Business. A force for good?

Public trust in business remains fragile, yet business has a vital role to play in driving growth, creating opportunity and contributing positively to society.In this special episode of Director Podcast, recorded to mark the launch of the 2026 IoD Commission report Business. A force for good?, host Ben Walker is joined by Jon Geldart (IoD Director General), Lord Marvin Rees OBE (Chair of the Commission) and Professor Irene-marie Esser (one of the report's authors) to discuss the report's findings and recommendations.Together, they explore the relationship between business and society, the conditions that enable businesses to create long-term value, and the role of leadership, governance and culture in building trust. They also discuss what business leaders, investors and policymakers can do to ensure businesses can be a force for good while driving sustainable economic growth.

With the Chancellor’s first Budget now unveiled, businesses will be assessing what the new measures mean for them.In this special rapid-reaction episode of the Director Podcast, IoD Chief Economist Anna Leach breaks down the key announcements, examines the implications for businesses, and assesses what they could mean for the economy in the months and year ahead.

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.