Trading Up

Join Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey on this episode of Trading Up Unpacked as they tackle listener questions regarding the local and global economy. First, they dissect the proposed "Good Jobs Bill" and Westminster’s employment rights reforms. Are zero-hour contracts always exploitative, or do they offer necessary flexibility? The duo examine whether increased worker rights and rising National Insurance costs are actually discouraging employers from hiring.
Next, the focus shifts to Northern Ireland’s crumbling water infrastructure. With housing development stalled and environmental damage visible in Lough Neagh, they debate the political standoff between Stormont and Westminster. Is it time to introduce water charges to fix the crisis before it’s too late? Finally, a look at history through the lens of Lemon’s Sweets reveals the double-edged sword of protectionist tariffs. From 1930s Ireland to Donald Trump’s trade policies, Richard explains why tariffs often end up functioning as a tax on the consumer.
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From his family’s undertaking business in Tobermore to the "Glass House" in Detroit, Lyle Watters’ journey to the top of Ford Motor Company is a masterclass in resilience. In this episode of Trading Up, Lyle reveals how he navigated an unconventional career path to lead operations across three continents.
We dive deep into his toughest assignments: negotiating with Prime Ministers in Romania; managing a 100-day Covid lockdown in China; and turning around a "hopeless" $1 billion loss in South America while under armed guard.

Lyle shares candid insights on the burden of leadership, recounting how he personally addressed staff during painful plant closures to tell them, "This is not your fault".

Packed with actionable lessons on radical transparency, the EV revolution, and why organisations must "stay paranoid" to survive, this is essential listening for aspiring leaders and business strategists.

Disclaimer
Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rules-based world order is dead. That is the brutal wake-up call from former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney at Davos. In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked, Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey break down Carney’s "Churchillian" analysis of the shifting global economy.
They unpack Carney’s argument that international rules have become a "fiction" and explore his strategy of "variable geometry" and how that applies to the UK, Europe and even Northern Ireland.
Key topics include:
The Lie of the Old Order: Why economic integration has become a weapon rather than a mutual benefit.
At the Table or On the Menu: The urgent need for middle powers (UK, Canada, Japan) to forge a "Third Path" or submit to hegemons.
The End of the Peace Dividend: The difficult trade-offs facing Europe between funding welfare and increasing defense spending.
The Globalisation Trilemma: Applying Dani Rodrik’s theory on why you cannot have globalisation, sovereignty, and democracy all at once but can have only two of the three.

Disclaimer
Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Jim Fitzpatrick as he interviews Paul and Clare Vallely, the brother-sister duo behind Kukoon. Learn how they scaled a rug business from local market stalls to a £20 million turnover global brand. This episode dives deep into the realities of modern e-commerce, exploring the shift from eBay to building an independent brand amidst the high marketing costs of Google and Amazon. Discover essential insights on successful rebranding, the surprising value of physical retail stores for building trust, implementing advisory boards to navigate business crises, and taking a stand on humanitarian issues.

Disclaimer
Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim Fitzpatrick and Richard Ramsey explore the shifting dynamics of Northern Ireland’s economy with employment falling and economic inactivity hitting a new grim record high. They examine the political deadlock over Stormont's multi-year budget and the impossibility of proper government in its absence. Turning to car sales for some insight, they discuss why Tesla sales have more than doubled in NI despite a European decline, while Chinese giant BYD has seen fivefold growth. Globally, the discussion turns to "Regime Roulette," analysing the US incursion into Venezuela for its vast oil reserves and Jerome Powell's high-stakes stand for Federal Reserve independence against the Trump administration. The Fed may seem far away, but its independence is a vital pillar of the global economy. The duo provide their usual critical insights into the intersection of global headwinds and local consequences.

Disclaimer
Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.