Wake Up to Money
News and views on business and the world of personal finance. Plus the very latest from the financial markets around the globe
Episodes
Solid Gold
Felicity Hannah finds out why gold is sitting pretty while the stock markets suffer. Plus, our panel share their thoughts on Kier Starmer's plans for the Civil Service.
14/03/25•51m 59s
Trade off
Will Bain looks at the impact of the latest announcements on tariffs from the EU and Canada. Plus, Keir Starmer wants to 'reshape the state', but will it deliver growth?
13/03/25•52m 29s
New Trafford
Sean Farrington looks at Manchester United's plans to build the UK's biggest stadium. Plus, Boohoo Group rebrands as Debenhams - but is it enough to turn things around?
12/03/25•53m 35s
Ready for the races
Sean Farrington speaks to businesses looking for a boost from the Cheltenham Festival. Plus, does the government's new planning and infrastructure bill go far enough?
11/03/25•52m 15s
Hitting the books
Sean Farrington looks at new data that shows audiobook, eBook and physical book sales are all on the up. Plus, the latest on China's trade war with the US.
10/03/25•51m 37s
A tariff twist again
Felicity Hannah looks back at a rollercoaster week for US tariffs on its neighbours. Plus, what does the Glastonbury line up tell us about the British music business?
07/03/25•53m 5s
Stuck in a tariff jam?
As the automotive industry is granted a one month grace on tariffs, other sectors are looking for a similar outcome. Will Bain hears from Jaime Chamberlain, an American importer of Mexican fresh produce, about how the tariffs are impacting his business.The boss of automotive company, Stellantis UK, explains why he wants the government to take bolder steps when it comes to expanding the country's electric vehicle market - starting with the number of charging points.
06/03/25•52m 8s
Alcohol free and a BLT?
Sean Farrington speaks to Alan Auerbach, a professor of Economics and Law at the University of California Berkeley, about President Trump's first major speech since he returned to the White House.Meanwhile, shares in the US have fallen once again as concerns grow that the President's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China will lead to a wider trade war.Also, supermarket Sainsbury's has added two non-alcoholic beer options to its meal deal offer. But will it catch on?
05/03/25•53m 17s
No room for manoeuvre
President Donald Trump is moving forward with 25% tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico into the US, saying that there was "no room left for Canada and Mexico". An additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports is also expected to come into force, leaving all three of America's top three trade partners facing significantly higher trade barriers than just a few weeks ago.Sean Farrington speaks to Paul Reynish, the Global CEO at Gong cha about the growing demand for bubble tea across the world. Chinese firm Mixue saw shares jump by more than 40% in their Hong Kong Stock Exchange debut.
04/03/25•52m 40s
'The crossroads of history'
Sean Farrington takes a look at the diplomatic and economic fallout of a big weekend in international diplomacy. And how will markets react to a boost for British arms firms?
03/03/25•52m 52s
Starmer the charmer
A defence spending boost seems to have put the UK in Donald Trump's good books, but Felicity Hannah asks if Keir Starmer has done enough to secure a trade deal and avoid tariffs.
28/02/25•52m 20s
'The most beautiful word in the dictionary'
US President Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods made in the EU. Leanna Byrne will be hearing how the car industry in Germany is bracing for the impact.
27/02/25•52m 54s
Not Zero?
Oil giant BP is expected to announce plans to scale back its green investment plans. Sean Farrington will hear what this development means for their net zero targets?
26/02/25•52m 12s
Apple of my i
Sean Farrington hears about Apple’s massive investment plan—$500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, but what does this mean for the U.S economy and job growth?
25/02/25•54m 36s
Hey Big Spender
Leanna Byrne will dive into how luxury London restaurants are tackling no-shows and influencers with the introduction of hefty deposits and minimum spending requirements.
24/02/25•52m 42s
Licence to thrill
The James Bond franchise will no longer be controlled by the Broccoli dynasty, which means Amazon will finally get full creative control. But some fans are concerned about what this means for the future of the films.Also, Leanna Byrne speaks to the boss of one of the biggest crowdfunding platforms - Go Fund Me - who says that governments are "very happy" with its transparency, despite criticisms around the lack of regulation on the sector.
21/02/25•52m 57s
Apple's price crunch
Apple has launched its latest iPhone, which will have new "affordable" hand set with AI tools. It will go on sale in the UK next Friday starting at £599, which is £200 less than the brand's current cheapest iPhone 16 device, released in September.Energy regulator, Ofgem, has taken the next step in its proposals to change the way customers pay for standing charges. They make up that fixed part of your gas and electricity bill which you pay regardless of how much energy you use. The flat charge is there to cover the cost of delivering gas and electricity.Ofgem's plans will mean individual bill payers have a choice: keep paying the standing charge as it is, or pay a share of the standing charge according to how much energy you use. The plan will be welcomed by those who don't use much energy - but there are concerns the proposals may not help everyone.
20/02/25•52m 3s
Pay Attention
Britain's average wages are up according to the latest official data - Will Bain finds out from the public, businesses and listeners if they're feeling the difference.A new report on the property market suggests things are getting even harder for first-time buyers - Wake Up to Money hears from an estate agent and a would-be homeowner about the tricky picture in their area.And after the film adaptation of the Robert Harris book Conclave saw success at the BAFTAs, the owner of a bookshop in Swindon reveals the impact of successful film adaptations on book sales.
19/02/25•52m 16s
Motors and Maths
Potentially the biggest payout case since the PPE scandal takes another turn as the UK Treasury is blocked by the Supreme Court from intervening on behalf of lenders in the controversy over car loans. Will Bain asks what the implications could be for both the banks and drivers involved.One of the UK's main exam boards is trying to persuade the government to give pupils the option of a short course in Maths to help grades - but will it add up for businesses wanting to hire?
Plus, Formula 1 celebrates its 75th year with a glitzy event in London to launch the new season - we find out how business for the motorsport is going full throttle.
18/02/25•52m 11s
Water Bills, They're Multiplying
Water companies are in the spotlight once again as a deadline looms for when they can appeal for higher bill rises for consumers - Will Bain asks what case could be made and what the impact for billpayers could be.From today you might breathe a little easier after parking your car, because there's a new rule that should stop people being fined up to thousands of pounds for not buying their ticket fast enough.And we hear from one of the nominees for Sunday night's British Academy Film Awards.
17/02/25•52m 19s
For Love Nor Money
Roses are red, violets are blue, and Valentine’s spending is up too. Felicity Hannah will be hearing how one business is feeling the love this season.
14/02/25•52m 14s
Easy as GDP
Will Bain looks ahead to the latest UK GDP data. Plus, how could Donald Trump's tariffs impact the Scottish whisky industry?
13/02/25•52m 43s
Review of the Business Year
Will Bain presents a review of the business year with some of our best interviews from 2024, featuring the biggest stories in money and business this year.
26/12/24•55m 58s
Shein Slammed
Sean Farrington sits down with Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton, who doesn't hold back on Shein. Plus The Friedkin Group has agreed a deal to buy Premier League club Everton.
24/09/24•53m 16s
Trials and Tribunals
What do a football club, a media mogul and a social media giant all have in common?Fresh from another victory, Manchester City faces the start of hearings into its 115 alleged financial fair play charges today - Sean Farrington finds out what's in play.An American court will hear arguments on whether the US government can ban the Chinese social media giant TikTok from the country.And the children of an ageing media mogul fight for their stake in his news empire - no, it's not a smash-hit TV drama, but a court case involving Rupert Murdoch that gets under way on Monday. We hear what it could mean for the future of News Corp.
16/09/24•53m 14s
Does rail funding need a revamp?
Felicity Hannah finds out if the private sector should fund a new rail link. And, after the success of the first spacewalk, is the sky the limit when it comes to space tourism?
13/09/24•52m 37s
Trump v Harris
it’s just 8 weeks till the American Election and Trump and Harris go head to head in their first live TV debate. Plus the skills Olympics finally gets underway in Lyon, France.
11/09/24•53m 10s
Apple: Intelligent Thinking?
Sean Farrington takes a look how Apple's latest gadgets will feature all things AI. Plus we find out why ASOS has been getting a lot of backlash online.
10/09/24•53m 1s
Building after Grenfell
Will Bain looks at what has to change in construction following the Grenfell Inquiry.Elsewhere, the Chief Executive of Mountain Warehouse speaks about the company's latest acquisition and broader plans for US expansion, and live music's contribution to the UK economy topped £6bn for the first time last year.
05/09/24•50m 53s
The best of Wake Up To Money 2023
Will Bain looks back at some of the highlights from Wake Up To Money in 2023. There's the story of the takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft including an interview with the Microsoft President Brad Smith which made headlines around the world. Former England and Manchester United footballer Gary Neville explained why he's investing in property and the UK boss of Google Debbie Weinstein told us how AI is changing the world.
01/01/24•56m 11s
Wake Up To Money Special - Gary Neville
He's most famous for his football career and more recently, his punditry, but Gary Neville is also hugely successful in the worlds of business and property developing.In this interview, he tells Sean Farrington about his plans for a new £400 million project in the centre of Manchester.They discuss how rising interest rates are affecting the building trade, why Gary feels the hospitality industry is paying the best wages it can afford to, and Gary’s new role on Dragons’ Den. This is an extended version of an interview first broadcast on Wake Up To Money on July 6th, 2023.
06/07/23•35m 32s
Wake Up To Money - Elon Musk
The BBC's North America Technology Correspondent James Clayton talks exclusively to Elon Musk about Twitter. They discuss why he bought the social media site, controversy around tackling disinformation and the future for blue ticks.
12/04/23•48m 40s
Boardroom Stories: Sir Ian Livingston
Sir Ian Livingstone talks to Rahul Tandon about founding Games Workshop and the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons. He reveals his collection of hundreds of board games as well as discussing the development of Tomb Raider.
29/12/22•26m 30s
Million By 30: Timothy Armoo, part 2
Timothy Armoo talks to Sean Farrington about his decision to sell the business he founded in a multi-million pound deal. He discusses why he decided to sell, what he's learnt and his plans for what he's going to do next.
17/08/22•46m 35s
Business of Sport: The Ashes
Rahul Tandon looks at the money behind The Ashes. He discusses how important sponsorship is in cricket, how to grow the fanbase and get more people involved in the game. Rahul also speaks to Manoj Badale, one of the owners of the IPL team the Rajasthan Royal.
10/12/21•24m 42s
Boardroom Stories: Guy Hands, founder Terra Firma
One of the biggest names in the world in private equity, Guy Hands, talks candidly about what he calls 'going from hero to zero'.
Speaking with Felicity Hannah he shares his experience of growing his business Terra Firma Capital Partners which became one of the largest investment companies in the world.
He discusses the controversy around his ownership of record label EMI and losing control of the care home company Four Seasons.
He also talks about being dyslexic and how it's affected his life as well as the challenge of making business greener.
12/11/21•33m 12s
Boardroom Stories: John Lyttle, Chief Executive, Boohoo
John Lyttle, chief executive of Boohoo, tells Sean Farrington about the company's massive growth and future expansion plans. He says the company doesn't make throwaway fashion and is taking measures to tackle climate change. He also discusses the recent controversy around allegations of mistreatment of staff at some of its suppliers in Leicester.
11/08/21•37m 52s
Business of Sport: Tokyo Olympics
Felicity Hannah looks at how the Olympic games are financed and the competitors are funded. She's joined by Sir Keith Mills, former Deputy Chair of London 2012 organising committee; Nigel Walker who's National Director of the English Institute of Sport; Marie Oldham, Executive chair of the advertising agency VCCP Media and Danny Downs of online sports retailer Fanatics.
23/07/21•28m 35s
The Origins of Reebok
Joe Foster, founder of Reebok talks with Sean Farrington and Reggie Nelson about creating one of the world's biggest brands. From the origins of a family business to breaking America and making trainers a must-have fashion item.
15/06/21•33m 59s
Million By 30: Roei Samuel
Roei Samuel talks to Sean Farrington about setting up e-sports business Real Sport which he sold in a multi-million pound deal and about how having ADHD affected his education and career choices.
09/06/21•35m 29s
Million By 30: Tom Beahon, co-founder Castore
Tom and Phil Beahon set up their sportswear brand Castore in Liverpool after their professional sporting careers came to an end. They chat with Sean about growing the brand, how their parents re-mortgaged their house to give them the money to get it off the ground and working with Sir Andy Murray and football clubs Rangers and Wolves.
23/05/21•44m 26s
Million By 30: CC Clarke
CC Clarke talks to Sean Farrington talks about growing her fanbase to more than two million followers and setting up her make-up business. She discusses how she's carried on with her singing career and dealing with social media trolls.
25/04/21•32m 36s
Business of Sport: Future of Football
After the collapse of plans for a European Super League, Sean Farrington discusses the future of football with current and former club bosses, fans and sport business experts.
21/04/21•35m 5s
Million By 30: Grace Beverley, influencer and founder of sustainable style brand TALA
Sean Farrington chats with Grace Beverley about how she built up a million followers on Instagram before going on to launch her own fitness brand Shreddy and sustainable style brand TALA.
Photo courtesy: Andy Cuthbert
19/03/21•51m 9s
Million By 30: Chester Mojay-Sinclare, founder and chief executive of Enthuse
Sean Farrington chats with Chester Mojay-Sinclare who first got his business off the ground by launching a potato into space. Eleven years later, he has raised over £100 million for charities through his company Enthuse.
12/03/21•26m 17s
Million By 30: Jenna Brown, co-founder and chief executive of Shipamax
How Jenna Brown turned her passion for start-ups into a multi-million backed business.
26/02/21•33m 32s
Million By 30: Alex Lovén, founder of Net World Sports
Sean Farrington chats with Alex Lovén, who started selling cricket bats when he was 13 to his mates at school, graduated to selling the bats on eBay and made £1m in sales by 22 and now, aged 33, his sports equipment business makes £50m in turnover.
19/02/21•34m 27s
Million By 30: Kofi McCalla, The Unknown Vlogs
Kofi McCalla, a menswear fashion YouTuber, on how he hit over 100 million views. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast please visit the BBC Action Line website https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/
12/02/21•33m 12s
Million By 30: Liberty Foreman, CEO and founder of DynamXMedical
Sean Farrington interviews Liberty Foreman, who started up a cancer screening tech company DynamX Medical by spinning it out from her PhD. Since then she’s raised millions in investment all before the company has even turned a profit. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this podcast please visit the BBC Action Line website https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/
18/01/21•33m 1s
Million By 30: Maciek Kacprzyk and Karina Sudenyte, founders of Flawsome!
Sean Farrington interviews Maciek Kacprzyk and Karina Sudenyte, the founders of Flawsome!, a food waste company that saves wonky fruit from landfill and makes them into cold pressed juice and sparkling fruit juice waters.
11/01/21•31m 30s
Million By 30: Timothy Armoo, chief executive of Fanbytes
The story of how 26-year-old Timothy Armoo built a million-pound marketing business.
01/12/20•32m 38s
Million By 30: Adnan Ebrahim, founder of Car Throttle
Sean Farrington chats with Adnan Ebrahim who sold his first website before he was 18. He then founded Car Throttle, which quickly reached millions of followers around the world. He sold it in his mid-20's and has since embarked on a new venture
20/11/20•33m 0s
Business of Sport: Rugby World Cup
Sean Farrington looks at the money behind the Rugby World Cup in Japan including how can smaller countries break into the top tier of the game.
11/10/19•57m 52s
Business of Sport: The Price of Gold
It's a year until the Tokyo Olympics will be getting underway. The British Olympics Association has told us it could be one of the most expensive yet.A number of sports will be making their debut at the games - one of them is competitive climbing. But who sponsors a brand new sport, and how do they get funding?
30/08/19•26m 30s
Business of Sport: Not just about the scores
Sean and Mickey look at how sport is being reported off the pitch, from long reads to podcasts to social media.
09/08/19•26m 21s
Business of Sport: eSports
The industry is worth over $1bn globally. Is it time to take gaming as a competitive activity a bit more seriously?
02/08/19•25m 14s
Boardroom Stories: Sanjeev Gupta, Liberty Steel
Danni Hewson talks with Sanjeev Gupta, boss of one of the world's largest steel producers Liberty Steel.
27/12/18•29m 10s
Boardroom Stories: Co-Op
Chief Executive of the Co-Operative Group, Steve Murrells talks with Danni Hewson about supermarkets; funerals and schools and how it's recovered from a difficult period.
03/12/18•30m 24s
Boardroom Stories: Lovehoney
Lovehoney co-founders Neal Slateford and Richard Longhurst talk about developing their online sex toy company, meeting the Queen and adapting their business for international markets.
20/11/18•27m 25s
Boardroom Stories: Paul Pomroy, McDonald's UK
Wake Up To Money's Sean Farrington meets Paul Pomroy, the Chief Executive of McDonald's for the UK and Ireland to discuss the High Street crisis; plastic straws; Brexit; zero hours contracts and waste.
31/07/18•33m 16s
Boardroom Stories: Linda Jackson, Citroen
Linda Jackson, Chief Executive of Citroen talks about women in the car industry, electric cars and whether the 2CV could ever make a comeback.
20/07/18•26m 16s
Boardroom Stories: Rob Stringer of Sony Music Entertainment
Working with David Bowie on one of pop’s best kept secrets and how he won George Michael back after the star’s bitter split from Sony.
05/07/18•40m 7s
Boardroom Stories: Pure Gym
Humphrey Cobbold, boss of Pure Gym talks to Sean Farrington about how the chain has gone from zero to a million members in less than a decade.Plus how the treadmill is falling out of fashion as workouts change with the times.
19/06/18•30m 33s
Boardroom Stories: Intu's David Fischel
The boss of the company which owns some of the UK’s biggest shopping centres tells Wake Up To Money’s Mickey Clarke that retail is alive and kicking.
09/04/18•28m 46s
Boardroom Stories: Marston's Ralph Findlay
Marston's Chief Executive Ralph Findlay, Quality not quantity: How drinkers’ tastes have changed and why so many restaurants are struggling at the moment.
02/03/18•29m 57s
Boardroom Stories: Domino's Pizza
Domino's Pizza CEO David Wild on executive pay, The Simpsons and chanting.
20/02/18•24m 56s
Boardroom Stories: Bronek Masojada, Hiscox
Terrorism, cyber crime, luxury cars and diamonds. Who says insurance is boring? Bronek Masojada boss of Hiscox talks insurance with Wake Up To Money’s Louise Cooper.
09/02/18•30m 18s
Boardroom Stories: Craig Donaldson
Why banks need more branches and "it was a miserable place to be”: Life at RBS during the bailout.
29/01/18•32m 18s
Boardroom Stories: David Duffy
David Duffy, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks boss, talks Open Banking, drones and the rise of the robots.
02/01/18•21m 41s