In this episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick and economist Professor Richard Ramsey unpack Northern Ireland's dramatic economic split.

While the private sector outperforms the rest of the UK with strong 1% quarterly growth - driven by booming manufacturing, tech, and financial services - the public sector is severely squeezed by tightening budgets.

The hosts analyse Westminster's £1.5 billion funding offer to Stormont, potential welfare reform incentives, and the Fiscal Council’s critical findings on high public sector pay and staffing levels.

They also tackle real-world pressures facing local consumers and businesses, including record diesel prices approaching £2 per litre, global supply chain risks, and the rapid transition to electric vehicles.

Finally, they explore global bond market volatility, 30-year gilt yields, and how rising interest rates directly impact local mortgages and public spending. Essential listening for anyone seeking key insights into Northern Ireland’s economic trajectory, fiscal policy, and business outlook.

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Every successful economy is built on the foundations of a good education system. So what happens when education standards begin to fall and what can Northern Ireland learn from what works elsewhere?

In this episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by columnist and commentator Newton Emerson to examine the state of education in Northern Ireland. While it has historically prided itself on strong academic outcomes, recent international PISA rankings reveal falling standards that hit disadvantaged pupils hardest.

Newton breaks down why Michael Gove’s evidence-based reforms in England delivered surprisingly progressive outcomes for low-income and immigrant students by reintroducing knowledge-rich curricula, high-stakes exams, and strict discipline. The discussion unpicks Education Minister Paul Givan’s current reform efforts at Stormont, contrasting them with trends in the Republic and England under a new Labour government.

Focusing on what a business audience truly needs, they discuss whether employers require basic academic rigour over vocational qualifications, how AI is altering coursework, and how declining pupil numbers will force structural change across Northern Ireland’s school sectors.

Tune in to explore what works for schools, skills, and economic growth.

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In this latest episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick explores why traditional top-down central control holds scaling businesses back. Featuring business leaders across tech, retail, and travel, the episode reveals how delegating real authority to local teams drives performance and innovation.

Steven McKeown, running Allstate’s European operations in Belfast, explains how shifting from rigid "on time and on budget" management to a product mindset earned them the global Tony Hsieh Award for radical culture change.

Sandra and Scott Corkin of Oasis Travel discuss how handing over leadership after 40 years and investing £60,000–£70,000 annually sending staff around the world builds irreplaceable, authentic customer experiences.

Finally, Trevor Magill of Musgrave - a €5 billion group - shares why giving independent SuperValu and Centra store owners the freedom to stock local dairies and bakeries is critical to community success.

Tune in to discover why sustainable growth requires leaders to stop making every decision and empower their people.

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