Trading Up

In this episode of the Trading Up podcast, hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey dive into the biggest economic threats and opportunities facing Northern Ireland today. From the global ripple effects of US and UK political instability to rising inflation and defence spending, the hosts unpack how global geopolitics directly impacts local business. Locally, they examine the severe consequences o...

Description: In this episode of the Trading Up podcast, host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Louise Doyle, co-founder of Needi, a corporate gifting concierge platform that went from a standing start to turning over millions. Discover the deep psychology behind why we give gifts and how Needi is disrupting the generic corporate merchandise market with hyper-personalised experiences that support loca...

A decade after the historic Brexit referendum, Trading Up Unpacked hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Professor Richard Ramsey dissect the real-world economic and political fallout of leaving the EU. Rather than a sudden crash, the UK economy has suffered a "slow puncture" with a hit to GDP; stifled business investment; and record-high tax burdens. This episode unpacks the stark contrast between the Leave...

In this episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Gareth Kelly, the partner leading Data and AI for EY in Northern Ireland, to demystify artificial intelligence for modern enterprises. Rather than simply using AI for small productivity bumps, Kelly explains how companies must completely redraw their business processes to stay competitive. The conversation explores how AI can be le...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey explore the startling new projections for Northern Ireland's demographics. After decades of continuous growth, the population is set to peak in 2031 before entering a steady decline, meaning the two million mark may never be reached. We unpack the severe economic implications of this unprecedented shift, from a shrin...

In this compelling episode of the Trading Up podcast, host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with three leading legal minds from Lewis Silkin in Belfast: Ciara Fulton, Katey Dixon, and Olivia O'Kane. Discover how this innovative firm leverages its historical, foundational values of bravery and kindness to disrupt the traditional business of law and foster genuine leadership. We explore Northern Ireland's...

Is the Northern Irish economy more resilient than the statistics suggest? In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey sit down with Andrew Dolliver, Partner in Restructuring and M&A at EY, to uncover the surprising dynamism within the local market. Despite global "black swan" events like Brexit and COVID-19, Northern Ireland has emerged as a hotspot for mergers,...

In this gripping episode of the Trading Up podcast, Sir William (Bill) Browder joins Jim Fitzpatrick to share his extraordinary journey from a teenage capitalist rebel to becoming the largest foreign investor in Russia. Browder reveals how his efforts to expose the massive corruption of Russian oligarchs made him a top enemy of Vladimir Putin's regime and led to his sudden deportation. He recounts...

In this episode of Trading Up, Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Laura Murphy, the 29-year-old founder of Oatco Superfuel, a natural oat-based energy snack brand. Launched in May 2024, Oatco has experienced explosive 500% growth this year, surpassing £1 million in sales and landing in over 1,000 retail stores. Laura shares her inspiring journey of bootstrapping her startup from a local kitchen in Tyr...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked, hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey dissect the startling findings of the V-Dem report, which reveals that global democracy has regressed to 1978 levels, virtually erasing late-20th-century gains. For decades, the western assumption has been that democracy and free markets go hand-in-hand to deliver economic progress. However, with autocratic nations no...

In this episode of Trading Up , we sit down with Derarca Dennis, EY Partner and Head of Sustainability Services for the island of Ireland, to explore the critical intersection of climate risk and business resilience. We dive deep into EY’s immersive "Four Futures" experience, which challenges business leaders to transport themselves to 2055 and rethink their long-term strategies. Derarca explains...

In this episode of Trading Up , host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Wall Street entrepreneur and former White House Communications Director, Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci. Scaramucci candidly discusses his journey from a working-class Italian-American background to Goldman Sachs and building his own business. He offers deep insights into the roots of modern political anger, explaining how uncheck...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey dive into the massive asymmetric global supply shock triggered by the Gulf War and "Operation Epic Fury". With the vital Strait of Hormuz facing blockades from both the US and Iran, 20% of global oil supply—along with LNG, fertilisers, and critical resources like helium—is severely disrupted. How does this international ch...

In this inspiring episode of Trading Up with host Jim Fitzpatrick, we sit down with Joan Burney Keatings, the visionary leader behind Cinemagic. Originally founded 37 years ago during the in Northern Ireland to bring youth together in a safe environment, this groundbreaking children’s charity now uses the power of film to educate, motivate, and inspire 40,000 young people annually. Joan shares her...

How does a business started by a man "a quarter of an inch too short" to be a policeman grow into a £60 million hospitality giant? In this episode of Trading Up , Gavin Annon, Chief Strategy Officer at Mount Charles and son of the inch-short founder, shares his journey from a decade-long career at Tesco to leading a workforce of 3,500 employees. Gavin discusses how the company pivoted from caterin...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey explore the severe global and local economic impacts of the escalating Gulf conflict, "Operation Epic Fury". With key energy infrastructure damaged and oil supplies threatened, they discuss the looming threat of stagflation and why the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee may be forced to hike UK interest rate...

In this episode of Trading Up , host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with Belinda Brown, a highly accomplished executive who has held top leadership roles at global powerhouses like Sephora, L'Oreal, and Diageo. Belinda shares her inspiring journey, from leaving her father and his home in Jamaica and arriving in Northern Ireland with her Irish mum at the age of three where, amidst the Troubles, she bega...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked, Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey analyse the severe economic impacts of the Middle East conflict, exploring how the crisis involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz is driving up global oil prices, shipping costs, and everyday inflation. The hosts unpack how this geopolitical shock overshadowed UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement, potentially derai...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with 27-year-old entrepreneur and social media sensation Olivia McVeigh. Diagnosed with alopecia at a young age, Olivia transformed personal adversity into a thriving portfolio of purpose-driven businesses. Tune in to discover how she founded Ireland's first wig workshop, built a highly successful bridal makeup enterprise, and became a leading voice in influe...

In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , hosts Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey analyse the economic shockwaves following the US Supreme Court ruling that declared President Trump’s previous reciprocal tariffs illegal. They unpack the resulting bureaucratic confusion regarding billions in potential refunds and Trump’s immediate counter-move: a temporary 15% tariff under Section 122 of the 1974 T...

Tony McGaharan, the founder of People Playbook, reveals how he built his Belfast-based consultancy into a global business generating over £1 million in revenue. Working with industry giants like Google, FIFA, and L’Oreal, Tony explains his unique "purposeful, practical, and playful" approach to leadership, arguing that "training is for monkeys" while humans require development. Drawing on his back...

Join Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey on this episode of Trading Up Unpacked as they tackle listener questions regarding the local and global economy. First, they dissect the proposed "Good Jobs Bill" and Westminster’s employment rights reforms. Are zero-hour contracts always exploitative, or do they offer necessary flexibility? The duo examine whether increased worker rights and rising National...

From his family’s undertaking business in Tobermore to the "Glass House" in Detroit, Lyle Watters’ journey to the top of Ford Motor Company is a masterclass in resilience. In this episode of Trading Up , Lyle reveals how he navigated an unconventional career path to lead operations across three continents. We dive deep into his toughest assignments: negotiating with Prime Ministers in Romania; man...

The rules-based world order is dead. That is the brutal wake-up call from former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney at Davos. In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked , Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey break down Carney’s "Churchillian" analysis of the shifting global economy. They unpack Carney’s argument that international rules have become a "fiction" and explore his strategy of "variable geo...

Join Jim Fitzpatrick as he interviews Paul and Clare Vallely, the brother-sister duo behind Kukoon. Learn how they scaled a rug business from local market stalls to a £20 million turnover global brand. This episode dives deep into the realities of modern e-commerce, exploring the shift from eBay to building an independent brand amidst the high marketing costs of Google and Amazon. Discover essenti...