The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Clare Kemsley, Managing Director of Marketing UK&I at Hays; and Lisa De Wachter, Global Brand Account Lead Food Tech, Google Netherlands - Amsterdam. In this episode, we will discuss how people in underrepresented groups can fair well in the workplace, and we specifically dive in to the issue of age – what’s the reality for workers over the age of 50, and investigate the business case for attracting, retaining and retraining individuals who may feel they have additional barriers in the workplace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Roisin Currie, Chief Executive of Greggs; and Jessica Garbett, Senior Manager, Workforce Consulting Team, PwC. In this episode, we’ll explore how putting business at the heart of communities is essential for everyone. We’ll also discuss some of the tough issues out there such as employing those who have a criminal conviction and how businesses are literally stepping up to the plate to address food poverty. UK Hopes and Fears Survey 2023 - PwC UK Greggs | Doing Good For employers - Social Mobility Commission The Class Ceiling: Why it Pays to be Privileged by Sam Friedman | Goodreads Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Vicky Davies, CEO, Danske Bank and new Chair of Business in the Community Northern Ireland; and Tomas Flier, EMEA Inclusion Lead and Diversity Business Partner for Spain, Italy and Portugal, Google, USA. In this episode, we’ll take a deep dive into workplace inclusion – how can businesses ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and what companies are doing to help their people whatever their circumstances, and when challenges come along like caring responsibilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Damian McAlister, Chief People Officer, Ulster University; and Ayan Said, Founder of Voicing Voices, an organisation that embeds intersectional inclusivity into its clients’ culture, policy and community. In this episode, we will discuss how employers can create a human-centred approach to people in the workplace – what it means, what things businesses are doing well and where improvements need to be made. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Ajaz Ahmed, Founder and CEO of AKQA, a global design and innovation agency owned by WPP and providing ingenious solutions for companies like Nike, Volvo, Sony, Sky and even Tinder; and Diana Paredes, CEO & Co-Founder of Suade, a platform that allows financial institutions to transparently deal with their regulatory calculations and reporting. In this episode, we will discuss how businesses can be responsible through imagination, commitment and good leadership; and how giving time and energy to initiatives that are changing the world is so beneficial. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, our host Sarah Travers shares stories from One Young World Ambassadors who visited Belfast in October 2023 for the One Young World Summit. She shares who they are, where they work, what part of the world they are from, and of course why they are attending the Summit. Importantly, she gets to the nitty gritty of how they plan to change the world and finds out what they are already doing to make a difference. We hope you enjoy this special episode and are inspired to find out more about responsible business by getting in touch with Business in the Community at www.bitc.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Dr Adam Read, Chief Sustainability & External Affairs Officer at SUEZ UK – a leading global provider of environmental solutions; and from Germany, Philipp Eder, Sustainability Strategist / Procurement Strategy, AUDI AG. In this episode, we will explore the circular economy from two very different organisations, but from our two guests’ perspectives – both of whom are committed to making the world a better place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Tony Judd, Managing Director of Verizon Business for the UK and Ireland. Verizon is one of the largest communication technology companies in the world, and we hear about Verizon’s plans for the future and how it is taking its responsibility for people and the planet to the next level. And our second guest is Loek Hageman, Early Careers Talent Development Programs, Bayer. Based in Berlin, Loek’s company, Bayer, is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life, and at the same time, it aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. In this episode, we will explore how Tony and Loek’s shared passion for people development plays out in both of their businesses, how development talent for the future is critical for business success, and we’ll ask them what a responsible future looks like for them personally, professionally and digitally. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Tom Burke, Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Director at a very well-known global brand - Coca-Cola and Svanika Balasubramanian, Co-Founder and CEO at rePurpose Global - the world's first Plastic Credit Platform. In this episode, we will explore packaging with purpose. We’ll look at how one of the world’s biggest drinks production companies is continually innovating in how it packages its products, and how another is helping consumers and businesses across 26 countries create impact by catalysing innovative waste management and circular solutions that stem the flow of ocean plastic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, our host Sarah Travers hands over the reins to her ex-colleague BBC's Health Correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly, who interviews two-weight world champion boxer, Carl 'The Jackal' Frampton. Marie-Louise interviewed Carl at a recent Business in the Community event (please be aware that this episode contains background noise). Carl has proven himself as one of the world’s leading professional boxers, quickly climbing the ranks by winning both the IBF and WBA Super-Bantamweight belts, before going on to win the WBA Featherweight Championship. If you’ve ever seen Carl in the ring, he was one of the most exciting boxers to watch operating with incredible punching power, intelligence and speed. Carl’s background is interesting and complex, so you’ll hear more about that in this episode of The Lens. Recently Carl worked on a thought-provoking documentary for the BBC called Men in Crisis focusing on the troubling reality of men’s mental health. Listen in to find out more about what Carl discovered and how business leaders can spot the signs with their people. It's good to remember that every person is different and those companies that can develop a human-centred approach to their people can really make a difference. If your business would like help and support with wellbeing and inclusion, please get in touch with Business in the Community at www.bitcni.org.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sustainability and profitability – complement or competition? This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Anna Moore, Partner at global management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, and One Young World Ambassador, Robin Spierings, Project lead – The Sustainable Flight Challenge, KLM and In this episode, we will explore whether sustainability and profitability can work hand in hand, how green credentials can make a difference for businesses, and how responsible businesses are positively influencing their supply chains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special one-off episode, we meet with Business in the Community’s new Chief Executive, Mary Macleod to discuss the future of responsible business in the UK. With a plethora of challenges for business, how can businesses not just survive, but thrive and fully meet these challenges for the benefit of people and the planet? Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens with Mary Macleod, Chief Executive of Business in the Community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Building a responsible business culture This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Pippa Clarke, Chair and Partner at Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants – experts in accounting, audit, tax, and advisory needs; and Hamzah Sarwar, Global Social Impact and Partnerships Director at Reckitt – a multinational consumer goods company that produces health, hygiene and nutrition products. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore how businesses can build a responsible business culture, how are guests are using their personal passions for people to create workplaces that are agile and creative; places where people want to come to work every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Troy Douglas, Founder of drinks company Nexba. The company is taking the world by storm and has already removed more than 5 billion grams of sugar from global diets, and it’s just getting started. Our second guest is Taylor Quinn of Tailored Foods, whose ambition is to be a key catalyst in ending hunger by 2030 by building delicious, nutritious, low-cost food systems around the world. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore the world of responsible food and drink, how the ingredients we use, or don’t use, impact the health and wellbeing of nations, how those living in areas of severe deprivation are benefitting from the work of our guests, and what’s next innovation in these sectors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Adrian Curry, Managing Director of glass manufacturer, Encirc, and Wen-Yu Weng, Principal Consultant of Energy and Utilities Practice, PA Consulting. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore how businesses are addressing the pressing issues of climate change and environmental degradation as the UK heads towards meeting its goal of net zero by 2050. In this episode, we will explore environmental sustainability and climate action. The UK has committed to achieving net zero by 2050, but many scientists are saying that we are not scared enough about the implications of global warming. With that in mind, how are businesses taking practical action and innovating to make a difference. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Lisa Brankin, Managing Director, Ford Britain & Ireland, and Kofi Gyamfi, Strategic Sourcing Analyst for Unilever West Africa. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore supply chain and sustainability. We discover how one of our guests, who hails from Northern Ireland has developed in her career to become a leader of one of the UK’s biggest car manufacturers, and all the way from Ghana, our other guest will share his passion for ensuring responsible sourcing and the circular economy is at the forefront of his business. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Will Major, Chief Change Officer at Unum – a leading employee benefits provider that offers expert health and wellbeing support, and financial protection through the workplace. Our second guest is Madeline Debney, Co-Founder & CPO, Otto Finance, an innovative company that helps people develop the knowledge and confidence they need to take care of their financial health. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore how firms can cope with big changes within their business, and the changing face of health – be that physical, mental, emotional, or increasingly important right now, financial health. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Peter Perry, CEO of Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Annina Lux, Senior Manager at Capgemini Invent, Head of Strategic Foresight. In this episode, Sarah and her guests explore an issue that is at the heart of all businesses today – the cost of living crisis. We’ll also hear how one of our guests started life as an apprentice, and how responsible disruption and transformation are business imperatives for every organisation today. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens with Welsh Water’s Peter Perry and Annina Lux from Capgemini. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month our host Sarah Travers is joined by Niall Martindale, CEO, firmus energy, and Luke Gibson COO of Field Energy UK. In this episode, Sarah and her guests energy in all of its forms – the demand for energy, the current challenges with the energy crisis, how energy firms are taking the responsible route despite things that are out of their control, and why taking care of the planet will always be a major priority. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special one-off episode, we meet with Business in the Community’s Chief Executive, Amanda Mackenzie to discuss the challenges of the world in which we live. In particular, we will discuss the cost-of-living crisis – what’s the reality, how business can and must help and 12 calls to action that every business should consider. Find out more by listening to the latest episode of The Lens with Amanda Mackenzie, Chief Executive of Business in the Community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.