Podcasts

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that UK unemployment stayed flat at 4.8% in the last quarter of 2016, an 11-year low. Wages growth slowed down, growing by 2.6%, below the consensus forecast of 2.8%. John Philpott, Economist and Director of The Jobs Economist, an online think tank specialising in labour market issues, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to discuss.

Today's UK job market figures were encouraging with unemployment flat but wage growth was less than expected and productivity remained sluggish. And in the US, interest rates are back in the headlines with Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen indicating rate rises. Ben Kumar, investment manager at Seven Investment Management, joined Share Radio's senior analyst for more on this.

From trials in Finland to the subject of a Labour Party working group, universal basic income is making headlines. The idea would see everyone get a guaranteed basic salary. It's is hoped this could address growing social problems as well as encouraging more entrepreneurial behaviour. To find out more about how it could work in Britain our reporter Tom Hill spoke to founder member of the Basic Income Earth Network, Guy Standing.

Robert Singh, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck University of London, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to talk on the latest political news from the US. Following Trump's National Security Adviser resignation, US intelligence agencies are now investigating the links between Russia and Trump's former campaign boss, Paul Manafort.

Life insurer Prudential PLC is bidding for a slice of the £12.5bn of Bradford & Bingley mortgages being sold by the government, Nex has just released its Q3 statement announcing that Trump effect boosted revenues by 11%, and Qinetiq's revenues are ‘steady’ as it looks to end a 5 years of decline. Chris Bailey, Founder of Financial Orbit, joined Share Radio's Ed Bowsher to look at these and other important company news.

City-based insurance marketplace Lloyd's of London has told its employees they can't drink from 9 to 5. But will a booze ban work? And when alcohol is common while doing business, how can workers say no? For more Share Radio's Ed Bowsher spoke with Laura Willoughby, co-founder of Club Soda, a group helping people cut back on alcohol.

Most office workers eat the same thing for lunch every day, either out of laziness or because of a lack of inspiration. Share Radio's Anviksha Patel spoke to food psychologist dr Becky Spelman about the effect this is having on the workplace.

A world of increasingly unpredictable markets and diabolic savings rates might be enough to drive you to drink, but that is in fact what's happening for many investors. Rare whisky has become one of the UK's favourite alternative investments with the Rare Whisky Apex 1000 Index closing 2016 up 38%. To find out more about the alcoholic commodity currently outperforming the FTSE, Share Radio's Tom Hill spoke to co-founder of analyst and broker Rare Whisky 101, David Robertson.

Georgie Frost was joined by independent financial expert Martyn James. Today on the agenda, they discussed how millions of families are "just about managing" and are on the tipping point of falling into poverty. Plus they look into the latest UK inflation figures, which came in at 1.8% - the highest in two and a half years. All these stories and more on The News Review.

New figures from disability charity Scope suggest worrying levels of workplace discrimination for Britain's disabled workers. Over half fear they're at risk of losing their job and many are even trying to hide their disability from their employers. To find out more about the scale of the problem and what employers and employees can do Georgie Frost was joined by James Taylor, head of policy and public affairs at Scope.