The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Richard Sykes, SVP and President of one of the UK and Ireland’s largest integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions firms – ABM UK and Ireland; and Manuella Appiah, Environment, Social and Governance Manager for Sunrock, a leading European developer of integrated clean energy systems, servicing valued customers across the logistical and industrial sectors.​ In this episode, we discuss how businesses are acting responsibly across key areas of People, Planet and Place​.​

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK-SEG LTD – a leading provider of innovative power solutions for data centres and major organisations; and Harshit Poddar, Co-Founder of SafEarth - a platform designed to simplify and optimise the solar adoption process.In this episode, we discuss environmental sustainability and how data can make a sustainable world go round.Reading list: Data Centres: Heroes or Villains?IPCC Summary Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate DisasterPeter Thiel: Zero to One

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Andy Briggs, Group CEO of Phoenix Group – one of the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement businesses; and Girish Ananthanarayanan, Founder and Curator of Raahi, a channel that aims to bridge the worlds of professional management and social development perspectives. He is also a Senior Project Manager, Dalberg, a global group working to build a more inclusive and sustainable world.In this episode, we discuss social impact: What is it? Why is it important? And what is the role of business and leaders in having a positive social impact?

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by John Bason, Chair, Primark and also Chair of BITC’s Hounslow Pride of Place Partnership; and Motunrayo Olaogun, Sales and Business Management at Prada and One Young World ambassador.In this episode, we discuss the importance of bolstering communities across the UK and further afield. Our two guests have seen first-hand the challenges communities are facing and are personally passionate about making a difference.

This month's podcast episode features an insightful and candid conversation with former Premier League footballer, Clarke Carlisle, who openly discusses his personal journey with mental health challenges and addiction. He shares valuable lessons learned from his experiences, offering practical advice for both individuals and employers on fostering well-being. Recorded live at the Healthy Working Lives conference in Northern Ireland on 4 June 2025, the discussion covers the pressures of professional sports, the importance of self-worth beyond one's career, and the critical role of accessible and effective mental health support. And if you didn't know, Clarke was named Britain's Brainiest Footballer on Carol Vorderman's show, he was the first Premier League footballer player to appear on Countdown, and he recently won the 1% Club for Soccer Aid.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Paul Lewis, Firmwide Managing Partner at Linklaters - one of the world’s leading law firms and Yemisi Isidi, Co-Founder, Strategy and Finance Lead, Triift Africa – an organisation that is making it easier for underserved communities and businesses to access the services they need to succeed.In this episode, we discuss how businesses can get into the hearts of communities, make an impact and become part of the fabric in places across the UK as positive corporate citizens that play their part in strengthening society at all levels.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways – a company that probably needs no introduction as one of the world’s biggest airlines; and Mirko Schedlbauer, Founder and CEO, shipzero - Hamburg-based startup dedicated to decarbonising the logistics industry through innovative data solutions.   In this episode, we discuss how can business create a better world, what our guests are focussing on in their organisations to benefit their people, the planet and communities, and of course, we’ll find out who they are beyond their job titles. 

In this episode, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Gregor Mowat, CEO of Loqbox, a financial technology (fintech) company that offers a variety of products to help people improve their credit score and manage their money; and Jude Addo, Group CEO of JA Group, an investment firm focused on the wealth and wellbeing of its clients.They discuss financial inclusion – why this is an important issue and what business can do to help people. Reading list: Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A. RobinsonMoney, Possessions, and Eternity by Randy AlcornThe Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono