Business Daily

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Businesses on wheels May 07, 2025

Show notes

Mobile businesses - or businesses on four wheels - are growing in number. Seen as an affordable and flexible way to set up a venture, more of them are popping up all around the world and in all sorts of industries.

We head to rural France, pioneer territory for van-trepreneurs where now, food trucks, mobile pet grooming services and even mobile cinemas are thriving.

And we hear from guests in India and Kenya about how the trend has become global.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Picture: Alisson Zalazar in front of her beauty van in France.)

How prepared is China for a new trade war? May 06, 2025

Show notes

With tariffs of up to 145% on US imports from China, we take a look at how its playing out in the country.

China’s leaders are downplaying the potential impact of the trade war - we speak to Chinese exporters and economists to find out what’s really happening and whether the country’s economy is as resilient as senior officials are saying.

The impact is already being felt in factories - so will the US or China blink first?

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin

(Image: Employees work on a production line of caps that will be exported to the US at a factory in Suqian, in eastern China's Jiangsu province on 7 April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Inside Spain's housing crisis May 05, 2025

Show notes

Millions of people in the country are struggling to find affordable homes. We’ll be looking at why rental costs have been rising so sharply.

We hear from some of those affected, and find out why they have been taking to the streets to air their grievances.

Plus – what are the solutions?

Produced and presented by Guy Hedgecoe

(Image: A woman is holding a placard saying "not for sale" in Spanish, as she takes part in a nationwide demonstration in favour of decent housing. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Málaga to protest against the housing crisis caused by rising rental prices, job insecurity, and mass tourism. Credit: Getty Images)

Counting the cost of childcare in the US May 04, 2025

Show notes

Raising a child is expensive - and in the US, families can pay more than their monthly rent to cover childcare and enable them to get back to work.

We find out why costs in the US are so high compared to the rest of the world.

We hear from parents who are struggling to make ends meet, and speak to providers who say they're operating in a difficult environment.

Produced and presented by Monica Miller

(Image: Children running through a daycare centre in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: US healthcare CEO Judy Faulkner May 01, 2025

Show notes

Judy Faulkner started Epic in 1979 from a basement, with $70,000 in start-up money and two part-time assistants.

Now, the company has grown to become a global provider of healthcare technology - with more than half of the US population's medical information stored on its platform.

Judy shares how she built the company from the ground up, her insights on industry challenges, and the future of electronic medical records.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: Judy Faulkner speaking at the Forbes Health Care Summit in 2023. Credit: Getty Images)

From guerrillas to entrepreneurs Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Nearly a decade has passed since the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Farc, the largest left-wing guerrilla group in Latin America. Thousands of Farc fighters came out of their jungle and mountain hideouts, handed in their weapons, and returned to civilian life.

The state has helped them reintegrate into the workforce, find jobs, and start businesses, so how has that process gone?

We talk to former members of the Farc who spent years in the guerrilla organisation and in jail, who are now doing jobs like beekeeping and selling beer. How have they found the transition? And we hear from a woman whose mother was kidnapped by the Farc, and who questions why the state is spending so much time and money on former members of a group that committed terrible atrocities.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

(Picture: View of bottles of craft beer made by former Farc rebels. Credit: Getty Images)

The adults saving the toy industry Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

What gift did you open for your birthday this year? Were you gifted any toys?

Lots of adults were.

In fact, figures suggest that adults buying toys for themselves is keeping the toy market alive, driving nearly a third of global sales. But what’s behind shift? In this episode we meet the makers, the sellers and the buyers.

Produced by: Megan Lawton Presented by: Sam Gruet

(Image: A man playing with cars. Credit: Getty Images)

Trump’s tariffs: The price of spice Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

For thousands of years people have traded spices across continents, sharing recipes and wealth.

But what could happen to the modern spice industry if costly barriers to free trade are imposed?

As US President Donald Trump reaches 100 days in office, it is arguably his “reciprocal tariffs” that have caused the most upheaval in the US and global economies.

We speak to three people working in the North American spice import and processing sector to see how it's impacting them.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Hannah Bewley

(Image: Imported spices and seasoning at Phuoc Loc Tho Super Oriental Market in Florida. Credit: Getty Images)

Why is Europe falling behind the US? Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

Even before there was talk of a trade war between the US and EU, Europe was on the economic backfoot.

But it wasn’t always the case.

In 2008, the EU was the world’s biggest economy - today, the US economy is $9.5 trillion bigger than the EUs.

So what has happened?

Presented and produced by Rob Young

(Image: An employee fixes the seat to a Volkswagen AG Tiguan on the production line at the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company said in March 2025 that profits had fallen amid high costs and Chinese competition. Credit: Getty Images)

Meet the 'workfluencers' Apr 24, 2025

Show notes

From filming 'day-in-the-life' videos, to capturing casual conversations in the office, some employees are no longer just working behind the scenes. They're stepping into the spotlight as the creative forces behind their company's social media content.

More businesses are moving away from paying for traditional social media influencers to market their brands, to asking their own staff to do it. Meet the 'workfluencers'.

This type of in-house marketing might serve as a useful recruitment tool, or help to humanise corporations while boosting engagement, but it carries risks for a business. And how honest can employees be in what they post? Should they be paid extra to do this sort of work?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

(Picture: Employees filming content for social media. Credit: Joe & the Juice)

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