and science to create a drug that not only makes money but saves lives. In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Dame Kate Bingham, Managing Partner at SV Health Investors, specialising in biotechnology investments....

How do you go from cleaning toilets to running a multi-million pound company? In this episode of All about business, I sit down with Neil Clifford, the CEO of luxury footwear brand Kurt Geiger. Neil left school with just one O-Level, and rose to become a top player in the retail industry. We discuss the lessons Neil learned from his early retail jobs, why CEOs shouldn’t work from home, and how he...

A recent YouGov survey found that 82% of managers are ‘accidental'. So, what is an accidental manager? Why are there so many of them, and just how much is it affecting results within your business? In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Ann Francke OBE, the CEO of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which provides training, qualifications and resources for managers. She reveal...

How can you use data to increase revenue, improve customer relationships, and make better business decisions? In today’s episode of All About Business, I speak with Anita Dougall, the co-founder and CEO of data consultancy firm, Sagacity.  Anita started the business in 2005, and since then has helped companies like AA, British Gas, and Moonpig spin their data into business gold.  She rev...

How do you turn an idea you had at uni into a multimillion-pound enterprise?  UNILAD and LADbible founder, Alex Partridge, started both companies while he was studying at university, and was a millionaire by the time he was 25. In this episode of All About Business, we discuss the power of social media, the podcast that led to his ADHD diagnosis, and the harrowing court case that almost cost...

In a world where consumers are obsessed with Temu and SHEIN, how can you attract customers to your high-end brand while staving off competition from cheaper alternatives?  In this episode of All About Business, I speak with Billie-Jo Cronin, the founder of luxury accessories brand, Good Squish.    Billie-Jo and her brother, Phoenix, bootstrapped the company, selling 1,900 units...

Concern around AI is higher than ever. But could 2025 be ‘make or break’ for businesses who have yet to embrace it? In this episode of 'All About Business' I talk with sibling duo, Richard and Archie Hollingsworth, founders of Fixer AI. They discuss their journey from bootstrapping a $5 million agency to spearheading an innovative AI personal assistant tool which they say can give you an hour back...

Entrepreneurs often possess traits that drive their success in business. But what if these same traits were also the root cause of deteriorating mental health, and, if left unaddressed, could ultimately lead to the collapse of their entire business? In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with Jan Gerber, CEO of Paracelsus Recovery, the world’s no.1 exclusive mental health clinic for the...

Businessman, philanthropist, a maverick at turning strange ideas into success. In this very special episode, and in celebration of his 91st birthday, I sit down with my father, Sir Alec Reed. Sir Alec founded Reed in 1960 from a carpet shop in Hounslow with just £75 in his pocket. Since then, he’s founded several charities, launched a business school and in 2011, was knighted for his services to b...

How can you turn everyday employees into strong leaders who are proud to work for your business? In this episode of All About Business, I sit down with executive coach and 'Life’s Work' founder, Steph Rix. She explains how you can beat imposter syndrome for good, the difference between leadership and management and how you can use your personal values to become a better leader. Steph is the Founde...

With over a quarter of UK workers experiencing negative wellbeing because of work, how can you improve your own mental wellbeing, and stop being frazzled for good? In this episode of 'All About Business,' I sit down with comedian, writer and mental health advocate Ruby Wax OBE. We discuss how mindfulness can transform your mental health, how businesses can support struggling colleagues and the tim...

How do you keep wildlife business running in the face of social, political and cultural change? In this episode of All About Business, I speak to Reggie Heyworth, the owner of one of the UK’s biggest wildlife parks. Cotswold Wildlife Park, which was started by his father all the way back in 1969.  We discuss how he took over the business from his father, how they kept the animals alive during...