The Lens – UK Responsible Business Podcast

Hosted by Business in the Community

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Episodes

125

Latest episode

May 2026

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About the show

The Lens UK Responsible Business Podcast (The Lens) is the voice of responsible business across the UK and around the globe. The Lens creates a space for leaders to convene, always with one eye on the future. Open, unscripted and honest conversations between current and future leaders challenge the way we all think about responsible business. The Lens partners with One Young World to connect with global future leaders. Each month a global business leader sits down with an emerging leader who is already making their mark to foster disruptive conversations and fresh connections. Innovators and CEOs join host, ex-BBC journalist Sarah Travers, for a unique conversation covering their journeys, lessons learned, advice, insights, and even controversy. Climate change, the unintended consequences of AI and automation, access to ‘good work’, creating responsible products and services, inclusivity, wellbeing, diversity in the workplace and so much more are on the agenda. The podcast represents the breadth and depth of responsible business priorities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 12, 202639 min

GRANT THORNTON and CAIN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: Social mobility: Is business doing enough?

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Malcolm Gomersall, CEO of Grant Thornton UK - one of the country's leading multidisciplinary professional services firms, with more than 5,500 partners and professionals providing assurance and financial advice to organisations across the public and private sectors; and May Asagba, Founder of CAIN Educational Foundation, an organisation based in Lagos, Nigeria dedicated to empowering underprivileged Africans.In this episode, we discuss the role of business in education and the need to inspire people from a young age about the world of work in a world of opportunities, thus creating great social mobility.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 25, 202630 min

SPECIAL EPISODE: Ndidi Okezie: Visioning the future with convening, coalition and collaboration at the heart of business action

In a special episode of The Lens, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Ndidi Okezie OBE, CEO of Business in the Community.In Ndidi’s first month as Chief Executive Officer of Business in the Community, we find out who our new CEO is, what she’s achieved so far in her career, and where her passion lies in taking Business in the Community and all of our members forward on the responsible business journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

March 18, 202638 min

PRINCIPALITY and ECOMAK: Responsible transformation with people, planet and place at the heart of change

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Iain Mansfield, CEO of Principality Building Society, Wales’ largest mutual building society, headquartered in Cardiff, providing mortgages and savings products and owned by its members rather than shareholders; and Ronald Mugaiga, Managing Director of Ecomak Recyclers, Uganda, a climate tech Africa-based startup that transforms plastic waste into low-carbon construction materials.In this episode, we discuss Responsible transformation with people, planet and place at the heart of change.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

February 24, 202630 min

PETER HARRISON: Responsible Business – A Key Driver for Economic Growth

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Peter Harrison, a leading figure in the business world and Chair of Business in the Community.In this episode, we discuss how responsible business is a key driver for economic growth, the current challenges businesses are facing and how the 3 Ps – that’s People, Planet and Place, can help organisations shape their business strategies with responsible actions at their heart.Reading/Listening recommendations:The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtPrioritise People: unlock the value of a thriving workforceDiary of a CEO podcast: with Tristan Harris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January 20, 202635 min

COCA-COLA and NRECYCLI: Environmental Sustainability - Risks, Rewards and Recycling

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Simon Fitzpatrick, General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland; and Ahmed Ramy Mebrouk, Chief Executive, Nrecycli – a start-up that encourages recycling by rewarding people who recycle.In this episode, they discuss Environmental Sustainability: Risks, Rewards and Recycling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

December 16, 202534 min

EY and TOTI: The Impact Equation – does social value add up for business?

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Rob Heron, Northern Ireland Managing Partner of EY – a global professional services firm providing Assurance, Consulting, Strategy and Transactions, and Tax services to businesses; and Bruna Amaral, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Toti – a platform that promotes the inclusion of refugees and migrants in the tech sector and helps organisations grow their ESG performances through their social impact projects.In this episode, they discuss the impact equation and ask, does social value add up for business? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

November 18, 202532 min

ABM and SUNROCK: Making business responsible with People, Planet and Place

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Richard Sykes, SVP and President of one of the UK and Ireland’s largest integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions firms – ABM UK and Ireland; and Manuella Appiah, Environment, Social and Governance Manager for Sunrock, a leading European developer of integrated clean energy systems, servicing valued customers across the logistical and industrial sectors. In this episode, we discuss how businesses are acting responsibly across key areas of People, Planet and Place. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 14, 202528 min

AVK-SEG LTD and SAFEARTH: How can data make a sustainable world go round?

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Ben Pritchard, CEO of AVK-SEG LTD – a leading provider of innovative power solutions for data centres and major organisations; and Harshit Poddar, Co-Founder of SafEarth - a platform designed to simplify and optimise the solar adoption process.In this episode, we discuss environmental sustainability and how data can make a sustainable world go round.Reading list: Data Centres: Heroes or Villains?IPCC Summary Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate DisasterPeter Thiel: Zero to One Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 16, 202533 min

PHOENIX GROUP and RAAHI : Social impact – an important role for business

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by Andy Briggs, Group CEO of Phoenix Group – one of the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement businesses; and Girish Ananthanarayanan, Founder and Curator of Raahi, a channel that aims to bridge the worlds of professional management and social development perspectives. He is also a Senior Project Manager, Dalberg, a global group working to build a more inclusive and sustainable world.In this episode, we discuss social impact: What is it? Why is it important? And what is the role of business and leaders in having a positive social impact? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

July 8, 202532 min

PRIMARK and PRADA: Weaving a passion for communities within business

This month, our host Sarah Travers is joined by John Bason, Chair, Primark and also Chair of BITC’s Hounslow Pride of Place Partnership; and Motunrayo Olaogun, Sales and Business Management at Prada and One Young World ambassador.In this episode, we discuss the importance of bolstering communities across the UK and further afield. Our two guests have seen first-hand the challenges communities are facing and are personally passionate about making a difference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.