The Business

How did Trinny Woodall build cosmetics brand Trinny London into a multimillion-pound British business? Hannah Prevett speaks to the founder about reinvention.Few people understand business reinvention quite like Trinny Woodall. Best known for her hit television career, Trinny Woodall launched her cosmetics enterprise Trinny London from her own home in 2017 at age 53. In this episode of The Business, we explore how she navigated fundraising hurdles, targeted the over-40s skincare market, and established a major force in UK retail trends.Trinny Woodall reveals the corporate strategy behind building her beauty brand from scratch, her non-negotiables in hiring, and why establishing a support network of female founders was crucial to her success in entrepreneurship."You need to really build a network of other female founders so that you feel you have women at the same place as you with the same struggles," Woodall says. "Because it's important to sense-check your thought process against somebody who is in a very similar position to you."Guest:Trinny Woodall, founder and CEO of Trinny LondonPresenter:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor, The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producer: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy Video Producer: Bronwen Latham Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

Is tax policy driving away British business leaders? Hannah Prevett speaks to Castore co-founder Tom Beahon about the future of UK business. In this bonus episode of The Business, Castore Co-founder Tom Beahon shares his concerns that successful entrepreneurs have little incentive to remain in the UK under current fiscal policy - and what changes he hopes Prime Minister Andy Burnham will deliver. Founded in 2015 by Tom and his brother Phil, the sportswear company designs bespoke kits for premier football clubs and has become a major player in retail trends. It was last valued at almost £1 billion.While Beahon has no desire to leave Britain himself, he warns that talented business leaders are choosing international tax havens over building businesses within the UK. He is increasingly concerned that “our best and brightest, our most capable people” are choosing to leave Britain. “Let's not pretend otherwise,” he says on the show. “That is not good - that doesn't make me happy, I don't think it makes anyone in the entrepreneurial community happy.” Beahon argues that the government should be asking why successful British businesspeople are moving abroad, rather than criticising them for doing so. He says the UK needs to become a place where people want to, not only to start businesses, but to build and scale them. Beahon believes Burnham should make some difficult decisions on public spending, warning that there is a limit to how much can be taken from those at the top. If you like this bonus episode, be sure to watch the full interview with Tom Beahon on Times Business, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.Guest:Tom Beahon, co-founder of CastorePresenter:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope Federico Video Producer: Bronwen LathamExecutive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Photo Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

How did Castore disrupt global kit deals to build a British sportswear brand valued at almost £1bn? Hannah Prevett speaks to co-founder Tom Beahon about taking on Nike and Adidas.In this episode of The Business, we look at how Castore transformed from an ambitious startup into a major player in sportswear, securing high-profile kit sponsorships across Premier League Football clubs and international athletics. Alongside his brother Phil, Tom founded the brand from his parents' kitchen table in 2015 - channelling his early setbacks as a football player into focus and resilience. On the show, he explains what it was like to recover from the Aston Villa kit debacle, lifts the lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and walks through landing Sir Andy Murray as an investor.We examine the corporate strategy, supply chain management and entrepreneurship required to challenge legacy sportswear giants. "It didn't make sense to us why there wasn't a British competitor to Nike, Adidas, Puma," Beahon says. "Why can't there be a premium British alternative to these guys? And if not us, then who?"From navigating shifting consumer demand to expanding into global markets, we analyse what the growth has meant for the company so far, and what might be next.Guest:Tom Beahon, co-founder of CastorePresenter:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope Federico Video Producer: Bronwen LathamExecutive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Photo Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com 

Are soaring energy bills threatening the UK’s net zero targets? Dominic O’Connell examines whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham should adjust climate policy to ease the cost of living.Is the public consensus on the UK’s climate commitments being shattered by high energy bills? In this episode of Power Struggle, our energy mini-series on The Business, we discuss whether the cost of transitioning away from fossil fuels is pushing up household energy bills and slowing economic growth across British business, or if renewables are the solution for bringing prices down. Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has signaled the government will not stick strictly to its green pledges if it risks pushing energy bills higher. With ministers reportedly considering watering down rules on electric car sales, Dominic O’Connell is joined by RenewableUK CEO Tara Singh and Times columnist Juliet Samuel to debate what is really driving up energy bills - gas price volatility or grid upgrade costs - and whether it’s time to drop or double down on net zero.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.Guests:Tara Singh, CEO of RenewableUKJuliet Samuel, Columnist at The TimesPresenter: Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondentProducer: Hope Federico Video Producer: Bronwen LathamExecutive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam HallPhoto Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comSelect image using GettyUpdate the Getty permissions doc

Is expanding North Sea oil production climate vandalism or the key to lowering energy bills? Dominic O’Connell explores whether Andy Burnham could u-turn on Labour's manifesto pledge to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the region.Ask any climate campaigner their views on North Sea oil, and the answer is straightforward: stop drilling. While Labour came to power pledging to prioritise green energy, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated a more pragmatic stance towards tapping domestic reserves as energy security concerns grow.In Part 2 of Power Struggle, our energy mini-series on The Business, we explore whether expanding North Sea oil field licences is essential for driving economic growth and insulating the wider UK economy. We examine how government fiscal policy, regulatory shifts, and corporate taxation impact long-term commercial investment in the sector, and other affected industries.Dominic is joined by Greig Cameron, Scottish business editor at The Times, to discuss the fate of key offshore fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw. Plus, Amjad Bseisu, chief executive of independent operator EnQuest, explains why he thinks uncompetitive tax regimes are pushing energy investment abroad and what ending North Sea oil production means for Britain’s net zero transition.Guests:Amjad Bseisu, Chief executive, EnQuestGreig Cameron, Scottish business editor, The TimesPresenter:Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondentProducer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam HallPhoto Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

Andy Burnham is officially in No. 10, and his cabinet is in place. Replacing Rachel Reeves’ as Chancellor is John Healey - not, in fact, Shabana Mahmood or Ed Miliband, both names that were thrown around in the lead up. Can the so-called “King of the North” deliver the growth and stability the business community says has been so badly lacking? Amidst a flurry of policy announcements - bus fare caps and a 20 percent cut in business rates for hospitality - is real change a possibility?“The UK is very unique in the fact that we pay two forms of income tax … national income is a tax on employers and work” Mehreen Khan, economics editor at the Times, tells The Business. “Let's see how brave they want to be…I think this is a long overdue reform.”With Times business editor Richard Fletcher, Khan discusses the upcoming budget, how the relationship between the Chancellor and Prime Minister may play out - and just how much change the business community is expecting to see from this new leader. “ I do suspect we'll get a little bounce in consumer confidence, and hence growth, just from a new face in No. 10. How long that lasts - who knows?” Richard Fletcher said. “I think that it is going to take some quite serious reforms to do that and I'm not sure the backbenchers particularly have got the guts to do that.” Hosts:Hannah Prevett, associate business editor, The Sunday TimesDominic O’Connell, business correspondent, Times RadioGuests: Richard Fletcher, Business editor, The TimesMehreen Khan, Economics editor, The Times Producer: Hope FedericoExecutive Producers: Miriam Hall and Emily LeahyPhoto Credit: GettyGet in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.comIf you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.

In the words of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Peppa Pig World “is very much my kind of place.” But how does Paultons Park, one of the UK's most popular theme parks, navigate the shifting UK economy? Located in Hampshire, Paultons Park has been in the Mancey family since first opening its doors in 1983. The amusement park now welcomes a million visitors annually. In 2011, the park opened Peppa Pig World, a £6 million investment that became one of the park's most popular attractions.In this episode of The Business, Hannah Prevett, Associate Business Editor at The Sunday Times speaks with James Mancey, Deputy Managing Director, and Lawrence Mancey, the Marketing Director behind the park. The brothers behind the family-owned British business join Hannah to discuss working in rollercoasters, investing back into their brand, and what the UK hospitality sector is hoping for from a Burnham premiership.For years, Paultons Park has been the first job for thousands of young people. James and Lawrence discuss how inflation rates, increases to National Insurance contributions, and the national minimum wage have impacted their bottom line.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today to get full digital access.Presenter: Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times Guests: James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park Lawrence Mancey, marketing director at Paultons Park Producer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam HallPhoto Credit: Paultons Park Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

What does the high-stakes easyJet takeover bid mean for the future of budget travel? We unpack the intense bidding war between US giants Apollo and Castlelake.Last Friday, in the latest twist in the saga for takeover of easyJet, Apollo secured an agreement to buy the airline in a £5.7B deal, gazumping an offer from US private credit group Castlelake. Just days earlier, easyJet had agreed to the Castlelake proposal - kicking off a proper takeover battle for one of the UK’s best known consumer brands. In this episode, we consider why easyJet has become a target, and what it could mean for the future of the company. Guest:Tim Jeans, former head of marketing for Ryanair, a former MD of Monarch AirlinesPresenters:Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondentHannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday TimesProducer: Hope Federico Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall Photo Credit: Getty Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com