Podcasts

Christmas is an expensive time of year for us. And with it only round the the corner, it means spending money on gifts for many people. But what if you want to reject the pressure to splash the cash and make presents instead? Where would you start? To find out, Georgie was joined on the line by Textile artist Kate Jackson.

Are you hoping for a pay rise in 2017? New research has found 40% of us don't believe we’ll will get one. And, rather gloomy economic conditions combining with predictions British workers probably won't get a pay rise for 10 years. So how financially fit are you for the news year? To find out, Georgie was joined in the studio by Lisa Hardstaff credit expert from Equifax and Nick Hill, Money Expert from the Money Advice Service.

Georgie Frost is joined in the studio by Tom Church, Co-Founder, LatestDeals.co.uk. Today on the agenda, they discuss energy price hikes - and what they mean for millions of people, with it being estimated that four million working families are struggling to pay their energy bills right now before the increased bills. Elsewhere, it's better news for gas prices as British Gas has announced a price freeze for more than six million customers over the winter. Plus, Ofcom has announced a review of the retail market for standalone landline telephone services, to ensure that customers receive value for money. All these stories and more on The News Review.

Luke Johnstone, Founder of PACK'D, a frozen smoothie kit making business, was awarded last night Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Amazon Growing Business Awards. We started by asking him how he started his own business and the idea behind it.

Josh Lowe, Reporter at Newsweek, joined Share Radio for his Thursdays comment of the latest political news. We started by asking him about the news that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's has privately told at least four EU ambassadors that he supports freedom of movement of EU workers despite the Government's stance.

The Mint, the only institution licensed to provide coins in the UK, has announced it will look at launching a digital gold offering, allowing users to trade the assets using a blockchain based system. So how will this new digital gold blockchain work? Share Radio's Matt Cox spoke to monetary innovation researcher Garrick Hileman to find out more.

Impax Asset Management group has just announced results for the year ended 30 September 2016, describing it as one of the most successful years in their nineteen year history. Profit before tax are flat compared to last year, increasing to 5.2 million pounds from 5.1 million pounds, but these were up against more difficult background for investment. Ian Simm, Founder and Chief Executive, joined Share Radio to discuss the results.

As the National Grid launched its report into the future of energy networks yesterday, it's also rather concerned with a power connection perhaps more important to the present. The National Grid is investigating damage to the The Interconnexion France-Angleterre, which gives the UK access to French power and vice versa. Power capacity has been cut in half and, as winter approaches, so grows the UK's energy demands. To find out more about the causes and consequences, Share Radio's Matt Cox spoke to Diarmaid Williams, International Digital Editor of publications Power Engineering International & Decentralised Energy.

OPEC has reached a deal to cut oil supplies for the first time since the global financial crisis in 2008, prices are expected to rise above $50 a barrel as countries with large oil reserves like Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies accepted big reductions in production. OPEC decided to cut 1.2m barrels a day to about 32.5m b/d for six months from early 2017 after six hours of talks in Vienna. Our energy expert in Vienna Peter Bild joined the show to discuss.

President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly already held at least two phone calls with Vladimir Putin - more than with any other world leader and the same amount of briefings he's had with American intelligence experts. Mr Trump praised the Russian president during the election campaign and has promised closer co-operation between the two countries. Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen spoke to Sergey Aleksashenko, former deputy governor of the Russian central bank.