The Bottom Line

Evan Davis is joined by top business leaders and entrepreneurs to talk about the issues that matter to consumers and businesses.

Evan Davis is joined by top business leaders and entrepreneurs to talk about the issues that matter to consumers and businesses.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the gimmicks, the people, the products and the relationships

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the gimmicks, the people, the products and the relationships.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the gimmicks, the people, the products and the relationships.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the gimmicks, the people, the products and the relationships.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the gimmicks, the people, the products and the relationships.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Guests talk about what is important to companies and their customers - the people, the products and the relationships. Then Shipping Forecast and Weather.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers: the people, the products and the relationships.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

This special edition, recorded in Edinburgh, focuses on Scottish businesses.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

This special edition, recorded in Edinburgh, focuses on Scottish businesses.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Entrepreneurs and business leaders talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis talks to business leaders about growing business in a downturn and barriers to entry. His guests are Keith Clarke, chief executive of WS Atkins, Will King, founder and chief executive of King of Shaves, Julie Meyer, chief executive of Ariadne Capital and and Leo McKee, chief executive of BrightHouse.

Evan Davis talks to business leaders about growing business in a downturn and barriers to entry.

His guests are Keith Clarke, chief executive of WS Atkins, Will King, founder and chief executive of King of Shaves, Julie Meyer, chief executive of Ariadne Capital and and Leo McKee, chief executive of BrightHouse.

Evan Davis talks to business leaders about growing business in a downturn and barriers to entry.

His guests are Keith Clarke, chief executive of WS Atkins, Will King, founder and chief executive of King of Shaves, Julie Meyer, chief executive of Ariadne Capital and and Leo McKee, chief executive of BrightHouse.

Evan Davis and a panel of business experts discuss shop displays and the challenges of doing business in Europe. Evan's guests are Ian McCaig, chief executive of lastminute.com, John Ridding, chief executive of the Financial Times, Sophi Tranchell of Divine Chocolate and Peter Casey of Aldi.

Evan Davis and a panel of business experts discuss shop displays and the challenges of doing business in Europe.

Evan's guests are Ian McCaig, chief executive of lastminute.com, John Ridding, chief executive of the Financial Times, Sophi Tranchell of Divine Chocolate and Peter Casey of Aldi.

Evan Davis and a panel of business experts discuss shop displays and the challenges of doing business in Europe.

Evan's guests are Ian McCaig, chief executive of lastminute.com, John Ridding, chief executive of the Financial Times, Sophi Tranchell of Divine Chocolate and Peter Casey of Aldi.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to discuss technology.

From electric cars to satellites to jet engines, can it really solve the world's problems? He also asks how long is too long to work for the same company?

Evan is joined by Nani Beccalli-Falco, president of General Electric International, Candace Johnson, serial entrepreneur who co-founded the satellite company SES Global, and John Fleming, chief executive of Ford of Europe.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to discuss those silly bits of paper and metal we call money.

Surely someone can invent a better way to pay for things? He also asks what companies are doing to look after their low-income consumers.

Evan is joined by Antony Jenkins, chief executive of credit card company Barclaycard, Jim McCarthy, chief executive of the UK chain Poundland, and Chris Dedicoat, European president of Cisco, the world's largest producer of computer network equipment.

Evan Davis and guests discuss those silly bits of paper and metal we call money.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to discuss private equity - the investors who have endured boom and bust like no other.

He also finds out if English is the only real language of business.

Evan is joined by Keith Clarke, chief executive of Atkins, one of the world's largest civil engineering and design consultancies, Laura Tenison, founder and managing director of Jo-Jo Maman Bebe, a clothing company for babies, toddlers and expectant mothers, and Peter Taylor, managing partner of the private equity firm Duke Street.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests, including two leading Silicon Valley investors, to discuss one of the most successful business clusters of them all and why it is that businesses tend to bunch up.

They also explore the future of television; can it survive the downturn in advertising revenues and competition from the internet?

Evan is joined by Michael Moritz, a partner at Sequoia Capital, Dawn Airey, the chief executive of Channel 5, and Reid Hoffman, co-founder and executive chairman at LinkedIn and partner at venture capital firm Greylock.

Evan Davis and his panel discuss why businesses tend to cluster and the future of TV.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to discuss creative accounting; do companies try to make their books look better than they are? And from the featureless to the funky, what is it that makes a productive office workplace?

Evan is joined by Ian Powell, UK chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world's biggest accountancy firms; Mark Dixon, the chief executive of Regus, a global provider of serviced office space; John Hitchcox, chairman of Yoo, an international design and property development company.

Evan Davis and guests disccuss creative accounting and office design.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis and his guests discuss growth in the world economy and health at work.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to brainstorm the world economy: where might future growth come from? He also asks if management should be responsible for the health of their employees; is a healthy worker more productive?

Evan is joined by Adrian Fawcett, chief executive of the General Healthcare Group, Hugh Hendry, hedge fund manager and founder of Eclectica Asset Management, and Lucius Cary, the founder and managing director of Oxford Technology Management.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis and his guests discuss growth in the world economy and health at work.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to brainstorm the world economy: where might future growth come from? He also asks if management should be responsible for the health of their employees; is a healthy worker more productive?

Evan is joined by Adrian Fawcett, chief executive of the General Healthcare Group, Hugh Hendry, hedge fund manager and founder of Eclectica Asset Management, and Lucius Cary, the founder and managing director of Oxford Technology Management.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

class="blq-clearfix">

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top executives from the worlds of house building, drinking and gambling to find out what they think of their rivals.

They also talk about annoying regulations: what would they change if they had the chance?

Evan is joined by Pete Redfern, chief executive of the house builders Taylor Wimpey, Andrew Morgan, president of drinks manufacturer Diageo Europe, and Mark Davies, group director of the betting exchange Betfair.

Evan Davis and his panel disccuss rivals and regulation.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Entrepreneurs and company bosses talk about the issues that matter to their companies and their customers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine, where business leaders discuss the issues that matter - from the boardroom to the shop floor, from building success to handling failure.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine, where business leaders discuss the issues that matter - from the boardroom to the shop floor, from building success to handling failure.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of chief executives to discuss the US economy.

There was concern over the summer that the world's economic powerhouse could be about to enter a double-dip recession, dragging rest of the world down with it.

Those fears might may have now subsided, so how is the US economy actually faring? And can the rest of the world thrive without a booming America? The panel also discusses sponsorship - how companies decide which events to back, and how much to spend.

Evan is joined in the studio by Nani Beccalli-Falco, President and Chief Executive of GE International; Trevor Matthews, Chief Executive of Friends Provident; Mike Lynch, founder and Chief Executive of Autonomy.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the importance of the US economy and corporate sponsorship.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of spirits, security and digital publishing discuss the special relationship between the two people at the top of a company: the chairman and chief executive.

Is it a recipe for tension, or a sensible balancing of responsibilities?

The panel also discusses the merits of youth versus experience in the workplace.

What qualities do young people bring to a business compared with their older colleagues - or is there no difference?

Evan is joined in the studio by Séamus McBride, President and Chief Executive of spirits company Bacardi; Nick Buckles, Chief Executive of security company G4S; Anthony Habgood, Chairman of digital publisher Reed Elsevier and the hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company Whitbread.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the relationship of company chairman and chief executive.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of top guests from the worlds of online retail, investment and utilities examine how young upstart companies can outsmart their well-established incumbent opponents, and how those opponents can defend themselves.

The panel also discusses company names.

What makes a good one? And why the business obsession with changing them?

Evan is joined in the studio by Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive of Alliance Trust, an investment trust; Brent Hoberman, serial internet entrepreneur and founder of web-based furniture company made.com; Phil Bentley, Managing Director of utility company British Gas.

Evan Davis and guests discuss upstart companies versus incumbents, and company names.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of top guests from the worlds of online retail, investment and utilities examine how young upstart companies can outsmart their well-established incumbent opponents, and how those opponents can defend themselves.

The panel also discusses company names.

What makes a good one? And why the business obsession with changing them?

Evan is joined in the studio by Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive of Alliance Trust, an investment trust; Brent Hoberman, serial internet entrepreneur and founder of web-based furniture company made.com; Phil Bentley, Managing Director of utility company British Gas.

Evan Davis and guests discuss upstart companies versus incumbents, and company names.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan asks his panel of top business executives how they manage to adapt their companies and remain relevant in the modern world. What do you do when technology changes, or fashions move against you? What are the challenges of rejuvenating and transforming a mature business to keep ahead of the curve?

The panel also discusses which laws get in the way of running a business smoothly and reveal which ones they would most like to scrap.

Evan is joined in the studio by Anne Murphy, UK managing director of frozen foods company Birds Eye; Norbert Teufelberger, chief executive of online gaming firm Bwin; Efrat Peled, chief executive of the fund Arison Investments.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss moving with the times and the laws they'd like to scrap.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan asks his panel of top business executives how they manage to adapt their companies and remain relevant in the modern world. What do you do when technology changes, or fashions move against you? What are the challenges of rejuvenating and transforming a mature business to keep ahead of the curve?

The panel also discusses which laws get in the way of running a business smoothly and reveal which ones they would most like to scrap.

Evan is joined in the studio by Anne Murphy, UK managing director of frozen foods company Birds Eye; Norbert Teufelberger, chief executive of online gaming firm Bwin; Efrat Peled, chief executive of the fund Arison Investments.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie and her panel of top executives discuss the impact of political instability on the way they do business.

They also talk about their employees - many chief executives will say their workers are the company's "most valuable asset", but is it really true?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Tim Watkins, vice president of the western arm of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei; Richard Fenning, chief executive of global security consultancy Control Risks; Vineet Nayar, chief executive of Indian IT services company HCL Technologies.

Producer: Caroline Bayley.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss political instability and how they value employees.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie and her panel of top executives discuss the impact of political instability on the way they do business.

They also talk about their employees - many chief executives will say their workers are the company's "most valuable asset", but is it really true?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Tim Watkins, vice president of the western arm of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei; Richard Fenning, chief executive of global security consultancy Control Risks; Vineet Nayar, chief executive of Indian IT services company HCL Technologies.

Producer: Caroline Bayley.

Business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie and her panel of top executives discuss hyperconnectivity - the idea that there are more devices in use around the world than there are people actually using them. How do the panel cope with the sheer mass of incoming information, and devices to carry it? Does more technology mean better communication, or just less time to think?

They also talk about the role of intuition in making important decisions. Is there still room in modern business for the good old-fashioned hunch, or do decisions these days always need to be backed up by solid analysis?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Dominic Taylor, chief executive of payment services company PayPoint; Rita Clifton, chairman of branding consultancy Interbrand; Sir Michael Rake, chairman of telecoms company BT Group.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie and her panel of top executives discuss hyperconnectivity - the idea that there are more devices in use around the world than there are people actually using them. How do the panel cope with the sheer mass of incoming information, and devices to carry it? Does more technology mean better communication, or just less time to think?

They also talk about the role of intuition in making important decisions. Is there still room in modern business for the good old-fashioned hunch, or do decisions these days always need to be backed up by solid analysis?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Dominic Taylor, chief executive of payment services company PayPoint; Rita Clifton, chairman of branding consultancy Interbrand; Sir Michael Rake, chairman of telecoms company BT Group.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

The view from the top of business.

Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie's top executive guests hail from the worlds of mobile energy, sanitary fittings and business services.

They discuss how businesses cope in a "slow growth" environment.

Could years of slow growth be more challenging than a short sharp shock?

And not so long ago, the slow coach economy in Europe was Germany - now it's steaming ahead of everyone.

What's gone right for Germany - and what lessons could other countries learn?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Rupert Soames, chief executive of mobile energy group, Aggreko; Neal Gandhi, chief executive of international business services company Quickstart Global; David Haines, chief executive of German bathroom fittings company Grohe.

Producer: Caroline Bayley.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss slow growth and Germany's current economic success.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie's top executive guests hail from the worlds of mobile energy, sanitary fittings and business services. They discuss how businesses cope in a "slow growth" environment. Could years of slow growth be more challenging than a short sharp shock?

And not so long ago, the slow coach economy in Europe was Germany - now it's steaming ahead of everyone. What's gone right for Germany - and what lessons could other countries learn?

The view from the top of business.

Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie's top executive guests hail from the worlds of mobile energy, sanitary fittings and business services.

They discuss how businesses cope in a "slow growth" environment.

Could years of slow growth be more challenging than a short sharp shock?

And not so long ago, the slow coach economy in Europe was Germany - now it's steaming ahead of everyone.

What's gone right for Germany - and what lessons could other countries learn?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Rupert Soames, chief executive of mobile energy group, Aggreko; Neal Gandhi, chief executive of international business services company Quickstart Global; David Haines, chief executive of German bathroom fittings company Grohe.

Producer: Caroline Bayley.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss slow growth and Germany's current economic success.

The view from the top of business, presented by Evan Davis.

The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan's top executive guests include two hoteliers and a soft drinks manufacturer.

They discuss recent events in Japan, and explore to what extent companies can really prepare for major disasters.

They also reveal how much they know about life on the shop floor and where the problems lie.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss business continuity and life on the shop floor.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business, presented by Evan Davis.

The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan's top executive guests include two hoteliers and a soft drinks manufacturer.

They discuss recent events in Japan, and explore to what extent companies can really prepare for major disasters.

They also reveal how much they know about life on the shop floor and where the problems lie.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss business continuity and life on the shop floor.

Business magazine.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

With plenty to worry about in the world economy, Evan asks his panel of influential business leaders whether now is a good time for companies to sit tight and play it safe, or to take a risk or two.

They also discuss greed - is there anything wrong with a touch of it in business?

Evan is joined in the studio by Geoff Cooper, chief executive of builders merchant Travis Perkins; Harriet Green, chief executive of electronic components distributor Premier Farnell; serial technology entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the global economy and debate if greed is good in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

With plenty to worry about in the world economy, Evan asks his panel of influential business leaders whether now is a good time for companies to sit tight and play it safe, or to take a risk or two. They also discuss greed - is there anything wrong with a touch of it in business?

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

With plenty to worry about in the world economy, Evan asks his panel of influential business leaders whether now is a good time for companies to sit tight and play it safe, or to take a risk or two.

They also discuss greed - is there anything wrong with a touch of it in business?

Evan is joined in the studio by Geoff Cooper, chief executive of builders merchant Travis Perkins; Harriet Green, chief executive of electronic components distributor Premier Farnell; serial technology entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the global economy and debate if greed is good in business.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business.

Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Stephanie asks her panel about the dos and don'ts of marketing.

They also talk about messiness in the workplace.

Is there any truth to the claim that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Richard Harpin, chief executive of emergency home repairs business Homeserve; Nick Wheeler, founder and chairman of shirt company Charles Tyrwhitt; Charles Cohen, chief executive of mobile company Probability.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss the art of marketing, and messiness in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Stephanie asks her panel about the dos and don'ts of marketing. They also talk about messiness in the workplace. Is there any truth to the claim that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind?

The view from the top of business.

Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Stephanie asks her panel about the dos and don'ts of marketing.

They also talk about messiness in the workplace.

Is there any truth to the claim that a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Richard Harpin, chief executive of emergency home repairs business Homeserve; Nick Wheeler, founder and chairman of shirt company Charles Tyrwhitt; Charles Cohen, chief executive of mobile company Probability.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss the art of marketing, and messiness in business.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

This week Evan and his guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics, from Swedish business and the IKEA model, to the crisis in the Eurozone crisis.

They also discuss proliferation - how many different products should a company sell?

Joining Evan in the studio are John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants; Helena Morrissey, chief executive of global asset manager Newton Investment Management, part of BNY Mellon Asset Management; Peter Jelkeby, senior vice president of Swedish chain store Clas Ohlson.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics - from Ikea to proliferation.

Business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

This week Evan and his guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics, from Swedish business and the IKEA model, to the crisis in the Eurozone crisis.

They also discuss proliferation - how many different products should a company sell?

Joining Evan in the studio are John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants; Helena Morrissey, chief executive of global asset manager Newton Investment Management, part of BNY Mellon Asset Management; Peter Jelkeby, senior vice president of Swedish chain store Clas Ohlson.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics - from Ikea to proliferation.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Producer Ben Crighton

Editor Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

Evan's executive panel talk about decision making using examples from their professional life. A chance to see what their jobs consist of and a chance too to think about how we all make choices, for better or worse. They also swap thoughts on stress - their own and that of their employees.

Joining Evan are Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising and media company WPP; David Jones, global chief executive of France-based advertising group Havas; Nicola Horlick, chairman of investment fund Rockpool Investments.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Richard Vadon.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on making everyday executive decisions and stress.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

As the mood on Europe swings from doom to gloom, Evan Davis asks his executive guests about the outlook for the Euro. What will it take to save the single currency? And what are the prospects for business more generally in 2012?

Joining Evan in the studio are Warren East, chief executive of FTSE 100 microchip designer ARM Holdings plc; Dr Carol Bell, energy industry executive with particular expertise in investment and financing in the oil and gas sector and a board member of three energy companies, including Salamander Energy plc; Michael Morley, chief executive of private bank Coutts.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on the risks and opportunities in the global economy.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

As the mood on Europe swings from doom to gloom, Evan Davis asks his executive guests about the outlook for the Euro. What will it take to save the single currency? And what are the prospects for business more generally in 2012?

Joining Evan in the studio are Warren East, chief executive of FTSE 100 microchip designer ARM Holdings plc; Dr Carol Bell, energy industry executive with particular expertise in investment and financing in the oil and gas sector and a board member of three energy companies, including Salamander Energy plc; Michael Morley, chief executive of private bank Coutts.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

Evan Davis and his executive panel discuss different types of employment contracts and how far should employers go in checking on their employees' behaviour?

Joining Evan in the studio are Eric Born, Swiss CEO of logistics and transport company, Wincanton, Nick Buckles, CEO of security giant G4S and Jason Iftakhar, co-founder of Salford based company, Swifty Scooters.

Producer: Ben Carter

Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on employment contracts and monitoring employees.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on employment contracts and monitoring employees.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

Evan Davis and his executive panel discuss different types of employment contracts and how far should employers go in checking on their employees' behaviour?

Joining Evan in the studio are Eric Born, Swiss CEO of logistics and transport company, Wincanton, Nick Buckles, CEO of security giant G4S and Jason Iftakhar, co-founder of Salford based company, Swifty Scooters.

Producer: Ben Carter

Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The mere mention of the word "Europe" in the media these days conjures up images of economic crisis - riots, bailouts, 12-figure debts, emergency summits. And yet the European Union remains the world's largest economy, its GDP some 10 per cent larger than that of the US. So is the idea that Europe is in terminal decline exaggerated? Evan asks his guests if Europe's current woes are just bumps on the road towards greater prosperity.

And on a lighter note - silos, those invisible barriers which often develop inside organisations. Conventional wisdom says that they inhibit communication and can lead to dysfunctional, isolated units. Evan's guests debate whether they're such a bad thing after all.

In the studio are Rachel Lomax, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and non-executive director of several companies including HSBC and BAA; Moray MacLennan, Chief Executive of advertising agency M&C Saatchi Worldwide; Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Innes Bowen.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion with board level executives from leading businesses. Guests this week include Rachel Lomax, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and a non-exec director of HSBC.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The mere mention of the word "Europe" in the media these days conjures up images of economic crisis - riots, bailouts, 12-figure debts, emergency summits. And yet the European Union remains the world's largest economy, its GDP some 10 per cent larger than that of the US. So is the idea that Europe is in terminal decline exaggerated? Evan asks his guests if Europe's current woes are just bumps on the road towards greater prosperity.

And on a lighter note - silos, those invisible barriers which often develop inside organisations. Conventional wisdom says that they inhibit communication and can lead to dysfunctional, isolated units. Evan's guests debate whether they're such a bad thing after all.

In the studio are Rachel Lomax, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and non-executive director of several companies including HSBC and BAA; Moray MacLennan, Chief Executive of advertising agency M&C Saatchi Worldwide; Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Innes Bowen.

Stephanie Flanders chairs a business discussion with people at the top.

Stephanie Flanders chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Stephanie Flanders chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Business discussion show presented by Evan Davis.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

In a special programme recorded at the Design Museum in London, Evan Davis and his panel of top business guests discuss economic recovery in Britain and design.

There's been a lot of debate about what we need to do right now to get out of the economic doldrums.

But in this edition we'd like to take a longer-term view - what competitive advantage does the UK have on the global economic stage, and what will the mix look like in ten years or more? Evan discusses manufacturing, financial services and the creative sector with the panel.

Also on the agenda, design.

Many people are familiar with the two aspects of good design - form and function.

Both are undoubtedly important - but can we go further than considering only what a product looks like, and how it works? We'll scratch the surface and find out what makes good design - and bad design as well.

Evan's guests are pottery and tableware designer Emma Bridgewater; John Hitchcox, chairman of property developers Yoo; and Brent Hoberman, executive chairman of mydeco.com.

A special discussion on economic recovery and design, recorded at London's Design Museum.

There's been a lot of debate about what we need to do right now to get out of the economic doldrums. But in this edition we'd like to take a longer-term view - what competitive advantage does the UK have on the global economic stage, and what will the mix look like in ten years or more? Evan discusses manufacturing, financial services and the creative sector with the panel.

Also on the agenda, design. Many people are familiar with the two aspects of good design - form and function. Both are undoubtedly important - but can we go further than considering only what a product looks like, and how it works? We'll scratch the surface and find out what makes good design - and bad design as well.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis is joined by three top executives from a broadcaster, an industry group, and a circus company.

Lobbying is the first item on the agenda, and the guests give their views on how loud business should shout, both in the media and when trying to influence government.

Is the popular portrayal of lobbying as a somewhat shady occupation close to the truth - and how much time and effort do the guests devote to trying to capture the attention of politicians and civil servants?

They also discuss the phrase 'new and improved'.

It's a much used label, but Evan finds out how the guests develop new products, how they improve their existing lines, and whether they resist the temptation to hype up their next big thing.

Evan's guests are Daniel Lamarre, president and chief executive of Cirque du Soleil; Helen Alexander, president of the CBI; and Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of BskyB.

Evan Davis and his panel discuss lobbying and 'new and improved' products.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to discuss how much technical understanding they need of their products, and he asks them to reveal the secrets of a good showroom.

Evan is joined by Lisa King, chief operating officer of Christie's, Dr Markus Miele, managing director of the appliance manufacturer Miele, and Frank Meehan, chief executive of handset manufacturer INQ Mobile.

Evan Davis and his guests discuss technical expertise and the art of the showroom.

Evan Davis asks his panel of top business guests whether the pace of business life has sped up.

They also discuss the power of advertising; is it true that the more you spend the more you get?

Evan is joined by the chief executive of WPP Sir Martin Sorrell, chairman of Interbrand Rita Clifton and managing partner of private equity firm ISIS Wol Kolade.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the power of advertising and the pace of business life.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis and guests discuss upstart companies versus incumbents, and company names.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of top guests from the worlds of online retail, investment and utilities examine how young upstart companies can outsmart their well-established incumbent opponents, and how those opponents can defend themselves.

The panel also discusses company names. What makes a good one? And why the business obsession with changing them?

Evan is joined in the studio by Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive of Alliance Trust, an investment trust; Brent Hoberman, serial internet entrepreneur and founder of web-based furniture company made.com; Phil Bentley, Managing Director of utility company British Gas.

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

he view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of advertising, branding and lifestyle management discuss viral videos, social networking and some of the other methods companies now employ to reach out to their customers.

The panel also discusses positive thinking.

Is better to be optimistic in business, or realistic?

Evan is joined in the studio by Alex Cheatle, chief executive of the lifestyle management company Ten Group; Jasmine Montgomery, co-founder of branding consultancy Seven Brands; Robin Wight, president of communications group Engine.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss new forms of marketing and the role of optimism in business.

he view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The panel also discusses positive thinking. Is better to be optimistic in business, or realistic?

Evan Davis is joined in the studio by top business guests to discuss the fear of technology and the difficulties of working with people you don't like.

When we constantly hear about revolutionising effect of technology on the business world, it's easy to forget that many people are suspicious of new innovations.

Technophobia may stem from legitimate concerns, and it can hit companies working in the high-tech sphere, especially when communication doesn't keep pace with invention.

The panel discusses fear of genetically modified crops, internet security and more.

Also on the programme: working with people you don't like.

They are the tricky ones, those with tough personalities and idiosyncratic habits.

We hear how the bosses on our panel have dealt with difficult characters throughout their careers and how they manage these types today.

Evan's guests are John Atkin, chief operating officer of Syngenta; Eric Grosse, president of Expedia Worldwide; and John McLaren, chairman of Barchester Group.

Evan and the panel discuss fear of technology and working with people you don't like.

When we constantly hear about revolutionising effect of technology on the business world, it's easy to forget that many people are suspicious of new innovations. Technophobia may stem from legitimate concerns, and it can hit companies working in the high-tech sphere, especially when communication doesn't keep pace with invention. The panel discusses fear of genetically modified crops, internet security and more.

Also on the programme: working with people you don't like. They are the tricky ones, those with tough personalities and idiosyncratic habits. We hear how the bosses on our panel have dealt with difficult characters throughout their careers and how they manage these types today.

The view from the top of business. Presented this week by Stephanie Flanders, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Stephanie's top executive guests hail from the worlds of mobile energy, sanitary fittings and business services. They discuss how businesses cope in a "slow growth" environment. Could years of slow growth be more challenging than a short sharp shock?

And not so long ago, the slow coach economy in Europe was Germany - now it's steaming ahead of everyone. What's gone right for Germany - and what lessons could other countries learn?

Stephanie is joined in the studio by Rupert Soames, chief executive of mobile energy group, Aggreko; Neal Gandhi, chief executive of international business services company Quickstart Global; David Haines, chief executive of German bathroom fittings company Grohe.

Producer: Caroline Bayley.

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss slow growth and Germany's current economic success.

Three top executives join Stephanie Flanders in the studio to talk about playing the long game and scouting for talent.

Nearly all business gurus recommend thinking in strategic terms rather than concentrating on short-term gains.

But is this really possible in today's business environment, where a constant flow of news affects markets every second of every day? Stephanie finds out how the bosses on the panel keep their eyes on the long game.

How much will they give up today to reap rewards further down the line?

Also on the programme, scouting for talent.

In the sporting world it's easy, because managers can watch players perform on the pitch - but businesses have it a bit tougher.

The panel talks about what they look for in new talent, how they find tomorrow's superstars, and how quickly they form an opinion about a candidate.

Stephanie's guests are Jayne-Anne Gahdia, chief executive of Virgin Money; Peter Hambro, chairman of Petropavlovsk; and Ellis Rich, chief executive of Independent Music Group and chairman of the Performing Rights Society.

Stephanie Flanders talks to her guests about the long game and talent scouting.

Business magazine.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top executives from the world of public relations to discuss exactly what it is that they do.

He also finds out what advice they would give to companies in crisis; what should they say when it all goes wrong?

Evan is joined by chairman of Chime Communications Lord Bell, chief executive of Editorial Intelligence Julia Hobsbawm and chief executive of Edelman UK Robert Phillips.

Evan Davis and his panel disccuss public relations and crisis management.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top executives from the travel industry to discuss how they go about making cuts in difficult times and dealing with nightmare customers.

Evan is joined by Mike Rutter, chief commercial officer of the airline Flybe, Nicola Shaw, managing director of the bus division of FirstGroup, and Michel Taride, president of Hertz International.

Evan Davis and his panel discuss making cuts and nightmare customers.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

In the week that former BP boss Tony Hayward admitted the company had been unprepared for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in April, Evan and his panel of top business executives consider how companies plan for unexpected events.

How prepared actually are they for a crisis or a disaster?

And dressing up, dressing down, power dressing, smart casual - they also discuss what to wear at work.

Evan is joined in the studio by Neil Gaydon, chief executive of set-top box maker Pace; Sara Weller, managing director of retail chain Argos; Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks.

Evan Davis and guests discuss how companies plan for the unexpected, and dress codes.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

In the week that former BP boss Tony Hayward admitted the company had been unprepared for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in April, Evan and his panel of top business executives consider how companies plan for unexpected events. How prepared actually are they for a crisis or a disaster?

Stephanie Flanders and guests discuss the art of marketing, and messiness in business.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of electronic components, online groceries and information technology discuss the exacting science of business logistics.

The panel also discusses customer service.

Just how high should a company aim in trying to satisfy its consumers?

Evan is joined in the studio by Tim Steiner, co-founder and chief executive of online supermarket Ocado; Nick Wilson, managing director of Hewlett-Packard UK; Ian Mason, chief executive of electronic components company Electrocomponents.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the science of business logistics and customer service.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The panel also discusses customer service. Just how high should a company aim in trying to satisfy its consumers?

The view from the top of business, presented by Evan Davis. The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan's top executive guests include two hoteliers and a soft drinks manufacturer. They discuss recent events in Japan, and explore to what extent companies can really prepare for major disasters.

They also reveal how much they know about life on the shop floor and where the problems lie.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests discuss business continuity and life on the shop floor.

Evan Davis is joined in the studio by three top guests to talk about organic growth and information technology disasters.

Business owners have two main ways to make their companies bigger.

One way is to expand incrementally, bit by bit, over time.

The other, much faster, way is to buy up your competitors.

In this edition of the programme, the panel weighs up the merits of organic growth versus growing by acquisition.

When does it make sense to go slow and steady, and when do bosses decide to go on a buying spree to expand?

Also up for debate, IT disasters.

We have become so reliant on information technology that it causes serious problems when, for whatever reason, the computers cease to work.

Our guests tell their horror stories and offer some solutions for tackling IT projects.

Evan's guests are Luke Johnson, chairman of Risk Capital Partners; Vincent de Rivaz, chief executive of EDF Energy; and Jacqueline de Rojas, UK and Ireland vice president of McAfee.

Evan Davis talks to his business guests about organic growth and technology disasters.

Evan Davis asks his panel of top business guests whether it's luck that got them to the top, talent or sheer hard graft.

They also talk about design: what matters most, form or function?

Evan is joined by Geoff Quinn, chief executive of shirt, tie and suit-makers TM Lewin, the interior designer Kelly Hoppen, who has created homes for celebrity clients including the Beckhams and Elton John, and James Hussey, chief executive of De la Rue, the company that makes bank notes and passports.

Evan Davis and his guests discuss design and how important luck has been to their careers.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

In the week that Facebook launched its own new messaging service, Evan and his panel of top business guests discuss the role of email at work, amid the many different ways of messaging and communicating.

And location, location, location.

It's a cliche that location can make or break a business, but how true is it really? And what are the advantages of being next door to the competition?

Evan is joined in the studio by Chris Grigg, chief executive of property company British Land; Andrew Horton, chief executive of insurance company Beazley; Raghav Bahl, founder of Indian television news group Network 18.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Last in the series.

The Bottom Line returns in January 2011.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the importance of location, and the role of email at work.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

And location, location, location. It's a cliche that location can make or break a business, but how true is it really? And what are the advantages of being next door to the competition?

Last in the series. The Bottom Line returns in January 2011.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

With protests continuing around the world against the financial sector, three guests from that industry swap candid thoughts about it.

Evan puts to them a fundamental question: is their industry creating genuine wealth, or is it essentially parasitic, finding clever ways of distributing other people's wealth to its own workers?

Joining Evan in the studio are Ken Olisa, chairman of boutique technology merchant bank Restoration Partners; Ian Gorham, chief executive of financial advisory firm Hargreaves Lansdown; Julian Roberts, chief executive of savings and investment group Old Mutual.

Producer: Ben Crighton Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis and guests discuss financial services - is the sector productive or parasitic?

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

With protests continuing around the world against the financial sector, three guests from that industry swap candid thoughts about it. Evan puts to them a fundamental question: is their industry creating genuine wealth, or is it essentially parasitic, finding clever ways of distributing other people's wealth to its own workers?

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

Evan's executive panel talk about decision making using examples from their professional life. A chance to see what their jobs consist of and a chance too to think about how we all make choices, for better or worse. They also swap thoughts on stress - their own and that of their employees.

Joining Evan are Sir Martin Sorrell, chief executive of advertising and media company WPP; David Jones, global chief executive of France-based advertising group Havas; Nicola Horlick, chairman of investment fund Rockpool Investments.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Richard Vadon.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on making everyday executive decisions and stress.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of chief executives to discuss the US economy. There was concern over the summer that the world's economic powerhouse could be about to enter a double-dip recession, dragging rest of the world down with it. Those fears might may have now subsided, so how is the US economy actually faring? And can the rest of the world thrive without a booming America? The panel also discusses sponsorship - how companies decide which events to back, and how much to spend.

Evan is joined in the studio by Nani Beccalli-Falco, President and Chief Executive of GE International; Trevor Matthews, Chief Executive of Friends Provident; Mike Lynch, founder and Chief Executive of Autonomy.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the importance of the US economy and corporate sponsorship.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis is joined in the studio by three top business guests to talk about property management and trends in the leisure industry.

Some say that when a company invests in a flashy new headquarters, it's good time to sell your shares in it.

The theory goes that splashing out on a new building means a firm is at the peak of its overconfidence and its downfall is imminent.

In this edition of the programme, Evan finds out what drives decisions about property management.

When is it better to lease, and when is it better to buy - and which tasks do our guests choose to outsource?

The panel also discusses leisure.

It may seem like we're working harder than ever, but the statistics say we're not - the average UK employee works an hour less a week than they did 10 years ago.

So why do so many people think they are strapped for time - and how does this affect what we do when we're not at work? Evan and his guests look at the different ways we're using our free time.

Evan's guests are Manny Fontenla-Novoa, chief executive of Thomas Cook Group; PY Gerbeau, chief executive of X-Leisure; and Ruby McGregor-Smith, chief executive of MITIE.

Evan Davis and the panel discuss property management and the leisure industry.

Evan Davis and his panel discuss outsourcing and the future of publishing.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top executives from Nintendo, MTV and Thomson Reuters to find out what challenges they face in the digital age.

They also discuss how they manage their star performers.

Evan is joined by chief executive of Thomson ReutersTom Glocer, general manager of Nintendo UK David Yarnton, and David Lynn, managing director of MTV Networks, UK and Ireland.

Evan Davis and his panel discuss the digital age and managing star performers.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

This week Evan and his guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics, from Swedish business and the IKEA model, to the crisis in the Eurozone crisis. They also discuss proliferation - how many different products should a company sell?

Joining Evan in the studio are John Vincent, co-founder of Leon Restaurants; Helena Morrissey, chief executive of global asset manager Newton Investment Management, part of BNY Mellon Asset Management; Peter Jelkeby, senior vice president of Swedish chain store Clas Ohlson.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests serve up a smorgasbord of topics - from Ikea to proliferation.

Evan Davis is joined by a panel of top business guests to brainstorm the world economy: where might future growth come from? He also asks if management should be responsible for the health of their employees; is a healthy worker more productive?

Evan is joined by Adrian Fawcett, chief executive of the General Healthcare Group, Hugh Hendry, hedge fund manager and founder of Eclectica Asset Management, and Lucius Cary, the founder and managing director of Oxford Technology Management.

Evan Davis and his guests disccuss growth in the world economy and health at work.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of spirits, security and digital publishing discuss the special relationship between the two people at the top of a company: the chairman and chief executive.

Is it a recipe for tension, or a sensible balancing of responsibilities?

The panel also discusses the merits of youth versus experience in the workplace.

What qualities do young people bring to a business compared with their older colleagues - or is there no difference?

Evan is joined in the studio by Séamus McBride, President and Chief Executive of spirits company Bacardi; Nick Buckles, Chief Executive of security company G4S; Anthony Habgood, Chairman of digital publisher Reed Elsevier and the hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company Whitbread.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the relationship of company chairman and chief executive.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of spirits, security and digital publishing discuss the special relationship between the two people at the top of a company: the chairman and chief executive. Is it a recipe for tension, or a sensible balancing of responsibilities?

The panel also discusses the merits of youth versus experience in the workplace. What qualities do young people bring to a business compared with their older colleagues - or is there no difference?

Evan Davis talks to some of the biggest names about the biggest issues in business.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Evan and a panel of guests from the worlds of civil engineering, hedge funds and investment discuss the art of staying ahead of the competition.

The ruthless former chief executive of General Electric, Jack Welch, often held up as a model of business leadership, pursued a strategy to establish each of GE's businesses as either number one or number two in the market.

Without this approach, he believed the company's prospects would be bleak.

Some companies will do anything to be big, even if it means cutting prices and making less money.

Other businesses are happy to be smaller and more profitable.

Which strategy wins?

The panel also discusses corporate claptrap.

Silly jargon, faddish ideas and vacuous ideas - why is the business world so keen on nonsense?

Evan is joined in the studio by Deborah Meaden, entrepreneur and business investor; Keith Clarke, chief executive of FTSE 250 civil engineering and design consultancy Atkins; Hugh Hendry, hedge fund manager and co-founder of Eclectica Asset Management.

Evan Davis and guests discuss staying ahead of the competition and business gibberish.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The ruthless former chief executive of General Electric, Jack Welch, often held up as a model of business leadership, pursued a strategy to establish each of GE's businesses as either number one or number two in the market. Without this approach, he believed the company's prospects would be bleak. Some companies will do anything to be big, even if it means cutting prices and making less money. Other businesses are happy to be smaller and more profitable. Which strategy wins?

The panel also discusses corporate claptrap. Silly jargon, faddish ideas and vacuous ideas - why is the business world so keen on nonsense?

Are activist investors good or bad for the firms they target? They hunt down companies they think are underperforming. They buy a stake in the business, then lobby for change. Critics say activists want to make a fast buck and then head for the exit. But you could regard these investors as doing a valuable service - challenging poorly performing company boards and making more profit for shareholders. Top UK names like Rolls Royce and John Menzies have been affected. Explore the world of activist investors with Evan Davis. Joining him will be: activist investor, Harlan Zimmerman, senior partner at Cevian Capital; Chris Walton, a company chairman and non-executive director; and Sacha Sadan, director of corporate governance at Legal and General Investment Management.

Producer: Lesley McAlpine.

Are activist investors good or bad for the firms they target? Evan Davis presents.

Evan Davis and guests discuss whether data is killing creativity.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis talks to three agents, in the fields of show business, football and books.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis talks to three agents, in the fields of show business, football and books.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

This week, Evan meets three pioneers of alternative finance and asks - can they beat the banks at their own game? Giles Andrews is CEO of Zopa, the peer to peer lending website; Anil Stocker is co-founder of Market Invoice , an online finance provider that allows companies to turn invoices into working capital; and Michael Joseph is director of mobile money at Vodafone and former CEO of the Kenyan mobile phone provider Safaricom, where he launched the revolutionary mobile money transfer service, M-Pesa.

This week, Evan meets three pioneers of alternative finance and asks - can they beat the banks at their own game? Giles Andrews is CEO of Zopa, the peer to peer lending website; Anil Stocker is co-founder of Market Invoice , an online finance provider that allows companies to turn invoices into working capital; and Michael Joseph is director of mobile money at Vodafone and former CEO of the Kenyan mobile phone provider Safaricom, where he launched the revolutionary mobile money transfer service, M-Pesa.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. This week, Evan meets three pioneers of alternative finance and asks - can they beat the banks at their own game? Giles Andrews is CEO of Zopa, the peer to peer lending website; Anil Stocker is co-founder of Market Invoice , an online finance provider that allows companies to turn invoices into working capital; and Michael Joseph is director of mobile money at Vodafone and former CEO of the Kenyan mobile phone provider Safaricom, where he launched the revolutionary mobile money transfer service, M-Pesa.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. This week, Evan meets three pioneers of alternative finance and asks - can they beat the banks at their own game? Giles Andrews is CEO of Zopa, the peer to peer lending website; Anil Stocker is co-founder of Market Invoice , an online finance provider that allows companies to turn invoices into working capital; and Michael Joseph is director of mobile money at Vodafone and former CEO of the Kenyan mobile phone provider Safaricom, where he launched the revolutionary mobile money transfer service, M-Pesa.

Successful entrepreneurs willing to invest their own cash to kick-start new businesses.

How to spot the next Google, Paypal or LinkedIn? Three successful entrepreneurs tell Evan Davis how they use their own money to back promising start-ups.

Guests:

Sherry Coutu, founder, Cambridge Business Angels

Fiona Cruickshank, founder, Gabriel Investors

Suzanne Biegel, founder, Clearly Social Angels

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Who decides what art is worth? Evan Davis talks to a panel including artist Grayson Perry.

How do you value something like a painting? What makes one artist worth more than another? Who decides what is in vogue and why do they have so much power in the art world? Evan Davis presents a discussion on taste and value in the art world with a panel including the British artist Grayson Perry.

Guests:

Grayson Perry - Artist

Valeria Napoleone - Collector and Patron

Ralph Taylor - Director, UK Board Contemporary Art, Bonhams.

The best person for the job? Evan Davis hears from four bosses who took back control of the companies they had once founded. Why did they leave and what events made them return? From boardroom coups to corporate collapses, entrepreneurs explain how they took the helm - for the second time - of the businesses they knew so well. What had changed while they were away? And what were the very first decisions they made when they walked back through the doors?

Guests : Steve Morgan, founder, Redrow; Louise O'Sullivan, founder, Anam; Nick and Kath Whitworth, co-founders, Celtic Sheepskin.

Producer : Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The money-making world of big data is discussed by Evan Davis and guests.

Big data has become big business as improvements in computer memory storage have made it possible to keep and analyse digital data on a scale previously unknown. Evan Davis and guests discuss how the ability to store information about us has created new industries and transformed others.

Presenter: Evan Davis

Guests: Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer and Director of Search, Microsoft UK; Konrad Feldman, CEO Quantcast; Lawrence Jones, Founder UK Fast.

has become big business as improvements in computer memory storage have made it possible to keep and analyse digital data on a scale previously unknown. Evan Davis and guests discuss how the ability to store information about us has created new industries and transformed others.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the bitcoin economy, its strengths and pitfalls.

The new economy based on bitcoins, the computer-generated crypto-currency, is the subject for discussion. What can you buy with them and as the market fluctuates wildly, can investors hold their nerve? The programme will look at how the bitcoin craze began and whether the world really does need another currency. Evan Davis's guests are from new companies hoping to cash in - one trades bitcoins, another stores them and the third enables you to spend them online.

Contributors :

Marc Warne, Bittylicious

Nicolas Cary, Blockchain

Moe Levin, Bitpay

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Evan Davis and guests explore the impact of the digital revolution on the book industry.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Like the music industry before it, the print book industry has been turned upside down up by the digital revolution. As sales of ebooks continue to grow, bookshop sales are down from a peak in 2007. So what does the future for hold for the bricks and mortar bookstore? Will physical books become a thing of the past? And what role will traditional players like publishers, agents and retailers play in this brave new world? Evan Davis and guests examine what the landscape might look like once the dust settles.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Innes Bowen.

Lessons learned from pursuing the entrepreneurial dream, presented by Evan Davis.

Is escaping the rat race always a good idea? Many people dream of giving up the day job to start their own business - and we often hear about the success stories. But does everyone have what it takes? Evan Davis and guests compare the dream and the reality.

GUESTS:

Luke Johnson, Entrepreneur and Founder of Risk Capital Partners

Paula Fry, former Director, Fashion Seeker UK

Sarah Meredith, Sole Trader, Rock Cakes

Deirdre Critchley, former Director, Jammy Cow

Producer: Elizabeth Cassin.

Rewriting the rules: what does it take to be a non-conformist? Evan Davis is joined by a banker, a brewer and a tech entrepreneur as they discuss how success can mean challenging the orthodox way of doing things.

Guests:

James Watt - Founder, Brewdog Ltd

Sarah Wood - Co-founder, Unruly Media

Anders Bouvin, CEO, Handelsbanken UK.

Rewriting the rules: Evan Davis and guests discuss what it takes to break the mould.

How do you do business when you can't see into the future? This may be what businesses always have to do, but Brexit has undeniably made the future even harder to discern than usual. When will it happen, what relationship with Europe will follow, and how will the rest of the world react?

For now we don't know, but the answers to those questions will affect every business in Britain.

So how are companies planning for an uncertain future while at the same time trying to ensure that whichever model of Brexit emerges is one that suits their needs.

Joining Evan Davis are:

Karen Briggs: Head of Brexit - KPMG

Gerald Mason: SVP - Tate and Lyle Sugars

Gavin Williams: Partner - Herbert Smith Freehills

Producer: Joe Kent.

Evan Davis and guests discuss doing business in times of uncertainty.

Britain's multi-billion pound nuclear dream. EDF is building the country's first new nuclear power station in decades at Hinkley Point C in Somerset. But that's just the start. Two other companies also have dreams of bringing nuclear to sites in Cumbria and on Anglesey. But the financing and logistics of these projects are tough. Power stations cost billions to build and investors won't see returns for more than five years. Critics of the nuclear option argue that renewables - wind and solar power - would be a better option to generate electricity. Just what are the options and the costs involved? Three nuclear rivals join Evan Davis.

Guests:

Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, managing director, nuclear new build, EDF Energy UK

Duncan Hawthorne, chief executive, Horizon Nuclear Power

Tom Samson, chief executive, NuGeneration Nuclear Power

Dame Sue Ion, chair of the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board.

The British love fast food. Each year we munch our way through thirty billion pounds worth. On The Bottom Line this week Evan Davis and guests discuss the burgeoning burger market. There are new challengers to the traditional big boys, like Five Guys, who claim to offer better quality burgers and a "casual dining experience." Whilst one old famous brand from the 1970s, Wimpy, is attempting to make a come-back with re-branded restaurants and menu. But what's the recipe for success in this already over-crowded market?

Guests: John Eckbert, Managing Director of Five Guys;

Bruce Layzell, Managing Executive of International Markets at Famous Brands (the South African company who own Wimpy and Steers)

And Martin Breeden, Regional Director of Intu, who own some of Britain's biggest shopping centres.

Producer: Jim Frank.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

The care home business is heading for a crisis according to Evan Davis's guests in this edition of The Bottom Line.

The cost of providing care in this labour-intensive business has increased significantly because of the introduction of the National Living Wage. The fees paid by local authorities on behalf of poorer residents no longer cover the cost of providing accommodation, food and staffing. Care homes make up the shortfall by charging higher fees to privately funded residents. Social care analyst William Laing tells Evan Davis that private payers subsidise publicly funded residents by, on average, £8000 per annum. But this is not an option in less affluent areas with a shortage of fee paying clients.

John Ransford of the HC-One group provides care for mainly publicly funded residents. He tells Evan that 24 hour care for the elderly has to be provided for less than the cost of a night in a Travelodge.

Evan's guests believe that the care sector's business model is unsustainable. Find out what they think will happen next.

Guests:

Dr. Jane Townson. Chief Executive Officer, Somerset Care Group

John Ransford, Non-Executive Director, HC-One

William Laing, Founder and a Director of Laing Buisson, Healthcare Intelligence Company

Producer: Julie Ball.

The care home business model is unsustainable. Evan Davis discovers why.

Why are top employers offering the school leavers a fast track career without university?

Why are more top employers offering school leavers a fast track career without the need to go to university? Applicants for the top Degree Apprenticeships need to get good A level grades and pass a rigorous selection process. Their reward is the opportunity to earn a living while they gain a degree and qualify as a professional. Evan Davis discusses the pros and cons of such schemes with a high flying apprentice and two employers who are competing with universities for the brightest and best school leavers.

Social advertising: Evan Davis and guests discuss the growing power of celebrities, the rise of the money-making super-fans who "like" their products and the vloggers with consumer clout. How effective are these new social campaigns and how will they change the advertising industry?

Guests: Edwina Dunn, CEO Starcount; Dominic Burch, senior director marketing innovation and new revenue Asda; Robin Grant, co-founder We Are Social.

Producer: Rosamund Jones.

Social advertising: Evan Davis and guests discuss the growing power of celebrities, the rise of the money-making super-fans who "like" their products and the vloggers with consumer clout. How effective are these new social campaigns and how will they change the advertising industry?

Guests: Edwina Dunn, CEO Starcount; Dominic Burch, senior director marketing innovation and new revenue Asda; Robin Grant, co-founder We Are Social.

Producer: Rosamund Jones.

is a big business as well as a delicious indulgence. Evan Davis and guests discuss how this global industry is tackling the pressures of rising food prices, speculation and climate change.

Guests:

Jonathan Horrell, Director of Global Sustainability of Mondelez International

Sophi Tranchell, Managing Director of Divine Chocolate

Kojo Amoo-Gottfried, Country Director of Cargill Ghana

Producer: Kent DePinto.

Chocolate is a big business as well as a delicious indulgence. Evan Davis and guests discuss how this global industry is tackling the pressures of rising food prices, speculation and climate change.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, Evan's top business guests hail from retail and advertising. They swap thoughts on consumer research. Companies spend lots of money to find out how their customers spend theirs, but do they learn anything useful?

They also debate what purpose business awards serve. Can they actually help a company be more successful?

Evan is joined in the studio by Ian Cheshire, chief executive of home improvement retail company Kingfisher. And from the world of advertising, Cilla Snowball, group chief executive and chairman of Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, and David Jones, global chief executive of Havas Worldwide.

Producer: Ben Crighton.

Evan Davis and guests swap thoughts on consumer research and business awards.

Phone hacking, financial mis-selling and fraud: How to recover after negative headlines.

Phone hacking, financial mis-selling and fraud: How do companies recover from scandal and negative headlines? Evan Davis and guests discuss the skills and strategy required to bounce back.

Guests:

Niall Booker, CEO, Co-operative Bank

Mike Darcey, CEO, News UK

Stephen Hester, CEO, RSA

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

The scandal at FIFA is just the latest story of corporate corruption to dominate the news. What steps can businesses take to avoid getting caught up in corruption, particularly in countries and sectors where bribery is the norm? What is legitimate business conduct and what crosses the line into illegality?

Evan Davis and his guests discuss:

Emma Sharma, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer for the Supreme Group

Hugh Miles of The Al Shalfie Miles Consultancy

Leo Martin of Good Corporation

Producer: Jim Frank.

Evan Davis and guests discuss corruption in business.

Evan Davis and guests discuss corruption in business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.

Volkswagen is dealing with a corporate crisis following the emissions rigging scandal. Evan Davis and guests discuss.

A discussion on the corporate crisis at Volkswagen following the emissions rigging scandal

Recovering from a reputation for poor customer service. Evan Davis and guests.

All businesses rely on customers. So, why do some businesses bend over backwards to keep customers happy, and why do some of them appear not to care? What is the impact of poor customer service on a business and how much does it cost them to invest in improving their infrastructure? Evan Davis discusses dos and don'ts of customer service with an airline, an energy company and a retailer, all of which have tried to completely overhaul their image. Has it worked?

Guests: Kenny Jacobs, Chief Marketing Officer at Ryanair; Neil Clitheroe CEO retail and generation at Scottish Power and Gary Booker, Chief Marketing Officer at Dixons Carphone

Producer: Sally Abrahams

Researcher: Sofia Patel.

Can you keep business safe from hackers? Many companies now feel besieged by constant attacks and few can claim not to have been targeted. In the first of a new series of the award-winning The Bottom Line Evan Davis and guests discuss the anatomy of a cyber attack - where the threats are coming from and how best to respond. And they'll ask - should businesses be more honest about the security breaches they've faced?

Guests

Richard Knowlton, Group Corporate Security Director, Vodafone

Rashmi Knowles, Chief Security Architect, RSA

Seth Berman, Executive MD, Stroz Friedberg

Producer : Sally Abrahams.

When you enter personal details onto any website or smartphone app, what happens to it? Where does it get stored, who owns it and who has access to it? These questions are becoming more relevant to ask as we put more details about every facet of our lives onto the internet. With a new piece of legislation passed in the EU dealing with this precise issue, businesses need to be up to speed with their knowledge on effective privacy management

Evan Davis and guests discuss why personal data is so valuable to business, and how the individual can also benefit from sharing this information.

Guests:

Mike Gordon, CEO, Callcredit Information Group

Liz Brandt, CEO, Ctrl Shift

Eduardo Ustaran, Data Privacy expert and Partner, Hogan Lovells.

How do businesses use customers' personal data to make money?

Why is deal-making so seductive? Evan Davis and guests talk takeovers and mergers.

When the world economy is booming, many corporate bosses love nothing more than buying each other's companies. Takeovers, mergers and acquisitions soar. But evidence tends to suggest that many of the arrangements are a waste of time, so why are deals so seductive? On the Bottom Line, Evan Davis and guests discuss why deals go right and what happens when they go wrong.

Guests:

Sir George Buckley - former CEO, 3M and currently Chairman Designate of the engineering group Smiths

Sir Michael Rake - Chairman of BT Group and Deputy Chairman of Barclays

Juergen Maier - MD of Siemens UK and Ireland

Producer: Smita Patel.

Are you being served? Evan Davis and guests discuss the business of department stores.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the business of home decor.

Decorating your home is big business - in the UK and around the world. In China and India the home decor market is evolving fast - but will the result be a global homogenous style? Who sets the trends? And what do you do if your products lose their fashionable edge? Evan Davis and guests discuss the volatile world of design.

Guests:

Kelly Hoppen, founder Kelly Hoppen Interiors

Andrew Graham, CEO Graham and Brown

Lois Jacobs, Global CEO Fitch

Producer: Rosamund Jones.

The business of home decor is discussed by Evan Davis and guests.

Where can you find a hand-stitched crochet blanket, the latest Lady Gaga video or sell your old sofa? Trading online makes it easier than ever to find a marketplace and gives the consumer a different and faster way to shop and browse. On The Bottom Line Evan Davis discusses the issues with:

Nic Jones, Senior Vice President International, VEVO;

Nicole Vanderbilt, MD Etsy; and

François Coumau, General Manager for Continental Europe, eBay.

Producer : Smita Patel.

How are digital marketplaces changing the way we shop? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.

What does a corporate HQ tell us about a business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What does a corporate HQ tell us about a business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What does a corporate HQ tell us about a business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

New energy firms tell Evan Davis about the challenge of taking on established companies.

Turning up the heat: the new energy companies breaking into a market dominated by big established firms. Evan Davis meets two small entrants to the sector to find out how they're gaining market share. Is the strategy to compete on price, customer service or green credentials? He'll discuss the role of the price comparison websites in encouraging customers to switch providers and hear how some smaller companies are cutting gas and electricity bills when their bigger rivals aren't.

Guests: Dale Vince, Founder and CEO, Ecotricity

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Founder and Managing Director, Ovo Energy

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Whether it is trade deals or red tape, how does EU membership help or hinder UK business?

What does EU membership mean for UK business and how might that change if Britain votes to leave? Business leaders join Evan Davis to discuss how trade agreements and red tape can both help and hinder corporate success. What can Switzerland teach us about trading with Europe and beyond, despite being outside the EU?

Guests include:

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, CEO, Virgin Money

Christopher Nieper, Managing Director, David Nieper

Julia Gash, CEO, Bidbi

Jan Atteslander, EconomieSuisse

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

If your business venture doesn't succeed, how can you be sure it's worth trying again before admitting defeat? More than 50% of businesses fail within 5 years, yet for many, failure is a necessary part of success. Even Bill Gates and Steve Jobs didn't get it right first time. Evan Davis's guests discuss the important lessons they've learned from their business mistakes and speak candidly about the personal and financial impact of failing. How do you overcome the stigma of failure and what skills are required to bounce back when your business has bombed?

Guests:

Bill Cullen, Chairman, Bill Cullen Motor Group

Katarina Skoberne, Co-founder and former CEO, OpenAd

Stuart Miller, Co-founder and CEO, ByBox Group

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Family businesses are the backbone of economies all around the world - indeed, the majority of firms are family-controlled, from the millions of modest firms, to commercial giants such as Ford and Wal-Mart. And yet less than a third survive to the second generation. Evan Davis and guests explore the possibilities and pitfalls of the family ownership model.

In the studio are Ian Maclean of luxury knitwear company John Smedley; Julie White of drilling and demolition firm D-Drill; Tim Wates of construction and development group Wates.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Innes Bowen.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

Taittinger champagne, Clarks shoes, Theakstons beer - three famous and successful family businesses that have passed down through the generations. So what prompted members of those families to leave the original firms and set up rival brands of their own? Producing champagne, making shoes and brewing beer. What's it like to compete with the companies they've known all their lives? And how easy is it to make their mark?

Guests:

Paul Theakston, Founder and Chairman, Black Sheep Brewery

Virginie Taittinger, Founder, Virginie T

Galahad Clark, Founder and Managing Director, Vivobarefoot

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

How do fast fashion brands deliver the latest trends in double-quick time?

From the design desk to the shop window, how do fast fashion brands deliver the latest trends in double-quick time? Evan Davis and guests discuss fabric, factories and a nimble supply chain.

Guests:

Catarina Midby, Sustainability manager, H and M;

Carol Kane, Co-founder and Joint CEO, Boohoo;

Kim Winser, Founder and CEO, Winser London.

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Can clever maths create value from nothing? Evan Davis and guests look at modern finance.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What does a financial engineer do? A mechanical engineer may design a machine, one that does a task or overcomes an obstacle, but what problems does modern finance solve? Can the clever manipulation of debt, equity or derivatives, really make human beings better off? Some think finance is a bit of a racket, designed to extract money from the enterprise of others; others think modern finance is a miracle that can create value from nothing. Evan Davis and guests try to get to the bottom of this argument on this week's The Bottom Line.

Guests:

John Kay - Economist and writer

Jessica James - Head of the FX Quantative Solutions Group, Commerzbank

Jon Moulton - Founder, Better Capital.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

How the new retail sector of flash sales is changing the way we shop for luxury brands.

Flash sale companies are growing fast. Evan Davis and guests discuss how this new retail sector is changing the way we shop. How does the business model work? Just how low can the prices go? And are these internet discounters a help or a hindrance for luxury brands?

Guests :

Victoria Walton, co-founder Sportpursuit

Jamie Jackson, executive vice-chairman MySale Group

Ilan Benhaim, co-founder Vente-Privee

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

The food industry is increasingly in the spotlight as consumers and government worry about obesity, sustainability and safety.

Evan Davis finds out from three very different food companies about how their supply chains work and how much oversight any company leader can have. Guests discuss how to create an efficient and cost effective system that delivers on quality and safety. Do consumers elsewhere in Europe and the world demand the same level of locally-sourced credentials as the British now do and are these ideals worthwhile?

Guests:

Alastair Storey, CEO, WSH

Perween Warsi, CEO, S&A Foods

Gavin Darby, CEO, Premier Foods

Producer: Lucy Proctor.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore joins Evan Davis and guests to discuss the economics and business of football.

In light of the recent Premier League TV deal, worth a staggering £5 billion pounds, this week Evan and guests discuss its implications for football both in the UK and in other markets. Whilst the top players can expect even bigger salaries, how will the deal impact on fans and clubs outside the top division? Three top football executives discuss including Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore.

Producer: Jim Frank.

What do foreign companies bring to the UK? Evan Davis and guests explore the issue.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Is opening a franchise a low-risk way to start a business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Is opening a franchise a low-risk way to start a business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Predicting the future is a skill that can earn investors and businesses a fortune - but get it wrong and disaster looms. In sectors like energy and technology planning decades ahead is an absolute necessity - but how can CEOs know what the world will look like in 2030 and how do they persuade shareholders and staff to come along for the ride? Evan Davis meets three business leaders who are placing massive bets on the future of farming, biomass fuel and the creation of a hyper-connected global society and finds out about timing, balancing risk and holding your nerve.

Also, the view from America, Sweden and the UK on corporate tax is discussed.

Guests:

Dorothy Thompson, CEO, Drax

Hans Vestberg, CEO, Ericsson

Jim Rogers, investor

Producer:

Lucy Proctor.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, we hear from three people in the avant garde of the global gambling industry, which is said to be worth $417 billion. With smart phone and tablet technology driving a revolution in the way that people gamble, will old-fashioned betting shops and bingo halls survive? And can gambling companies really keen expanding despite recession, competition from the black market and prohibition in emerging economies?

Evan is joined in the studio by Norbert Teufelberger, CEO of the online gaming company bwin.party; Melissa Blau, director of the consultancy iGaming Capital; Juergen Reutter, Director of Mobile at the bookmaker William Hill.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion and spin to present a clearer view of the business world through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

This week, we hear from three people in the avant garde of the global gambling industry, which is said to be worth $417 billion. With smart phone and tablet technology driving a revolution in the way that people gamble, will old-fashioned betting shops and bingo halls survive? And can gambling companies really keen expanding despite recession, competition from the black market and prohibition in emerging economies?

Evan is joined in the studio by Norbert Teufelberger, CEO of the online gaming company bwin.party; Melissa Blau, director of the consultancy iGaming Capital; Juergen Reutter, Director of Mobile at the bookmaker William Hill.

Whether you're selling breakfast cereals, criminal tags or excavator buckets, expanding your business overseas can be a game changer. But when's the right time to export and which countries should you target? Evan Davis and guests discuss the ups and downs of trading internationally. They'll share their stories on why it can be easier to sell abroad than at home, how to adapt products for a new market and why doing your homework can ensure that nothing is lost in translation. Top tips on how to make exporting a business boost not a foreign flop.

Guests:

Sara Murray, Founder and CEO, Buddi

Giles Turrell, CEO, Weetabix

Jacqui Miller, Director, Miller International.

Royal Mail, Saga and the AA have all floated on the stock market. How must they adapt?

Companies like Royal Mail, Saga and the AA have recently listed their shares on the stock market. It gives them access to plenty of money to help them grow, but also means they're subject to public scrutiny. Evan Davis and guests discuss why firms decide to float and how they must adapt to becoming a plc.

Guests:

Martin Clarke, CFO, the AA;

Dan Wagner, CEO, Powa Technologies;

Gillian Karran-Cumberlege, Co-Founder, Fidelio Partners.

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

It's soft, shiny and rare. A symbol of love, of power, of wealth - gold has been prized for thousands of years, its value rises and falls as the economies round it fluctuate. Yet there's only a limited supply of it and demand is high: for jewellery, technology, by central banks and investors. But after more than a decade of rising prices, the value of gold is down. So how to make money from this precious metal? Evan Davis and guests follow its journey from the gold mines of west Africa to the workshops of an east London jewellery maker. What are the risks, responsibilities and rewards for those who mine it, invest in it and manufacture with it?

Guests:

Nolan Watson, CEO, Sandstorm Gold

Mark Bristow, CEO, Randgold Resources

Elizabeth Hunt, Director, Allied Gold

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

From mining in west Africa to jewellery-making in London: three links in the gold chain.

is the second most popular spectator sport in the UK but it is also a business. Presenter Evan Davis and guests discuss who makes the money: the horse owners, the jockeys, the race courses or the bookmakers?

Guests:

Simon Bazalgette, Chief Executive, The Jockey Club

Rachel Hood, Director, The Horsemen's Group

Ciaran O'Brien, Group Communications Director, William Hill bookmakers

Producer: Julie Ball.

Horse racing is the second most popular spectator sport in the UK but it is also a business. Presenter Evan Davis and guests discuss who makes the money: the horse owners, the jockeys, the race courses or the bookmakers?

Evan Davis finds out who profits the most from horse racing.

Commodities make the global trading system go round. With Evan Davis.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Commodities make the global trading system go round. With Evan Davis.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis ask three civil engineers.

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis asks three civil engineers.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis asks three civil engineers.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis asks three civil engineers.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis ask three civil engineers.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

How do you build a bridge? Evan Davis asks three civil engineers.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

The Olympics Games is the biggest sporting event on earth. But the road to a successful Olympics can be more grueling than a marathon. With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony in Rio, Evan Davis and guests discuss the difficulties of managing the money, the politics and the people.

GUESTS:

Neil Wood MBE, Partner, Deloitte and former CFO of London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG)

Gerhard Heiberg, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and President and CEO of Lillehammer Winter Olympic,s 1994

Professor Andrew Zimbalist, Sports Economist, Smith College Massachusetts, Consultant and Author

Producer: Julie Ball

Editor: Innes Bowen.

Olympic economics. Evan Davis discovers how the world's biggest sporting event is managed.

Most of us negotiate in some form or other every day - whether it's about who walks the dog, how much screen-time the kids can have or when to visit the in-laws. But too often we treat it like a competitive sport, with only one aim: to win. Which can backfire, especially when you need co-operation later on. It's much the same in business - negotiating to win at all costs is unlikely to result in a long-term, sustainable business relationship. So how to achieve a win-win situation when both sides leave satisfied and ready to do business with each other again? Evan Davis and guests explore the skills that can help settle disputes between individuals, companies and even nations. They'll discuss when to walk away from the negotiating table and they'll find out what happens when doing a deal is literally a matter of life and death.

Guests:

Tim Cullen, Director, Oxford Programme on Negotiation, Said Business School

Bridie Warner-Adsetts, COO, Naylor Industries

Sue Williams, Hostage Negotiator

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the skills and techniques needed to reach a win-win deal.

Artificial snow, a plastic hairbrush and a non-spill baby beaker: How do you turn an idea into a successful business? Three entrepreneurs discuss with Evan Davis the process of designing a product and getting it onto the market. How do you finance the project and what's the best way to protect your design from copycats? We'll hear how one inventor risked everything in a legal battle against a company that stole her design. And discover how to create more than 200 types of fake snow.

Guests:

Shaun Pulfrey, Founder and CEO, Tangle Teezer

Mandy Haberman, Founder, Haberman Products

Darcey Crownshaw, Founder and MD, Snow Business

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

The power of investors and their role in changing how business functions and is run is the discussion for Evan Davis and his guests. What is it like to be voted off the board by your shareholders? And is investor activism here to stay? And how should a company boss best manage the owners of the company?

Guests

Alison Carnwath, chair Land Securities

Helena Morrissey, CEO Newton Asset Management

Nigel Wilson, Group CEO Legal and General

Producers: Rosamund Jones/Lucy Proctor.

Are any companies truly unassailable?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Are any companies truly unassailable?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What is strategy and why do businesses need it? Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What is strategy and why do businesses need it? Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What is strategy and why do businesses need it? Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis and guests discuss if there a business case for having a diverse workforce.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

Evan's executive panel discuss what good leadership consists of - how do you turn a mediocre manager into a brilliant boss? They also swap thoughts on surviving on 20% less of everything. How would their companies cope, and what would they look like?

Joining Evan are Martin Gilbert, chief executive of fund manager Aberdeen Asset Management; Allan Leighton, chairman of set top box maker Pace; Nigel Whitehead, group managing director of BAE Systems.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Richard Vadon.

Evan Davis and his guests discuss the essence of good leadership and dematerialisation.

Whether it's creating Angry Birds, the best-selling mobile app, or developing the best-selling Alzheimer's drug or discovering one of the world's biggest oil fields in recent years, every company dreams of blockbuster success.

But what happens after you hit the jackpot? How do you sustain that level of success? And what's needed to adapt from small start-up to big business?

Evan Davis and guests share the secrets of success and explore their experiences of trying to maintain their market position.

Guests:

Kati Levoranta, CEO, Rovio Entertainment (creators of Angry Birds)

Dr David Jefferys, Global Senior Vice President, Eisai Pharmaceuticals

Jón Ferrier, CEO, Gulf Keystone Petroleum

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

How to sustain business success after achieving a blockbuster hit in apps, drugs and oil.

How will the vote to leave the EU affect businesses big and small? Evan Davis presents.

How will the vote to leave the EU affect big and small businesses in the UK? Evan Davis and guests discuss trade deals, tariffs and 'passporting' rights that allow UK-based firms to sell financial products and services from Britain to EU customers. They'll also explore how companies can turn the current economic uncertainty into business opportunities.

Guests:

Anne Richards, CEO, M and G Investments

Juergen Maier, CEO Siemens UK

Julia Gash, Founder and CEO, BIDBI

Jan Atteslander, EconomieSuisse

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Business leaders spend their lives climbing the corporate ladder, so what happens when it is time to step off? Evan Davis and guests discuss life after CEO.

Guests:

Lord Browne of Madingley, former Chief Executive of BP

Kate Wilson, former MD of Scholastic UK, Managing Director of Nosy Crow

Robert Polet, former CEO of Gucci Group

Producer: Kent DePinto.

Lord John Browne, former CEO of BP

Kate Wilson, former MD of Scholastic UK

Very few companies survive for centuries. Evan Davis hears from a luxury jeweller, a removals firm and a diversified business that makes money from ships, finance and groceries. Between them they have nearly a thousand years of business experience. What strategies have they embarked on to ensure that they live long and prosper? Has their history become a burden or a motivator? And have they sacrificed growth for corporate longevity?

Guests:

Sir Michael Bibby, MD The Bibby Line

Michael Wainwright, CEO Boodles

Stuart Burnett, Partner Shore Porters Society

Producer:

Rosamund Jones.

Business magazine. Live long and prosper: Very few companies survive for centuries. Evan Davis hears from those who have, hearing how have they achieved extreme longevity.

War, political unrest and natural disasters - three business leaders tell their stories.

Civil war in Sierra Leone, political unrest in Ukraine, the Japanese tsunami and Hurricane Sandy on the east coast of the US - three guests tell Evan Davis how they led businesses through periods of unexpected and extended turmoil.

Guests :

Steve Burridge, Business Continuity Manager, Arrow Electronics

Bryan Disher, Ukraine Country Manager, PWC

Mary Hodges, Co-owner Bennimix

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

What goes on between a manager and his or her coach? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Many senior executives now employ personal coaches to help them through their toughest business challenges. Coaches can provide confidential, independent support for senior managers who find life lonely at the top. But shouldn't the boss be capable of making decisions on his or her own? And are coaches sometimes the hidden power behind the senior executive throne?

Guests:

Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT Group

Melanie Richards, Vice Chairman and Partner of KPMG UK

Jonathan Bowman-Perks, Coach and Mentor

Producer: Ruth Edwards.

Managing corporations through crisis is the discussion for Evan Davis and his guests.

What do you do when it all goes wrong? How to manage corporations in times of crisis is the subject under discussion by Evan Davis and his guests.

Business leaders should expect the ride sometimes to be bumpy - but what is it reasonable to expect? And what is the best way to proceed when the truly unexpected happens?

Guests

Michael Woodford, former chief executive and president, Olympus Corporation

Ann Cairns, President International Markets, Mastercard

Gerald Corbett, chair Britvic and Moneysupermarket.com

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

How should company boards operate, and what is the best way to make them work?

After recent corporate scandals like VW's emissions' cheating, Tesco's accounting irregularities, Barclays interest-rate rigging, many asked why company board members failed to act. What happened to the checks and balances designed to curb management excesses? Evan Davis and guests look at how company boards operate and how to make them work effectively. They discuss the role of company directors, the skills and experience required and examine why some say 'Beware the charismatic CEO'.

Guests:

Sir David Walker, Former Chairman, Barclays plc

Michael Jackson, Former Chair, The Sage Group plc

Margaret Heffernan, Former CEO, entrepreneur and author

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

We spend a third of our life at work so it's inevitable that relationships blossom, whether it's a one night stand at the Christmas party or one that becomes a long term partnership. How do companies handle the issues that can arise from office romance? Evan Davis and his guests discuss the solutions.

GUESTS

Neil Morrison, Director, Strategy, Culture and Innovation. Penguin Random House

Helen Farr, Partner, Employment Law Group, Fox Williams

Danielle Harmer, Chief People Officer, Metro Bank.

How do you manage employees who have become involved in a relationship?

Business school or school of life? An MBA from a top business school is what defines many of today's high powered CEO's - but is the qualification worth the cost or are would-be entrepreneurs better off learning business acumen in the real world? Evan Davis debates with guests.

Guests:

Colin Drummond, Chairman of Viridor and Harvard MBA graduate

Kim Winser, former CEO of Pringle, now CEO of Winser London

Glenn Sykes, Associate Dean of The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, London

Producer: Kent DePinto.

Glenn Sykes, Associate Dean of Chicago Booth Business School, London

Evan Davis and guests discuss coping with depression and business success at the same time

Would you tell your boss you had depression? In The Bottom Line this week, Evan Davis hears from three successful business people who talk openly about what it's like to experience severe mental illness whilst running their companies. They'll explain the risks and rewards of going public about mental ill health problems: the reaction from investors and the impact on staff. And we'll hear why being open about mental illness can lead to a happier, healthier workplace.

Guests:

Lord Stevenson of Coddenham, entrepreneur and former Chairman of HBOS and Pearson;

Andrea Woodside, Founder, Minding Work Limited;

and Charlie Mowat, Managing Director, The Clean Space

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

create one in seven businesses in the UK. This week Evan Davis talks to three entrepreneurs who all arrived from overseas with very little and then went on to create a successful business.

GUESTS

Tony Kitous, Founder, Comptoir Libanais

Razan Alsous, Yorkshire Dama Cheese

Surinder Arora, Founder and Chairman, Arora Group.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.

How to negotiate international trade deals after Brexit. Evan Davis meets the experts.

Brexit means the UK government will have to negotiate trade agreements with the EU and the rest of the world. Trade deal experts share their tips with presenter Evan Davis.

Guests include:

Janice Charette, Canadian High Commissioner to the UK

Tim Cullen, founder and director of Oxford Programme on Negotiation

Producer: Julie Ball.

How are newspapers adapting to digital technologies? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Despite widespread predictions of their demise and amid falling numbers of readers, newspapers are still with us. How are they adapting to the challenges of digital technologies? The industry is split on the issue of whether or not to charge readers for online. What is the best business model for newspapers to survive and prosper? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

The guests this week are: John Ridding, Chief Executive of the Financial Times; Ashley Highfield, Chief Executive of the Johnson Press and Andrew Miller, out-going Chief Executive of the Guardian Media Group.

Producer: Jim Frank.

The Bottom Line first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2006. At the time, Tony Blair was Prime Minister, interest rates were 4.5%, petrol was 90 pence a litre and a first class stamp cost 32p (half today's price). In a special edition, to mark ten years since the programme came on air, Evan Davis and guests discuss some of the big changes that have happened in the past decade, including: the global recession, record low interest rates, a technology boom and China's extraordinary economic growth. How have businesses adapted to the changing world?

Guests:

Nicola Horlick, CEO, Money and Co

Sir Ian Cheshire, Chairman, Debenhams

Nicola Shaw, CEO, HS1

Ken Olisa, Founder and Chairman, Restoration Partners

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

The Bottom Line first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2006. At the time, Tony Blair was Prime Minister, interest rates were 4.5%, petrol was 90 pence a litre and a first class stamp cost 32p (half today's price). In a special edition, to mark ten years since the programme came on air, Evan Davis and guests discuss some of the big changes that have happened in the past decade, including: the global recession, record high and record low oil prices, a technology boom and China's extraordinary economic growth. How have businesses adapted to the changing world?

A look back on how the business world has changed in the past decade. Evan Davis presents.

It is not easy to teach new tricks to the business world's old dogs. The latest fashionable solution for big corporations slowed down by bureaucracy and traditional ways of thinking is to incubate tech start-ups. The idea is that the big corporation benefits from the creativity and "can do" attitude of the start-up. In return the start-up gets funding, professional advice and help navigating the corporate world to reach the top decision makers. The model is known as "corporate acceleration" and it is growing in popularity. Evan Davis hears how it works.

GUESTS:

Jess Williamson, Director, Techstars with Barclays FinTech Accelerator

David Fogel, Head of Accelerator and Deputy Director at Wayra UK

Emily Forbes, Founder, Seenit

Producer: Julie Ball.

How big businesses are 'incubating' tech start-ups in an attempt to innovate.

has had a bad press over the years: What with taxpayers being charged for tagging offenders who were dead, the fiasco over security at the London Olympics and the earlier trend for companies to shift operations to call centres in India. Evan Davis and guests look beyond the negative headlines to examine the pros and cons of getting an outside supplier to do some of your work. And they'll find out how outsourcing has enabled the creators of a chilli sauce to expand from the garden shed to the shelves of hundreds of stores.

Guests:

Rupert Soames, CEO, Serco

Paul Blantern, CEO, Northampstonshire County Council

Kuldip Singh Sehota, CEO Mr Singh's Sauce

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

From making chilli sauce to running prisons: the pros and cons of contracting out.

Outsourcing has had a bad press over the years: What with taxpayers being charged for tagging offenders who were dead, the fiasco over security at the London Olympics and the earlier trend for companies to shift operations to call centres in India. Evan Davis and guests look beyond the negative headlines to examine the pros and cons of getting an outside supplier to do some of your work. And they'll find out how outsourcing has enabled the creators of a chilli sauce to expand from the garden shed to the shelves of hundreds of stores.

The UK spends £4.5 billion a year on pets. Where does the money go? Evan Davis chairs.

Infrastructure projects can take decades to complete. How do you plan for the future?

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business.

Infrastructure projects can take decades to complete and are meant to last for generations. Planning for new rail networks, roads, bridges, airports - in the UK and overseas - all require assumptions and predictions about the future. What shape will the country's economy be in? Will the population grow or shrink? How might travel patterns change? And will the political regimes support the project over the years?

Evan Davis and guests discuss the problems and pitfalls of planning for the long view.

Guests:

Alison Munro, CEO HS2

Tushar Prabhu, co-owner, Pell Frischmann

Richard Deakin, CEO NATS

Producer: Rosamund Jones.

Making plastic is big business but its reputation is in tatters. Can it save itself?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Making plastic is big business but its reputation is in tatters. Can it save itself?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Successful TV formats like Big Brother, Pop Idol, X-Factor and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire are sold and broadcast all round the world, netting their creators billions of pounds. But how can you protect such a valuable asset? And are too many copycat versions saturating the market and crushing original ideas? Evan Davis finds out from those at the top of the lucrative global industry of TV formats.

Guests:

Charlie Parsons, Creator of Survivor and CEO, Castaway Television Productions

Louise Pedersen, Managing Director, all3media international

Ricardo Pereira, TV Globo Director for Europe

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Why is UK productivity lower than in many other countries?

Evan Davis begins a new series of The Bottom Line by looking at the productivity problem. The programme asks what productivity really means and how different sectors go about measuring it.

Evan hears from three chief executives in three different sectors: manufacturing; advertising and health. How can productivity be measured and improved in these diverse sectors? How, for example, should the productivity of a doctor or nurse be measured?

Guests:

Dame Julie Moore, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Birmingham

Brian Holliday Managing Director, Managing Director for Siemens Digital Factory UK

James Murphy, Founder and Chief Executive of Adam and Eve DDB Advertising

Producer: Jim Frank.

Brian Holliday Divisional Director, Siemens Industry Automation

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Faulty children's beds and mis-labelled monkey nuts: Evan Davis discusses product recalls.

Faulty children's beds, mislabelled horsemeat burgers and exploding dishwashers are among the products recalled by companies in the UK to protect the health and safety of consumers. Evan Davis and guests discuss the process for recalling defective items and find out how quickly manufacturers and distributors must act. What are the logistics of getting back hundreds of thousands of products from consumers? And what impact does a recall have on a company's reputation? Does it reassure or unnerve customers?

Guests:

Gerard Bos, Customer Relations Manager for UK and Ireland, Ikea

Chris Dee, Chief Operating Officer, E.H Booth

Vince Shiers, Managing Director, RQA Global

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

companies discuss the marks left by recession on their businesses and the employment market.

Companies in the eye of the storm when the economy first collapsed have had to adapt to stay in business. Evan Davis finds out the survival strategies of three recruiters in very different markets - from board level headhunting to finding seasonal temps and mid-level professionals.

Guests :

Virginia Bottomley, Odgers Berndtson

Matthew Sanders, CEO de Poel

Ian Temple, chair Hydrogen Group

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Recruitment companies discuss the marks left by recession on their businesses and the employment market.

The green energy firms generating power from the sun, the wind and from cheese.

After the Paris summit on climate change and the global commitment to cut carbon emissions, The Bottom Line is going green - with businesses that generate energy from the sun, the wind - and from cheese. And, whilst the government is committed to getting more of its energy from renewables, Evan Davis and guests discuss why green firms are seeing red over cuts to subsidies they say are vital to update ageing infrastructure.

Guests:

Juliet Davenport, CEO, Good Energy

Jeremy Leggett, Founder, Solarcentury

Paul Cowling, MD, RWE Innogy UK

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

You go to a shopping centre and you find an ice rink. Or you go to a bookstore for a glass of wine. So is this the new world of retail? Evan Davis and his panel of top business brains explore what's in store for physical shopping. They also swap thoughts on what makes a good shop assistant.

Joining Evan in the studio are Sir Stuart Rose, former Chief Executive of Marks and Spencer and soon to take over as Chairman of online grocery retailer Ocado; Berndt Hauptkorn, Chief Executive of the European arm of Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo; Andy Street, Managing Director of department store chain John Lewis.

Producer: Ben Crighton

Editor: Innes Bowen.

Evan Davis and guests brainstorm ideas on how to save bricks-and-mortar shopping.

Do the rules governing business need rewriting? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Do the rules governing business need rewriting? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Do the rules governing business need rewriting? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What are the new rules of business? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Making money from old phones, engines and plastic bottles is the topic for Evan Davis and guests.

How do you ensure that you collect what others throw away? How much profit is there really to be had from creating new from old? And why aren't milk bottle tops quite the colour they once were?

Guests

Charlo Carabott, co-founder and CEO Mazuma Mobile

Matt Bulley, managing director Caterpillar Reman Europe

Chris Dow, Founder and CEO Closed Loop Recycling

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

: If you want to look better, feel better, perform better, there's no shortage of help available. Whether it's cosmetic surgery for the perfect body, fitness programmes to boost self-esteem, or self-help books to improve the mind, there's plenty of choice. But do they promise the world and fail to deliver - or give you the strength to achieve the personal growth you desire? Evan Davis and guests discuss the industry of making your life better.

Guests:

Jon Congdon, President and Co-Founder, Beachbody.com

Carole Tonkinson, Publisher, Harper NonFiction

John Ryan, Founder and Chairman, Make Yourself Amazing

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Self-improvement: If you want to look better, feel better, perform better, there's no shortage of help available. Whether it's cosmetic surgery for the perfect body, fitness programmes to boost self-esteem, or self-help books to improve the mind, there's plenty of choice. But do they promise the world and fail to deliver - or give you the strength to achieve the personal growth you desire? Evan Davis and guests discuss the industry of making your life better.

Starting a business is often compared to bringing up a baby, and with good reason: it's costly, gives you sleepless nights and requires your attention during every waking moment. But what happens when it is time sell the business you have nurtured? Three successful entrepreneurs talk to Evan Davis about the feelings of relief and regret which can accompany selling off a business.

GUESTS

Liz Earle, Co-founder of Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare

William Kendall, Chairman, Cawston Press

Jules Coleman, Co-founder of Hassle.com.

Business discussion show presented by Evan Davis.

Evan Davis explores how companies are trying to sell their stuff to young people.

Evan Davis and guests explore the fast moving world of selling to 18-24 year olds. Collectively, that age group has billions to spend. Individually, many are strapped for cash. So how do companies get their attention and their money? The answer seems to be: market your brand using social media. Link up with a celebrity with millions of followers and watch the money roll in. That's the theory. Forget old style television adverts. That age group isn't watching the box - they're on their mobiles. Joining the programme will be: Josephine Hansom from Youth Sight; Philip O'Ferrall, Viacom International Media Networks and Simon Beckerman from Depop.

Producer: Lesley McAlpine.

Evan Davis and guests discuss how to look after the wealthy elite.

Serving the super-rich: what do the seriously wealthy do with their money? How do they preserve or spend their multi-million or even billion pound fortunes? And who is helping them manage those assets? With more billionaires in the world than ever before, working for the very rich is a growth industry. Whether finding staff for their superyacht or helping them give away the money, there's a raft of businesses ready to serve the ultra high net worth individual. Evan Davis talks to three firms whose job is to serve the wealthy elite.

Guests:

Richard Wilson, CEO, Billionaire Family Office

Karen Clark, Director and Head of Private Clients, SandAire

Lucy Challenger, Manager, Bespoke Bureau

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Making money from products with a controversial image. Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Making money from products with a controversial image is the topic for Evan Davis and his guests who represent companies selling drugs and sex toys. These companies are testing our morals and the regulations set up to protect them. So how do you market products that many people disapprove of? And how do you manage the social and business opprobrium you encounter?

Guests :

Jean Rasbridge, founder E Cigarettes Direct

Andy Williams, co-founder Medicine Man Denver

Neal Slateford, co-founder LoveHoney

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

It's the lifeblood of the world's economy, moving most of our imports and exports and around the globe. But shipping is changing: vessels and ports are getting bigger and competition for trade is coming from the Far East.

Evan Davis and guests from the world of shipping discuss how ports are run and how the shipping business manages the risk of accidents and piracy.

Guests:

James Cooper - CEO of Associated British Ports. , a private company which owns and runs 21 ports in the UK.

Kenneth MacLeod - Chairman of Stena Line UK and President of the UK Chamber of Shipping.

Rupert Atkin - CEO of Talbot Underwriting and Chairman of the Lloyd's Market Association.

Producer - Smita Patel.

It's the lifeblood of the world's economy - Evan Davis and guests discuss shipping.

What do businesses do when their supply chain fails?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

What do businesses do when their supply chain fails?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Would it be good for businesses if CEOs faced term limits?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Would it be good for businesses if CEOs faced term limits?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis and guests discuss the pros and cons of focusing on just one source of income.

Can you conquer the world by selling only one product? Many companies start small, focusing their energies on a single item, with plans to expand into other areas once the business takes off. But not everyone wants to diversify. Some prefer to do one thing and do it well, rather than risk diluting the brand and perhaps also the quality of the goods. In this edition of The Bottom Line, Evan Davis talks to three companies who have stuck with the core product that made them a success in the first place. They'll discuss the benefits of keeping focused, the challenges of staying ahead of the game and explore the perils of relying on just one source of income. Does it make good business sense to put all your eggs in one basket?

Guests:

Vince Gunn, Managing Director, Crocs Europe

Carolyn Komminsk, Head of Creative, Maclaren

Bill Noble, Managing Director, WD40 Company

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis and an invited audience question Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco.

The view from the top of business.

Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies.

The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

This week Evan and his panel consider the secrets of a happy business marriage - those key symbiotic partnerships companies have with each other.

They also discuss whether flat organisations work best.

Joining Evan in the studio are Mike Roney, chief executive of business supplies distributor Bunzl; James Reed, chairman of recruitment specialist Reed; Nicola Shaw, chief executive of HS1, the fast rail link from London to the Channel Tunnel.

Producer: Ben Crighton Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Evan Davis and guests on key relationships and whether flat organisations work best.

The view from the top of business. Presented by Evan Davis, The Bottom Line cuts through confusion, statistics and spin to present a clearer view of the business world, through discussion with people running leading and emerging companies. The programme is broadcast first on BBC Radio 4 and later on BBC World Service Radio, BBC World News TV and BBC News Channel TV.

This week Evan and his panel consider the secrets of a happy business marriage - those key symbiotic partnerships companies have with each other. They also discuss whether flat organisations work best.

Whether it's high-profile sports events or blockbuster art exhibitions, companies like Adidas and Unilever spend millions of pounds on sponsorship - to get their brand associated with sporting or artistic excellence. The global sponsorship market is worth more than 30 billion pounds a year, but what happens when negative publicity - like Fifa's World Cup corruption scandal - starts to tarnish a brand? Evan Davis and guests discuss whether sponsors should walk away or use their influence to press for change.

Guests:

Peter Mather, Group Regional Vice President for Europe, BP;

Jan Gooding, Group Brand Director, Aviva;

Jaimie Fuller, Chairman, Skins.

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Companies like BP and Aviva use sponsorship to promote their brands. How effective is it?

Entrepreneurs discuss their start-up stories with Evan Davis.

Entrepreneurs discuss how much money you need to start a business - and where to get it from - with Evan Davis.

Why do some start-ups require millions and others just a few hundred pounds? And what are the benefits and pitfalls of finding investors on the web? It's called crowd-funding and many consider it to be the next big thing in venture capital.

Guests:

Mark Popkiewicz, founder, MirriAd

Julie Deane, founder, The Cambridge Satchel Company

Jonathan Medved, venture capitalist and founder, Our Crowd

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Food deflation, the rise of the discount grocers and continuing price wars. Evan Davis and guests discuss who are the long-term winners in the supermarkets' battle to gain market share.

Guests:

Mark Price, Managing Director, Waitrose

Steve Murrells, CEO, Co-operative Foods

Kevin Gunter, Chairman, Fulton's Foods

Producer:

Sally Abrahams.

Food deflation, more discount grocers and continuing price wars, who wins long term?

4/9. Evan Davis talks to his guests about workplace issues that matter. Rptd from Thu Televised on the BBC News Channel at 9.30pm

Contributors

Talks:

Evan

Davis

Unknown:

Thu

Televised

Global firms like Amazon, Google and Starbucks have been criticised for using clever accounting tricks to reduce their tax bills in the UK. But how much tax should they be paying? Evan Davis and guests discuss the whys and wherefores of the international tax regime, including the role of tax havens. Along the way, they'll digest the "Dutch sandwich" and the "double Irish" tax avoidance devices used by some multinationals. And given the widespread perception that many firms don't pay their fair share of tax, they'll assess efforts by the world's major economies to rewrite the rules on corporate tax.

Guests:

Heather Self, Tax Partner, Pinsent Mason

Rolf Rothuizen, Partner, RPS Legal, Amsterdam

Anthony Travers, Chairman, Cayman Islands Stock Exchange

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis meets "appreneurs" trying to make money in a marketplace where traditional business rules do not apply. Becoming an appreneur is easy. All you need is a computer and a couple of hundred pounds. And an idea of course. No surprise perhaps that thousands of new apps are created every week to serve the ever growing smart phone and tablet computer market. But what happens next? How do you make a living if your product is free? And if you sell your app, how high can you go when buyers expect a lot for very little? And how do you market to customers without knowing who they are?

Guests :

Barry Meade, co-founder Fireproof Studios

Professor Anthony Steed, co-founder Chirp

Max Whitby, co-founder and CEO Touch Press

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Evan Davis presents a special edition of the business magazine programme.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

: Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Where there is war and fear there's money to be made from protection. In The Bottom Line, Evan Davis talks to ex-army leaders turned businessmen about the world of private defence and security work.

Why are governments employing private contractors to do work previously done by the armed forces? How do those businesses maintain their reputations in such a controversial sector?

Guests:

Major General Graham Binns CBE, DSO, MC, a former British army officer, now CEO of Aegis Defence Services Limited.

Major General Andrew Pringle, CB, CBE, President of KBR UK and a former British army officer.

Gabriel Carter, Managing Director of LPD Risk Management.

Producer: Smita Patel.

Ex-army leaders-turned-businessmen discuss private defence and security with Evan Davis.

Where there is war and fear there's money to be made from protection. In The Bottom Line, Evan Davis talks to ex army leaders turned businessmen about the world of private security. How do they maintain their business reputations amid the conflict and the danger? Why do governments need outsiders to step in? And can you marry ethics and profits?

Major General Andrew Pringle, CB, CBE, President of KBR UK and a former British army officer and commander of peace keeping forces in Bosnia.

Gabriel Carter, Managing Director in charge of Operations at Risk Management and Intelligence

Evans Davis meets the experts.

How can people running charities balance doing good, maximising income, while retaining public trust? The sector is undergoing changes in regulation in the wake of scandals involving fundraising and governance. Evan Davis meets the experts. Taking part are: the chairman of the new Fundraising Regulator, Lord Grade of Yarmouth; Jayne Clarke of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Simon Gillespie from the British Heart Foundation.

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis chairs a round table discussion providing insight into business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Millions go to festivals each summer, but how do festivals make money?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Millions go to festivals each summer, but how do festivals make money?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

The business of film. Evan Davis follows the money trail from script to screen. With the help of a top independent film producer, a film distributor and the head of a top cinema chain, Evan discovers who takes the risks and who makes the money behind the scenes.

Guests

Alex Hamilton, Managing Director, Entertainment One UK

Elizabeth Karlsen, Producer and co-founder, Number9 Films

Tim Richards, CEO, Vue International.

From script to screen: how to finance a film. Evan Davis and guests discuss.

How car manufacturers are joining forces with "ride hailing" companies like Uber and why the future might be driverless. Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Disruptive technology has made seismic changes to several business models: think Apple iTunes and the music industry or Netflix and our television viewing habits. It seems that the car industry might be next. Unlike their predecessors, car manufacturers are joining forces with the technology companies. Google with Ford, Uber with Volvo, General Motors with Lyft, pooling their expertise and resources. Joining Evan Davis on the programme are three guests who will talk about the hopes and fears for the industry and what this will mean for the rest of us.

GUESTS

Georg Ell, Director, Western Europe, Tesla Motors

Matteo de Renzi, CEO, Western Europe, Gett

and

Dr. Eberhard Zeeb, Senior Manager, Function and Software Driving Assistance, Daimler

Producer: Julie Ball.

The future of the car industry - is it driverless? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Business discussion show presented by Evan Davis.

- is it driverless? Evan Davis and guests discuss.

Muslim consumers, and how best to serve them, are the topics for Evan Davis and guests.

How big is the market for halal - not just food, but holidays, fashion and music too? Muslim consumers - and how best to serve them - are the topics this week. Evan Davis talks to entrepreneurs who think they know the answer and asks how much can established companies learn from them.

Guests :

Shelina Janmohamed, Ogilvy Noor

Elnur Seyidli, HalalBooking.com

Shazia Saleem, ieat foods

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Can the Northern Powerhouse solve the North-South divide? Evan Davis hosts from Manchester

Can the Northern Powerhouse solve Britain's North-South economic divide? For now, the Northern Powerhouse is a concept: an idea that towns and cities in the north can unite, forming their own economic hub to rival London and the south east. So how to turn it into a reality? Evan Davis and guests are with an audience at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to discuss what kind of businesses will settle in the north of England and what needs to be done to encourage them to make the move. They'll talk about the frustrations of poor transport links, the joys of green spaces and the reasons why businesses like to cluster.

Guests:

Wayne Hemingway, Designer and entrepreneur, Hemingway Design

Vanda Murray, an Independent Director, Manchester Airports Group

Sir Richard Leese, Leader, Manchester City Council and Chair, Transport for the North

Jo York, co-founder, Reframed TV

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

It's hard to put a value on a human life. When you're well, perhaps you don't think about it. But if you're ill, getting access to the right drugs, whatever the cost, is a priority. But the NHS does not have a bottomless pit of money. And some medicines are judged too expensive to be freely available, so patients miss out on treatments that could save or extend their lives. There are usually two villains of the piece: The drugs companies for charging too much; the NHS for not stumping up the cash. In this edition, Evan Davis and guests explore how pharmaceutical companies price their drugs, the role of the NHS in deciding how much the medicines are worth and, in the case of generic or non-branded drugs, they'll ask whether competition is working properly to keep down the NHS medicines bill.

Guests:

Erik Nordkamp, Managing Director, Pfizer UK

Carole Longson, Director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation at NICE, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Warwick Smith, Director-General, British Generic Manufacturers Association

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

How do drugs companies and the NHS decide the value of prescription medicines?

How should we price services? By the hour? By results? Or by the difficulty of the task? And what impact does each model have on how businesses are run? In the first of a new series Evan Davis and guests look at the history of how we've priced our time and expertise and why this may be about to change.

Guests :

Christopher Saul, senior partner, Slaughter and May

Debbie Klein, UK CEO, The Engine Group

Russell Quirk, Founder, EMoov.

How should we price services? By the hour, by results or by the difficulty of the task?

The best person for the job? Evan Davis hears from four bosses who took back control of the companies they had once founded. Why did they leave and what events made them return? From boardroom coups to corporate collapses, entrepreneurs explain how they took the helm - for the second time - of the businesses they knew so well. What had changed while they were away? And what were the very first decisions they made when they walked back through the doors?

Guests: Steve Morgan, founder, Redrow; Louise O'Sullivan, founder, Anam Technologies; Nick and Kath Whitworth, co-founders, Celtic and Co.

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

From budget airline seats to insurance, Evan Davis discovers the secrets of pricing.

From budget airline seats to insurance premiums, Evan Davis discovers the secrets of complex pricing and how to get the best deal.

Are you bewildered by constantly changing air fares when searching online? Or curious why insurance premiums can be haggled down if you pick up the phone? Welcome to the world of complex pricing. You, the consumer, may be paying more for the same goods or services than your neighbour. Businesses are coy about revealing exactly how they price their goods and services. In this programme we hear some of the secrets.

Guests:

Sophie Dekkers, UK director, Easyjet

Simon Warsop, chief underwriting officer personal insurance, Aviva

Dr John Thanassoulis, Professor of Financial Economics, Warwick Business School

Producer: Lesley McAlpine.

Making money in the 'sharing' economy is discussed by Evan Davis and guests.

The "sharing" economy is the topic of discussion for Evan Davis and his guests in the first of a new series of The Bottom Line. The market is built around renting out your possessions to strangers and entrepreneurs have piled in to enable us to share our homes, cars, bikes, clothes, tools and much more besides. At its heart is the idea that business works better if it collaborates, rather than competes, with other companies. How disruptive might these innovative enterprises prove to be? How much profit can they make (and is that point anyway?).

Guests :

Even Heggernes, UK and Ireland Country Manager, Airbnb

Ali Clabburn, Founder, Liftshare

Fiona Disegni, Founder, Rentez-Vous

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Evan Davis and guests discuss the relationship between science, business and consumers.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis meets three of the sport sector's top business brains and gets them to share their stories of reinvention and the secrets of their industry. Evans hears from the darts, snooker and boxing promoter, Barry Hearn, who is also chairman of Leyton Orient and creator of the televised fishing contest, Fishomania. Former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley gives the inside story on how his sport became a hit in the Far East. And former managing director of IMG India explains how the Indian Premier League turned cricket into a showbiz sporting sensation.

Evan Davis chairs a discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis chairs a round-table discussion providing insight into business from the people at the top.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Theresa May wants a bigger role for government in business. Will it happen? Can it work?

Theresa May has promised a bigger role for the state in business. The previously unfashionable concept of a comprehensive industrial strategy is back on the agenda. There is a new wariness about foreign investment in strategic industries such as electricity generation. Mrs May also wants to see employee representatives on company boards.

Presenter Evan Davis discusses "Theresanomics" with a panel of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.

Guests include:

Elizabeth Corley, vice-chair of Allianz Global Investors

David Pitt-Watson, former Chair of Hermes Focus Funds and co-author of The New Capitalists

Producer: Julie Ball.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Naked bath bombs, in-store coffee shops and customer satisfaction charts: Evan Davis and guests discuss some of the secrets to retailing success. Each of them runs of a chain of stores but with hundreds, even thousands of outlets both here and abroad, how do they maintain their brand identity? And what persuades customers to buy their products ahead of their rivals'?

Guests:

Mark Constantine, Founder and Managing Director, Lush cosmetics

Debbie Robinson, Managing Director, Spar UK

Robert Forrester, Founder and CEO, Vertu Motors plc.

Cars, cosmetics and convenience stores: What are the secrets to retailing success?

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

companies have recently had to weather the storms of recession for their customers and major upheaval at popular holiday destinations around the world.

Evan Davis finds out how airlines and tour companies plan for their seasonal business in light of economic crisis in Greece and political unrest in Egypt and North Africa - getting it wrong could lead to financial disaster. And guests will discuss the future for Greece, where tourism is seen as the biggest hope for reviving the economy.

Guests:

Peter Long, CEO TUI Travel

Carolyn McCall, CEO Easyjet

Andreas Andreadis, CEO SANI Resort

Producer: Lucy Proctor.

Travel companies discuss coping with recession at home and upheaval in sunny destinations.

companies discuss coping with recession at home and upheaval in sunny destinations.

Travel companies have recently had to weather the storms of recession for their customers and major upheaval at popular holiday destinations around the world.

Andreas Andreadis, CEO SANI Resorts Oceania

Online postings about hotels, restaurants, hairdressers, electricians: How much can you trust the views of a total stranger when it comes to deciding what to buy, where to go and whose skills and services to employ? How do review sites monitor their online ratings and ensure they're genuine? Evan Davis and guests discuss the power of user-generated reviews that can make or break a business. What can firms do to limit the damage of a bad review and how can they maximise a positive review?

Guests:

Stephen Kaufer, President and CEO, TripAdvisor

Colleen Curtis, Vice President, European Marketing, Yelp

Kevin Byrne, Founder and CEO, Checkatrade

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

How TripAdvisor and similar websites can make or break a business. Evan Davis and guests.

Evan Davis and guests discuss why some restaurant chains thrive and others fail.

Successful TV formats like Big Brother, Pop Idol, X-Factor and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire are sold and broadcast all round the world, netting their creators billions of pounds. But how can you protect such a valuable asset? And are too many copycat versions saturating the market and crushing original ideas? Evan Davis finds out from those at the top of the lucrative global industry of TV formats.

Guests:

Charlie Parsons, Creator of Survivor and CEO, Castaway Television Productions

Louise Pederson, Managing Director, all3media international

Ricardo Pereira, TV Globo Director for Europe

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

What is the role of a business leader? To tell staff what to do or allow them to decide for themselves? One theory about management is that it should turn itself upside-down and permit those closest to the customer to dictate all sorts of business decisions including pricing, marketing and how to deal with complaints. This programme, first broadcast in 2013, won the Wincott Radio Journalism of the Year Award.

Guests

John Timpson, Chairman Timpson Group

Nikki King, Honorary Chair, Isuzu Truck UK

Sir Gerry Robinson, Chairman Moto Hospitality

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

The science and psychology of the queue. This week Evan and his guests look at how businesses manage queuing.

We're often told that queuing is one of those quintessential British habits which embodies our sense of fair play: that we should wait our turn. Despite technological innovation. queuing remains one of those unavoidable things we all have to do: be that on-line, waiting for a bus or to pay for our groceries at the check-out. But what does it mean for businesses? How do they go about managing queues and our expectations of those as customers?

Producer: Jim Frank.

Evan Davis presents the business discussion show.

is the world's most precious resource. It's also big business. As climate changes and populations shift, getting water where it needs to be is a huge global challenge. And that's without the added problem of leakage. And how much should consumers pay for something that none of us can live without?

Evan Davis and guests discuss an industry which has changed almost beyond recognition in just a few decades - from state-owned water providers to international business players.

Guests:

Peter Simpson, CEO Anglian Water

Bryan Harvey, Vice President CH2M HILL

Olivier Bret, CEO Veolia Water UK

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show.

Smartwatches, fitness bands and intelligent fabric: the latest gadgets to transform lives?

From smartglasses to smartwatches, tech companies like Apple, Google and Samsung are investing big money in technology that you can wear. They're designed to keep us eternally connected, fully fit and super smart. But will they go mainstream or are they still the preserve of the gadget geeks? Evan Davis and guests discuss how fitness bands that measure how far you walk and how deeply you sleep could transform our healthcare. And hear about the intelligent fabric that's set to revolutionise the way US and British soldiers are kitted out.

Guests:

Andy Griffiths, President, Samsung UK and Ireland

Asha Peta Thompson, Co-founder, Intelligent Textiles

Joss Langford, Technical Director, Activinsights

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Sock Shop, Golden Wonder and Lehman Brothers: big names that once dominated the high street, the supermarket shelves and the financial world. They faded from view, yet still exist today. What prompted their demise? How did they lose market share? Evan Davis and guests discuss the rise and fall of these iconic companies and explore whether they can ever reach the success of their golden years.

Guests:

Vimal Ruia, Managing Director, Sock Shop

Paul Allen, CEO, Tayto

Tony Lomas, Chief Administrator, Lehman Brothers in the UK

Producer: Sally Abrahams.

Evan Davis and guests discuss who owns British companies and why that matters.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Upside-down management is discussed by company bosses and Evan Davis.

What is the role of a business leader? To tell staff what to do or allow them to decide for themselves? One theory about management is that it should turn itself upside-down and permit those closest to the customer to dictate all sorts of business decisions including pricing, marketing and how to deal with complaints. Discussing these issues with Evan Davis are:

John Timpson, Chairman Timpson Group

Nikki King, CEO Isuzu Truck UK

Sir Gerry Robinson, Chairman Moto Hospitality

Producer : Rosamund Jones.

Evan Davis and guests explore what happens when things go wrong in business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis and guests explore what happens when things go wrong in business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis and guests explore what happens when things go wrong in business.

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Will the next generation of mobile technology - 5G - revolutionise our lives?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Will the next generation of mobile technology - 5G - revolutionise our lives?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Will the next generation of mobile technology - 5G - revolutionise our lives?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Will the next generation of mobile technology - 5G - revolutionise our lives?

Evan Davis hosts the business conversation show

Evan Davis presents the business magazine.

Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the people, the products and the relationships.

Whether you're in business or not, Evan Davis will grab your attention on the week's hot business topics.

Evan Davis presents the business magazine. Guests talk about the things that are important to companies and their customers - the people, the products and the relationships.