The Green Room: Questions that matter most in business

Talking about disability at work isn't something new. But how has the conversation changed over the years? And is it changing fast enough?

There are 14.1 million disabled people in the UK. That's one in five. And it's something that can affect us all - whether personally, or through friends, family, and colleagues.

The world of work is changing rapidly. From the spaces we work in, to our hiring and recruitment processes – the workplace needs to be inclusive by design. Especially with more than 4.4 million disabled people in work in the UK. And with one in three still feeling that there is prejudice against them.

So, what's the impact of hybrid working on people with disabilities? Will this make our workplaces more inclusive? And if you're not in an office job, will anything really change at all?

Tune in to find out...

• Why companies need to go further than just legal compliance
• Which year our hosts and guests would time travel to
• Why senior representation and support for career development is so important
• How being flexible in the workplace helps people to flourish

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Mark Hodgkinson, CEO of Scope and Zeinab Chaudhary, Disability Inclusion Lead for Consulting and Workability Network Deputy Lead, Deloitte UK

Hosts: George Parrett and Ethan Worth

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Many of us are trying to change something. No matter who we are or where we live, we want to make our corner of the world a little bit better for those around us.

Around the world, people continue to inspire us by standing up for what they believe in. Climate school strikes. LGBTQ+ rights. #MeToo. And Black Lives Matter, to name a few.

These movements are all vital if we're to create a more equal society on a thriving planet. But that doesn't mean it's easy. In fact, changing something is really hard. What we see as an overnight success is usually years in the making.

So, you want to make the world a better place. How do you identify what it is exactly you want to change? How do you share the journey as you gather momentum? And importantly, how do you keep going when things get tough?

Tune in to find out…

• About the experiences that lit a fire in Peter's belly
• How Kalvinder learnt the art of patience in making change
• Why George is feeling more positive about his next conga
• How we can all make a difference in our lives every day

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Peter Holbrook CBE, CEO of Social Enterprise UK and Kalvinder Dhillon, Vice Chair and tax partner at Deloitte UK

Hosts: George Parrett and Lizzie Elston

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Hybrid working. It sounds like the shiny solution to what the future of work is going to look like. But we wouldn't blame you if you felt part excited, part wondering how it's all going to work.​

The past 18 months or so have been challenging. But hey, we've learnt some valuable lessons about what we really want from work. Next stop: taking those positives to create workplaces, whether they're virtual or physical, that work for all of us. ​

As with any change, it's exciting to build something new. But it's going to take some trial and error to get things right. So where do we go from here in a way that's sustainable, inclusive and, most importantly, kind to ourselves and others?​

Tune in to find out…

• How many days George used to spend on a train every year
• What Jackie's current work routine looks like
• About the impact of what Jolawn calls the 'silent pandemic'
• Why wellbeing is about much more than just sitting cross-legged

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Jolawn Victor, Chief International Officer at Headspace, and Jackie Henry, UK Managing Partner for People and Purpose at Deloitte.

Hosts: George Parrett and Ethan Worth

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Trust. It can be hard to define, but we all know how it feels. They say it takes a long time to build and a short time to lose.   

So what are the fundamentals of trust in business? Is it as simple as doing as you say? A well-known leader or recognisable brand? What about how they make us feel as customers or investors? 

What does it take to build trust over the years? And what happens when you get it wrong – is it lost forever? 

Tune in to find out:  

• Why Baroness Ford is turning her attention to the perfume trade
• The role trust has played in the careers of two leading business leaders to date
• The impact the pandemic has had on confidence in business
• Why the phrase “institutional shareholders” is someone's pet peeve
• Why actions will always be more important than words 

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Tony Danker, Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Margaret, Baroness Ford of Cunninghame OBE (Baroness Ford), non-executive director and independent chair of Deloitte’s Audit Governance Board

Hosts: George Parrett and Lizzie Elston

Technical support: Deloitte’s Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Many of us can relate to taking pride in performing to the highest level we're capable of. Writing the best essay we can at school. Running that 5k in the park against the clock every Saturday. Nailing our first 100 days in the new job, even if we're still learning. Doing the best we can – every single day.

But what does it take to be the best you can be? And perhaps more importantly, how do you do it consistently?

Sport and business. There's been no shortage of comparisons between the two over the years – think 'winning as a team' or 'crushing the competition'. But if we really want to understand what it takes to 'win at business', chances are we'll need to look a little deeper.

Tune in to find out:

• Who listens to 'This is me' to get pumped?
• The reasons Joanna thinks people in business should rest like athletes
• How to cope with pressure and deal with the inevitable setbacks
• Why getting a dog might just be the answer to anything?

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Laura Kenny CBE, Team GB cyclist and Great Britain's most successful female Olympian and Joanna Lockard, senior manager in Deloitte Leadership, within our Human Capital Consulting practice.

Hosts: George Parrett and Lizzie Elston

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

What does it mean to be responsible? There's no right answer. In fact, it's easy to get it wrong.

Every day we make decisions. Driven by what we believe in. What we stand for. And our sense of purpose.

In our personal lives, it might be showing up for our best friend when they need us, paying our bills on time, and educating ourselves on the big issues in the world around us.

In business, it might be stepping up as an ally for minority groups, volunteering our time and skills to support charity partners, and making sure our actions help protect rather than harm the environment.

The lines between our personal and professional lives are blurring. The things we care about at home have a place at work – and vice versa. And the days where being a responsible business were just one team's job are over. In fact, it's becoming an integral part of doing business today – part of who a company really is.

Tackling the climate crisis. Responding to the impact of the pandemic. Speaking out for social justice. Addressing inequality. Improving access to education and employment. Building skills in society. From big business to government, sustainable start-ups to social enterprises, and everything in between, any business can take positive action for people and the planet.

That's not to say it's always easy. Looking at the future and thinking we can do better takes perseverance. Chances are, it might be the road less travelled. It might seem like a big risk. But if it's the right decision, it's worth it (yes, also commercially).

So how do businesses make social impact part of everyday decisions? Inclusive decisions. Impactful decisions. Hard decisions. Little ones. Big ones.

What does it mean to be a responsible business? Is there a formula for doing it right? And to get there, do you have to do it all?

Tune in to find out:

• How the pandemic gave the Belu team the gift of time
• Why customers are voting with their feet
• Which of our guests set up a fair in their garden to raise money as a child
• Why Natalie thinks the challenger brands are going to grow the fastest

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations and to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Natalie Campbell, Co-CEO of Belu Water, and Claire Burton, Head of Responsible Business at Deloitte UK

Hosts: George Parrett and Ethan Worth

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

Vehicles running on clean electricity for miles. It seemed like something out of a movie – until it wasn't.​

The modern car invented by Karl Benz and produced for the masses by Henry Ford has changed the world. Mobility. Convenience. Status. Freedom. And lots of emotion. Everyone has a story about their first car or that epic road trip down the coast.​

But there's a new player on the market. It drastically cuts emissions, fuel costs and maintenance. It's hailed by many as a key step in our journey to net zero. Initially, electric cars were reserved for the happy few who could afford the hefty price tag. And there was the charging anxiety to deal with too – what if the battery runs out mid route?​

The number of electric cars remains small versus the fossil-fuelled alternatives, but things are changing. The pandemic disrupted the traditional car markets and some are saying we've reached peak petrol. In fact, 1 in 2 people are already considering an electric vehicle. And the UK government has confirmed a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. ​

So what's it going to take for all of us to switch to electric? Charging infrastructure continues to be top of mind for eco-warriors. And when is the right time to make the switch? Can we actually afford it? Does it suit our lifestyle?​

What about cuts to subsidies – how will they affect sales? How can businesses best embrace the financial and environmental benefits – think deliveries and company cars? What can we learn from other countries? And what does an all electric world look like?​

Tune in to find out:

• Who used to drive around in a yellow Datsun Cherry
• George's special formula for a great family car
• Why Jamie thinks more and more people are keen
• Who helped Daksh choose his next car

Enjoyed the episode? Check our website for our recommendations to learn more about this topic: Deloitte.co.uk/GreenRoomPodcasts

Guests: Daksh Gupta, Group Executive Officer of Marshall Motor Group and Jamie Hamilton, head of electric vehicles at Deloitte Hosts: George Parrett and Lizzie Elston Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio Original music: Ali Barrett

We've seen female leaders applauded for their responses to the global pandemic. Female activists driving the agenda on climate change, period poverty and everything in between. And laws being reformed in support of gender equality all around the world.

From politics to the boardroom, women are flipping the narrative that empathy and warmth indicate weakness. They're telling other women looking up at them – if I can do it, you can do it too.

There's lots to celebrate. And we've come so far. But there's still lots to do.

We live in a world where more women are in poverty. Girls are more likely to drop out of school. And at work, women are less likely to be in leadership roles and subject to different rules.

So what's it like to break through into the spaces men dominate? How does it feel to be outnumbered? What can we learn from those who've done it? And why are there rules that need breaking anyway?

To celebrate International Women's Day, we're joined by Katie Houldsworth, Deloitte UK's Women on Boards lead, and Suzie de Rohan Willner, CEO of slow fashion brand Toast, to find out how women are writing their own narrative in the workplace and beyond.

Tune in to our International Women's Day special to find out:

• Why there's more to success than just working hard
• Who Katie's and Suzie's female role models are
• Why it's important to speak up and claim your ideas
• What rules our guests are rewriting

Hosts: Lizzie Elston and Ethan Worth

Guests: Katie Houldsworth, South East Public Audit group lead and Women on Boards lead at Deloitte UK, and Suzie de Rohan Willner, CEO of Toast

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

We're all looking for a little hope at the moment. Since we launched The Green Room two years ago, we've seen the world around us change in so many ways.

We wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on some of the incredible conversations we've been lucky enough to take part in. As we look back over the 29 episodes we've recorded, we realised that there are so many reasons to be hopeful and excited about the future. That those glimmers of light have been there all along, even when they've felt hard to see.

Innovative new technologies are helping to repair our oceans. Inspiring role models are talking openly about their struggles with mental health, helping to make things better for the next generation of leaders. Working parents are learning to find a new balance, to put their families first.

Kids are learning to code. Brands are learning to put purpose first. We're finally making real progress in tackling systemic racism in business and society. Our cities are getting smarter. We're listening to young people and setting the stage for their success.

We're building a world we can be proud to be a part of.

We've spent over 19 hours chatting to 50 different guests, from CEOs to apprentices to activists. We've answered icebreakers about our favourite ice cream, our dream holidays and our happiest memories. We've started our very own blog and won a few awards too. And we've had a lot of laughs along the way.

So this week, we're looking back on all the reasons we've learnt to be hopeful over the last two years. Our three hosts will take you through the best of The Green Room so far, as they tackle this week's big question: is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Hosts: George Parrett, Lizzie Elston and Ethan Worth

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett

They say money makes the world go round. And it's not untrue. At the very least, it keeps our washing machines going round, the wheels on our cars spinning and the hours you clock in at work ticking.

But if money is so embedded in our lives, why don't we talk about it more? Why is it so hard to understand? And why are some people excluded when it comes to matters of finance?

As children, we're taught it's rude to ask how much something costs. For many, it's a taboo subject. Or even just unspoken. But when you don't speak about money, you can't learn about it. And what we learn in childhood informs what we know and what we can access when we're adults.

Once you're outside the financial system, it's hard to find your way in. Many of us didn't learn about credit or mortgages and are stumped with where to start. Some of us aren't sure how to budget or save, and some don't have access to bank accounts at all.

So where does the responsibility lie? Why are certain groups of people more likely to be left out? And what does the future look like?

Money, it's a funny old thing. And it's definitely not a one-sided coin.

Tune in to find out:

• What's left in George's drinks cabinet after Christmas
• Why we need to take a personalised approach to financial education
• What the biggest barrier to investment is
• How far Lucy and Jill think we've already come

Hosts: George Parrett and Lizzie Elston

Guests: Lucy Traynor, Deloitte's Better Banking Lead, and Jill Jackson, Managing Director at The Big Exchange

Technical support: Deloitte's Creative Studio

Original music: Ali Barrett