Is escaping the rat race always a good idea? Many people dream of giving up the day job to start their own business - and we often hear about the success stories. But does everyone have what it takes? Evan Davis and guests compare the dream and the reality. 

GUESTS:

Luke Johnson, Entrepreneur and Founder of Risk Capital Partners

Paula Fry, former Director, Fashion Seeker UK 

Sarah Meredith, Sole Trader, Rock Cakes

Deirdre Critchley, former Director, Jammy Cow 

Producer: Elizabeth Cassin. Published on July 14, 2016.

Brave or Naive?

How do you do business when you can't see into the future? This may be what businesses always have to do, but Brexit has undeniably made the future even harder to discern than usual. When will it happen, what relationship with Europe will follow, and how will the rest of the world react? 

For now we don't know, but the answers to those questions will affect every business in Britain. 

So how are companies planning for an uncertain future while at the same time trying to ensure that whichever model of Brexit emerges is one that suits their needs. 

Joining Evan Davis are:

Karen Briggs: Head of Brexit - KPMG
Gerald Mason: SVP - Tate & Lyle Sugars
Gavin Williams: Partner - Herbert Smith Freehills 

Producer: Joe Kent. Published on October 6, 2016.

Brexit: What Next?

Why are more top employers offering school leavers a fast track career without the need to go to university? Applicants for the top Degree Apprenticeships need to get good A level grades and pass a rigorous selection process. Their reward is the opportunity to earn a living while they gain a degree and qualify as a professional. Evan Davis discusses the pros and cons of such schemes with a high flying apprentice and two employers who are competing with universities for the brightest and best school leavers. Published on October 13, 2016.

Careers without College

Are activist investors good or bad for the firms they target? They hunt down companies they think are underperforming. They buy a stake in the business, then lobby for change. Critics say activists want to make a fast buck and then head for the exit. But you could regard these investors as doing a valuable service - challenging poorly performing company boards and making more profit for shareholders. Top UK names like Rolls Royce and John Menzies have been affected. Explore the world of activist investors with Evan Davis. Joining him will be: activist investor, Harlan Zimmerman, senior partner at Cevian Capital; Chris Walton, a company chairman and non-executive director; and Sacha Sadan, director of corporate governance at Legal and General Investment Management. 

Producer: Lesley McAlpine. Published on October 20, 2016.

Activist Investors

The future of the car industry. How car manufacturers are joining forces with "ride hailing" companies like Uber and why the future might be driverless. Evan Davis and guests discuss. 

Disruptive technology has made seismic changes to several business models: think Apple iTunes and the music industry or Netflix and our television viewing habits. It seems that the car industry might be next. Unlike their predecessors, car manufacturers are joining forces with the technology companies. Google with Ford, Uber with Volvo, General Motors with Lyft, pooling their expertise and resources. Joining Evan Davis on the programme are three guests who will talk about the hopes and fears for the industry and what this will mean for the rest of us.

GUESTS

Georg Ell, Director, Western Europe, Tesla Motors

Matteo de Renzi, CEO, Western Europe, Gett

and

Dr. Eberhard Zeeb, Senior Manager, Function and Software Driving Assistance, Daimler 

Producer: Julie Ball. Published on November 10, 2016.

The Future of the Car Industry

If the word auction conjures up pictures of a man with a gavel in a packed room shouting 'going, going, gone' - think again. These days governments and businesses rely on complicated online auctions to buy and sell. Auctions are also the preferred mechanism for the allocation of radio spectrum licences to mobile phone companies and the selling of mineral rights. Auctions come in a huge variety of forms, and the precise design can have a dramatic effect on the outcomes. Do you know a sealed bid from a "combinatorial clock" auction? Evan Davis and guests discuss the business of auctions. 

Guests include: 
Dan Maldoom, DotEcon
Samantha Collett property developer 
Stephen Lerner, 3 UK

Producer: Lesley McAlpine. Published on November 17, 2016.

17/11/2016

The Bottom Line with Evan Davis

Insight into business from the people at the top. Evan Davis meets influential business leaders for a round table conversation about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers. 

Radio 4: The Bottom Line

Popular tracks