The Bottom Line

Civil engineers would argue they are the unsung heroes of the railways, roads and bridges we all take for granted. But building major infrastructure projects is a complicated business. So how do you go about putting up a bridge? Are you limited by engineering or economics? Evan Davis tries to find the answer from three civil engineers.

GUESTS

Mike Glover, Arup Fellow

Louise Hardy, Civil Engineer, Non-Executive Director Sirius Minerals and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation

Katy Toms, Senior Engineer, WSP Engineering Consultancy.

In the final programme of the current series Evan Davis will be talking to Sir Terry Leahy, former Tesco CEO, in front of an invited audience at Sir Terry's old school, St. Edward's College, Liverpool.

Are you being served? Where do you shop - online, a department store or one of the large shopping centres around the country? Evan Davis looks at the competitive business of running a mixed retail outlet, or department store, and asks can they survive?

GUESTS

Tony Brown, CEO, Beales Department Stores

Stacey Cartwright, CEO, Harvey Nichols,

David Fischel, CEO, INTU Shopping Centres.

What makes the UK an attractive place for foreign companies to invest in? Britain has tended to enjoy high levels of inward investment thanks to its open economy. How might this change when the UK leaves the EU?

Joining Evan Davis are:

In the UK we spend £4.5 billion a year on domestic pets. Where does the money go? Evan Davis and guests discuss the business of keeping pets.

GUESTS

This week the programme looks at the business of agents. What exactly do they do and are they adding value to their clients' careers? Evan Davis discusses their role with three agents from the worlds of show business, football and books.

GUESTS

Professor Jonathan Shalit, Chairman, InterTalent Rights Group

Anna Davis, Literary Agent. Founder and Creator of Curtis Brown Creative Writing course. Curtis Brown Group

James Featherstone, Founder and Owner, OmniSports

Producer: Julie Ball.

What is the business case for having a diverse workforce? Evan Davis and guests debate whether a mix of talents in the workplace leads to better companies and translates into more profits.

Joining the programme:

What's behind the recent collapse of airlines such as Monarch, Alitalia and Air Berlin? Is it a case of supply outstripping demand or is there a larger crisis

What's really happening to Europe's airline industry?

GUESTS

John Strickland, Aviation consultant

Peter Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer, EasyJet

And

Roger Flynn, Chairman, Loveholidays.com.

Is battery technology the key to decarbonising energy and reinventing transport? If so, can the current technology, Lithium-Ion batteries, evolve quickly enough to meet growing demand. If capacity is the problem, is Lithium-ion the answer and what are the alternatives? Can we expect to fly in battery powered aeroplanes in the near future?

Join Evan Davis and his guests as they discuss the future of the power of batteries.

GUESTS

Huw Hampson-Jones, CEO Oxis Energy

Cyrille Brisson, Vice-President, Eaton

Chris Morrison, Head of Peaking Plant, Centrica.

There's no business like show business. Evans Davis and guests explore the success story that is UK theatre. From splashy musicals, and classic revivals to cutting edge new dramas the sector makes more than a billion pounds in ticket sales a year. But there's trouble on the horizon. Public subsidies for theatres are being cut back. Can corporate giving and donations from philanthropists continue to plug the shortfall?

Guests

Brenna Hobson, National Theatre of Scotland