Director Podcast

We're back after the summer break, and as the political season gets underway, devolution is once again at the top of the policy agenda. Questions are growing about whether greater local powers can help unlock economic growth across the UK.

In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by IoD Chief Economist, Anna Leach and Professor Philip McCann, Sir Terry Leahy Chair in Urban and Regional Economics at Alliance Manchester Business School, to explore the economic case for devolution.

Together, they discuss whether greater powers for city-regions have delivered tangible results, what Andy Burnham's devolution agenda could mean for growth and investment, and how policymakers can balance local autonomy with national priorities.

Business confidence remains fragile amid economic uncertainty and continued political speculation about the UK's economic direction.

In this episode, IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach joins host Ben Walker to discuss the IoD’s latest business confidence index reading and what it tells us about the state of the economy.

Together, they explore ideas being floated by Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham to boost growth, the impact of tax speculation on business confidence, and whether greater devolution can help unlock economic potential across the UK.

They also discuss how political uncertainty is influencing investment decisions and what the next Prime Minister should do to rebuild business confidence.

Six months on from Royal Assent, the Employment Rights Actis beginning to reshape the UK’s labour market - but for many businesses, uncertainty and concern remain. With key provisions coming into force and others still to follow, employers are grappling with what the reforms mean in practice, and how to prepare for what’s next.

In this episode, Alex Hall‑Chen (IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Employment) and Jim Wright CDir (International Employment Law Partner at Knights) join host Ben Walker to discuss the current state of play.

Together, they explore why business sentiment has deteriorated since the Act came into force, how organisations are adjusting their hiring and the biggest risks for employers over the next 12 months. They also discuss the impact on IoD members and what practical steps employers can take now to navigate the next phase of implementation.

In this rapid reaction episode, members of the IoD policyteam unpack the business measures announced in the King’s Speech - and what they signal about the Government’s economic direction, amid continued political uncertainty in the UK.

The discussion covers economic security, UK-EU relations, energy resilience and late payment reforms, alongside the wider question of how businesses are responding to an increasingly uncertain political and geopolitical environment.

And - whether a potential change of Prime Minister has the power to unravel these measures…

As geopolitical tensions continue to disrupt global energymarkets, UK businesses are facing persistently high energy costs and renewed uncertainty over supply. Against this backdrop, questions are growing about whether the UK’s energy system is fit for purpose - and why our industrial electricity prices remain among the highest in the G7.

In this episode, Alex Hall‑Chen (IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Energy and Sustainability) joins host Ben Walker to examine what the current energy crisis means for UK business.

Together, they explore why UK energy prices are so high, how exposed businesses are to future shocks, and why short‑term support measures like the British Industry Competitiveness Scheme fail to address the underlying problems in the energy market. They also discuss the case for structural reform - including decoupling electricity prices from gas - and what government must do to deliver a more affordable, secure and competitive energy system.

As the government continues to prioritise economic growth, questions are mounting over whether its strategy is delivering meaningful results. Against a backdrop of recent geopolitical shocks and domestic political pressures, the challenge of balancing long-term growth with short-term stability has become increasingly acute.

In this episode, Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) and Giles Wilkes (Institute for Government Senior Fellow) join host Ben Walker to assess whether the government’s growth plan is really working.

Together, they examine the government’s record against its own growth ambitions, and explore whether it can realistically deliver a stronger, more resilient economy in the current climate. They also consider the tension between building the foundations for long-term growth and the political imperative to maintain public support, asking whether these goals can truly be aligned.

In this snap reaction episode, Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) and host Ben Walker break down the Chancellor’s Spring Forecast and the latest outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility. With no new tax announcements but higher public spending and shifting fiscal headroom, what does it mean for business confidence and competitiveness?

We explore downgraded growth projections, pressure on the labour market, rising employment costs, and why the UK’s economic outlook is becoming increasingly fragile.

As geopolitical tensions rise and protectionist policies re-emerge, the global trading environment is becoming increasingly fragmented. Against this backdrop, the UK government has maintained a globalist approach, seeking to balance its relationships with the US, EU and China. But how sustainable is that strategy in a more divided world?

In this episode, Emma Rowland (IoD Trade Policy Advisor) and Marco Forgione (Director General of The Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade) join host Ben Walker to assess the viability of balancing Britain’s major trading partners.

Together, they explore the opportunities and trade-offs across priority markets, the case for - and risks of - closer regulatory alignment with the EU, and whether ideas such as dynamic alignment or cooperation among middle powers offer a workable path forward. They also consider if retaliatory tariffs should ever be part of the UK’s toolkit, and what practical steps businesses should take to navigate a more uncertain global trading landscape.

“NEDs Reimagined: A post-Higgs review of the role and contribution of non-executive directors” is a landmark report from the IoD’s independent Commission chaired by The Rt Hon. Baroness Evans of Bowes Park.

The report calls for a fundamental rethink of what makesboards effective in today’s complex business environment – more than two decades after the influential 2003 Higgs Report first set the blueprint for non-executive leadership in the UK.

While the principles of the Higgs Review remain vital, the IoD Commission argues that the time has come for boards to evolve from a model of periodic oversight to one of active, informed, and adaptive stewardship.

In this episode, Jonathan Geldart (IoD Director General) andIrene-marie Esser (author of the report) take a look at what the Commission investigated, the key themes emerging from its work, and the implications for boards and non-executive directors in practice.

The policy landscape of 2025 presented a demanding set ofconditions for businesses, with economic and political developments creating persistent uncertainty. For many businesses, much of the year was spent absorbing and planning for the measures announced in last year’s Budget. As these policies began to take effect, director confidence fell to its lowest point on record.

In this episode, host Ben Walker is joined by Hugo Legh (IoD Head of Media, Campaigns and Public Affairs) and Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) to unpack the defining policy developments of 2025 and their impact on business.

Together, they explore why director confidence remained subdued throughout the year, how business leaders are reacting in the wake of the 2025 Autumn Budget, and what support they want to see from government in 2026. They also look ahead to the IoD’s policy priorities for the coming year.