Trading Up

Maeve Monaghan runs a social enterprise. But she likes making money. Profit isn't a dirty word - it's what allows her organisation to make a difference to so many lives across the island of Ireland. The Now Group runs a catering business; a training company that helps people with learning difficulties into work; and a movement that's empowering organisations to take a minute to help those who need...

Paul Stewart didn't like paying airlines a fortune to bring his bags home from Uni in Edinburgh to his home in Belfast. So he set up his own business to do it for him. My Baggage is now at the cutting edge of logistics, moving personal possessions at an attractive price all over the world. It's biggest share of revenue comes from relocations as increasing numbers of young professionals in Northern...

In this second of the Summer Shorts, we catch up with Belfast hotelier Melanie Harrison. The key lesson here is how Melanie has put thoughtful storytelling at the heart of everything she does. Her property once belonged to Belfast's answer to Mr Selfridge, Cleaver of "Cleaver and Robinson" a once famous Belfast department store. At the height of Cleaver's success in the 19th century he was selling...

On the latest Unpacked episode, journalist Jim Fitzpatrick and economist Richard Ramsey explore the big economic stories and how they're likely to shape our lives. From Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" which is going to take US debt to almost unimaginable levels; to the Labour Government's U-Turn on benefits and what that could mean for future tax rises; to the very latest on the Northern I...

In this episode of Trading Up, Jim Fitzpatrick interviews Dominic Kearns, founder and CEO of Fibrus, discussing the company's significant investment in building a fibre telecoms network in Northern Ireland and Cumbria. They explore the challenges of raising capital, the impact of government support, and the competitive landscape in the telecoms industry. Dominic shares insights into the operationa...

Declan Keeney grew up with broadcasting in his blood. His Dad was the driving force behind a revolution in local radio in Ireland. Recognising a demand from rural communities whose stories needed to be told and shared, he lobbied the Irish government to change the broadcasting law and founded Highland Radio in Donegal. It became hugely successful and was the catalyst for a new ecosystem of local r...

For years, issues like health and wellbeing have been the preserve of corporate HR departments. John Ryan is on a mission to change that. His approach is radical and based on data. His own wake-up moment was uncovering the shocking evidence that too many workplaces are simply killing their employees. His challenge to organisations is at all levels - some of the worst health is found on the executi...

It's been such a busy week for economic news that we needed another Unpacked episode of Trading Up. Once again, seasoned business journalist Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by economics professor Richard Ramsey as they take a detailed look at everything from a potential breakthrough in US-China trade relationships; the UK Chancellor's spending review sums; and the thorny issue of water charges in Northe...

Bernard Sloan studied chemical engineering at Queen's University but found his true calling when he moved to Nigeria with his wife Kerry to run a brewery. He decided to bring that job to an end when a neighbouring business was robbed at gunpoint and his security team took fright and disappeared. But he'd got the beer bug, so he persuaded his dad to let him turn an old cottage on the family farm in...

Does Donald Trump have an economic strategy and what does it mean for us? What are Tariffs? Who pays them? What's the latest development? What's happening with that UK-US deal? Why is Elon Musk so annoyed about Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill"? And what's the lesson from the classic movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off that we need to learn? In this episode, economist Richard Ramsey (Professor of Economic P...

There's not much that immediately connects a controversial Irish language rap group from West Belfast and a former Royal Marine and George Cross recipient turned entrepreneur from Armagh. But the story told by film producer Trevor Birney, who brought the niche rap group to the world through the award-winning Kneecap movie; and the incredible life-story of Sam Shephard who served tours in Afghanist...

Mark Hutchinson was only 18 when he took charge of the family engineering business in rural South Derry. His father, Creighton, had built a successful business doing bespoke work mainly for the agricultural community in Northern Ireland. But unfortunately Creighton had been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and wanted Mark to take the reins. That was 1997 and the young Mark wasn't slow in making...

Tom McLaughlin built his first boat in 1965 at the age of seven. It had its maiden voyage in the family garden. By 1977 with a strong desire to avoid going back to school, Tom started his own business with his first sea-worthy vessel. That boat - a simple wooden construction called Redbay One - is now on display in the company showroom. Since that early sale (which he managed to purchase back some...

Who would you rather work for: Saddam Hussein or Mickey Mouse? Mervyn McCall has worked for both. As co-founder of construction giant Mivan, he built palaces for Saddam before Gulf War One put an abrupt end to that; wiped out half his business overnight; and landed him with a hostage crisis situation as 90 ex-pat staff were held by the Iraqi dictator as "human shields". With that episode behind hi...

It may be a tough business, but it seems like "wee buns" to Tim Andrew. Join Tim and Jim as they delve into Andrew Ingredients' 80-year history. Discover how the family business evolved from an agency set up by his Dad at the end of the War; how Tim took a holiday job which evolved into becoming boss; how he innovated with investments in things like the test kitchen to help customers develop new p...

Discover how this Belfast-based independent retailer is thriving against the odds. Learn about what Linzi Rooney means by her culturally relevant products; how she doubled online turnover while growing high street sales and all the while maintaining her support for local makers. Explore Linzi's unique brand, realistic growth plans, and even her surprising encounter with the PayPal CEO Alex Chriss....

Discover the inspiring journey of Tina McKenzie, from launching a recruitment business that went from zero to 150 million in short order. From running Staffline in Northern Ireland to becoming a leading figure in UK business with the Federation of Small Businesses. Hear about her meteoric growth, strategic acquisitions like Grafton, and ill-fated foray into politics. Tina shares insights...

The multi-millionaire and serial entrepreneur who began his business journey as an unlicensed street trader. The bank employee who quit school before her A Levels then quit the bank to set up her own. And the third generation family food business boss who’s defied the old adage about success across the generations to build a 200 million pound empire. A chance to catch up again with Pete Boyle...

The scariest business decision Ali MacFarlane ever made - and he's not alone here - was hiring his first employee. But two decades later, his bespoke app and software development agency is going from strength to strength. From coffee loyalty apps helping shift 12 million cups; to the parental interface for Northern Ireland's controversial (and stressful) transfer exam handling applications and res...

Clare Ryan cut her entrepreneurial teeth on a market stall and then a corner shop. She was the first in her family to go to university where she excelled. But she swapped biomedical sciences for the role of tech founder and this non techie now has a compelling product aimed at demystifying the complexities of cyber security for small businesses, and saving them money. Perhaps even saving their bus...

Karen Maguire doesn't do the expected or routine. She wouldn't have decided to set up her own manufacturing business if she did. She wouldn't have grown it, with much personal sacrifice, through lean years and tough times if she had only been half-committed. She was all-in. Until the death of her father in 2017 shook her world and she decided her business should belong to someone else. But who? Ag...

Judith Totten thinks kindness is important in her business. Which is rather surprising because she's in the finance business. But it has paid off for her and the numbers tell the story: zero A Levels because she left school early; 20 years at the bank learning her trade; £500,000 scraped together to start her own lending business; 53 rejections from London banks who wouldn't back her; 1 yes and £5...

Patrick Woods' grandfather died at age 42. His father needed a heart bypass in his early fifties. So, being healthy really means something to him and his family. His dad transformed his lifestyle and eating habits in the aftermath of his bypass thirty years ago. Patrick has helped him transform the third generation family business to align with those new healthy priorities. Linwoods is the number...

Picture a 72-year-old farmer in Idaho who has been diagnosed with skin cancer. He's about to start a tough regime of chemotherapy. The kind of toxic drugs that have been used to blast such cancers for 40 odd years. It's the only way his doctor knows to treat the cancer. It's possible the treatment could work. But it's also possible the treatment could kill him. But within 24 hours of testing and d...

Greg Bradley is no spoofer. But when he got a call from the strength and conditioning coach for a global sporting giant requesting equipment he'd seen on Greg's Facebook site to be delivered within days, the young entrepreneur had a problem. All he had was the Facebook post. He hadn't yet figured out how to make the equipment. But the keen sportsman applied a lesson he'd learnt on the field "win f...