The Business

How did Castore disrupt global kit deals to build a British sportswear brand valued at almost £1bn? Hannah Prevett speaks to co-founder Tom Beahon about taking on Nike and Adidas.

In this episode of The Business, we look at how Castore transformed from an ambitious startup into a major player in sportswear, securing high-profile kit sponsorships across Premier League Football clubs and international athletics.

Alongside his brother Phil, Tom founded the brand from his parents' kitchen table in 2015 - channelling his early setbacks as a football player into focus and resilience. On the show, he explains what it was like to recover from the Aston Villa kit debacle, lifts the lid on Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment and walks through landing Sir Andy Murray as an investor.

We examine the corporate strategy, supply chain management and entrepreneurship required to challenge legacy sportswear giants. "It didn't make sense to us why there wasn't a British competitor to Nike, Adidas, Puma," Beahon says. "Why can't there be a premium British alternative to these guys? And if not us, then who?"

From navigating shifting consumer demand to expanding into global markets, we analyse what the growth has meant for the company so far, and what might be next.

Guest:

Tom Beahon, co-founder of Castore

Presenter:

Hannah Prevett, associate business editor at The Sunday Times

Producer: Hope Federico
Video Producer: Bronwen Latham
Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall
Photo Credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com
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Are soaring energy bills threatening the UK’s net zero targets? Dominic O’Connell examines whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham should adjust climate policy to ease the cost of living.

Is the public consensus on the UK’s climate commitments being shattered by high energy bills? In this episode of Power Struggle, our energy mini-series on The Business, we discuss whether the cost of transitioning away from fossil fuels is pushing up household energy bills and slowing economic growth across British business, or if renewables are the solution for bringing prices down.

Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has signaled the government will not stick strictly to its green pledges if it risks pushing energy bills higher. With ministers reportedly considering watering down rules on electric car sales, Dominic O’Connell is joined by RenewableUK CEO Tara Singh and Times columnist Juliet Samuel to debate what is really driving up energy bills - gas price volatility or grid upgrade costs - and whether it’s time to drop or double down on net zero.

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Guests:
Tara Singh, CEO of RenewableUK
Juliet Samuel, Columnist at The Times

Presenter: Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent
Producer: Hope Federico
Video Producer: Bronwen Latham
Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall

Photo Credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com
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Is expanding North Sea oil production climate vandalism or the key to lowering energy bills? Dominic O’Connell explores whether Andy Burnham could u-turn on Labour's manifesto pledge to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in the region.

Ask any climate campaigner their views on North Sea oil, and the answer is straightforward: stop drilling. While Labour came to power pledging to prioritise green energy, new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has indicated a more pragmatic stance towards tapping domestic reserves as energy security concerns grow.

In Part 2 of Power Struggle, our energy mini-series on The Business, we explore whether expanding North Sea oil field licences is essential for driving economic growth and insulating the wider UK economy. We examine how government fiscal policy, regulatory shifts, and corporate taxation impact long-term commercial investment in the sector, and other affected industries.

Dominic is joined by Greig Cameron, Scottish business editor at The Times, to discuss the fate of key offshore fields like Rosebank and Jackdaw. Plus, Amjad Bseisu, chief executive of independent operator EnQuest, explains why he thinks uncompetitive tax regimes are pushing energy investment abroad and what ending North Sea oil production means for Britain’s net zero transition.

Guests:
Amjad Bseisu, Chief executive, EnQuest
Greig Cameron, Scottish business editor, The Times

Presenter:
Dominic O’Connell, Times columnist and Times Radio business correspondent

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producers: Emily Leahy and Miriam Hall
Photo Credit: Getty
Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this summer, the UK's power network came close to being plunged into a blackout. In part one of our new series on energy, Dominic O’Connell looks at the alarming events of 23 June and what they mean for the future of Britain’s electricity supply.

From surging constraint costs and unmetered solar generation, we reveal the host of challenges facing the country. Modernising the UK's electricity transmission system is now vital for business and long-term economic growth.

We’re joined by Adam Bell, former head of energy strategy for the government and partner at StoneHaven, who explores how shifting to renewables creates unprecedented stability challenges. Energy developer and data analyst Ben Watts also shares his startling analysis of what went wrong on the UK electricity grid on 23 June, and why calls are growing for greater regulation of NESO, the National Energy System Operator.

Can our politicians protect British business and consumers from soaring power bills while overhauling our energy system in the race to net zero?

Host:
Dominic O’Connell, Times’s columnist and Times Radio business correspondent

Guests:
Adam Bell, Stonehaven
Ben Watts, energy developer and data analyst

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producers: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy
Photo Credit: Getty

Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Burnham is officially in No. 10, and his cabinet is in place. Replacing Rachel Reeves’ as Chancellor is John Healey - not, in fact, Shabana Mahmood or Ed Miliband, both names that were thrown around in the lead up.

Can the so-called “King of the North” deliver the growth and stability the business community says has been so badly lacking? Amidst a flurry of policy announcements - bus fare caps and a 20 percent cut in business rates for hospitality - is real change a possibility?

“The UK is very unique in the fact that we pay two forms of income tax … national income is a tax on employers and work” Mehreen Khan, economics editor at the Times, tells The Business. “Let's see how brave they want to be…I think this is a long overdue reform.”

With Times business editor Richard Fletcher, Khan discusses the upcoming budget, how the relationship between the Chancellor and Prime Minister may play out - and just how much change the business community is expecting to see from this new leader. “ I do suspect we'll get a little bounce in consumer confidence, and hence growth, just from a new face in No. 10. How long that lasts - who knows?” Richard Fletcher said. “I think that it is going to take some quite serious reforms to do that and I'm not sure the backbenchers particularly have got the guts to do that.”

Hosts:
Hannah Prevett, associate business editor, The Sunday Times
Dominic O’Connell, business correspondent, Times Radio

Guests:
Richard Fletcher, Business editor, The Times
Mehreen Khan, Economics editor, The Times

Producer: Hope Federico
Executive Producers: Miriam Hall and Emily Leahy
Photo Credit: Getty

Get in touch: thebusiness@thetimes.com

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to press follow at the top of your podcast app.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.