Podcasts

There are calls for Ofgem to look at how to better protect energy consumers from their supplier going out of business. It comes as 160,000 energy customers face uncertainty, after GB Energy Supply was forced to shut down. USwitch is calling on the regulator to look at how suppliers can cope with fluctuating wholesale energy prices more effectively. James Brydges spoke to Claire Osborne, an energy expert from USwitch, about the increase in wholesale prices.

Gadgets and Gizmos with Share Radio's technology editor Steve Caplin.

Doctor Steve Keen, professor of economics, at Kingston University on Italy’s referendum, membership in the EU, the pressure it’s putting on Italian banks. And France’s looming presidential elections.

Last week we had Philip Hammond's first - and, as it turns out, last Autumn Statement - but what did it mean for pensions? Compared to other areas the chancellor did not make many changes to the pensions system. To find out more about this Greg Watt spoke to Kate Smith, head of Pensions at Aegon

In last week's Autumn Statement, the chancellor reitterated his commitment to create three million new apprenticeships by 2020 to improve Britain's productivity and support social mobility. This will be funded by the apprenticeship levy due to come into force next April, where employers with a wage bill of more than £3 million a year will have to pay 0.5 per cent of what they spend on salaries. However, Chancellor Philip Hammond did not give any more details on the apprenticeship levy in his statement, leaving small and medium sized businesses concerned they could miss out on the funding available. To find out more about this Simon was joined on the line by Mark Dawe, chief executive of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers,

Leaving the single market would be damaging to almost every sector of the British economy, from manufacturing and energy to retail and financial services. This is according to research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research and campaign group, Open Britain. It found that aiming to strike sector-by-sector trade deals with the EU after Brexit could take almost 25 years. To discuss the importance of the UK economy and its dependence, both direct and indirect, on trading with the Single Market, Simon spoke to Joe Carberry, co-executive director at Open Britain.

Philanthropy is on the rise, with the number of charitable donations of £1m or more in the UK reaching a new high. The Coutts Million Pound Donors Report found that 355 donations of £1m or more were made in 2015, totalling £1.8bn, compared with 298 donations worth £1.6bn the previous year. Over its nine-year lifespan, the report, produced in association with the University of Kent, has revealed a boom time for UK philanthropy. To discuss this in more detail, Rachel Harrington, philanthropy adviser at Coutts, joins Simon live in the studio.

With at least some share prices off their peaks, it's a good time to look at income stocks in more detail. Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined in the studio by Eric Moore, Co-Manager of the Miton Income Fund, which primarily invests in UK-listed stocks.

Fund Manager Focus gets the inside look at the world of investment management straight from the horse's mouth. This week, Share Radio's Ed Bowsher was joined in the studio by Mark Whitehead, Manager of Securities Trust of Scotland and Co-Manager of Martin Currie Global Equity Income.

Storyteller and financial journalist Chris Bishop speaks to Share Radio's Alex Clark, taking you across the continent of Africa for the major stories of the week. On today's programme: South Africa's Reserve Bank has kept interest rates on hold, the Swiss watchmaking industry faces disruption, and the Black Friday frenzy has made its way to African consumers. For more of Chris and Alex, check out last week’s episode: https://audioboom.com/posts/5309437-conversations-from-africa-zimbabwe-s-bond-note-blues