Podcasts

As the FTSE 250 posts another record high, is it down to pre-Brexit 'project fear' concerns easing? Plus flat consumer spending figures and UK employers relying on EU workers are already reporting staff shortages. Jasper Lawler, senior market analyst at London Capital Group, joined Ed Bowsher to talk through this and the day's big economic stories.

If you've never invested before, it's quite likely that you'll start off by putting some money into a stocks and shares ISA. But how do you invest in one, what should you invest in and how much should you put in? Sarah Pennells was joined by Michelle McGrade who's investment director at TD Direct Investing, and I'm also joined by Chris Justham from Seven Investment Management and Jeannie Boyle from EQ Investors.

Figures released today show that number of people having cosmetic procedures fell to just over 30,000 last year -- a fall of almost 40% on last year. But what are your rights when you have a procedure done - how do you choose a good plastic surgeon and what can you do if it all goes wrong? Sarah was joined by are Dr Uma Jeyanathan who is from Save Face, Judith Thomas-Whittingham who's head of clinical negligence at Stephensons solicitors Nilesh Sojitra, who is from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and Martyn James who's an independent financial expert.

On Saturday, the UN held its International Day for Women and Girls in Science, a day intended to bridge the gap between the number of men and women working across the scientific sectors. Despite efforts in the industry, the gender imbalance persists, especially as workers reach their thirties. To find out more, Sara Macham spoke to Dr Claire Sharpe, consultant nephrologist at King's College London and ambassador of Kidney Research UK's Women and Girls in Science campaign.

Do you categorise yourself as unhealthy? Well you could be costing your employer on average 28 days a year in lost productivity. A study by Vitality Health shows that unhealthy employees are costing the UK economy up to 73 billion pounds a year from taking sick days and underperforming at work. Share Radio reporter Anviksha Patel spoke to Shaun Subel, strategy director at Vitality Health to find out what the study revealed.

Hannah joins Sarah Pennells to go through the top money stories of the day, including the sale of the Co-op bank, the possibility we may have to work longer because of Brexit and overcharging at Tesco.

Major supermarkets in the UK have introduced rationing on certain fresh vegetables. Tesco is limiting shoppers to three iceberg lettuces, Morrisons to two. Last month, we heard about the courgettes, but snowy conditions in Spain, Italy, and Greece are affecting the growth and availability of other leafy produce as well. Share radio's James Brydges spoke to Duncan Brewer, Partner of Retail practice at management consultants Oliver Wyman.

Labour is using its own pollster to gauge the popularity of potential successors to leader Jeremy Corbyn. The party insists it's a routine thing to do - but a source within Labour says it was "succession planning". It looked at what people think of shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and the relatively new MPs Angela Rayner and Rebecca Long-Bailey. Share Radio Morning's Sarah Pennells was joined by Peter Catterall, Reader in the History Department of the University of Westminster to discuss the latest political headlines of the morning.

It seems consumers tightened their purse strings at the start of this year. According to the latest figures, January sales failed to stop spending on clothing falling at the fastest pace in nearly five years. Visa's UK Consumer Index says face-to-face spending on the high street recorded an annual fall of 3.1 per cent last month. Nigel Cassidy was joined by Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights Director at Springboard to discuss further.

UK plc has posted positive results in turbulent times, as revenues climb to new records and profitability improves. That's according to new research from the Share Centre. Revenues climbed by 5.5% to £116bn, a fourth quarter record for companies, helped by the weak pound. Gavin Oldham, founder of the Share Centre sat down with Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss more.