The Bottom Line 2021

Updated Tuesday 2nd February 2021

For over 10 years The Open University and the BBC have been bringing Evan Davis and his panel of experts into your living room to share their insights on a range of subjects facing businesses both nationally and globally.

Here on OpenLearn, you'll find articles, free courses, podcasts and videos to discover more about the topics discussed in the programmes. Go beyond the headlines with experts from The Open University Business School.

For full details of upcoming broadcasts, and links to listen or watch again, visit the BBC website or visit the episode guide below.

Here you can:

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Find out what the OU Business School can do for you

Realise your full potential, wherever you are. From MBAs to introduction to financial services, the Open University Business School has it covered.
Read moreFind out what the OU Business School can do for you
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MBAs with the OU Business School

Get a competitive edge in a fluid, crowded market with The Open University Business School.
Read moreMBAs with the OU Business School
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Network with like-minded people

Are you a member of the LinkedIn social network? Meet people interested in similar topics with the Open University Business School group
Read moreNetwork with like-minded people

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Business Perspectives

The place for The Open University Business School community to share their perspectives on current business matters with each other.
Read moreBusiness Perspectives

Study with us

Order or download a prospectus

Find out about studying with the Open University Business School with a prospectus.
Read moreOrder or download a prospectus
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BA (Honours) Business Management

How do businesses develop strategies, handle risk and take decisions? What’s involved in functions such as marketing, accounting and finance? This innovative degree is firmly rooted in your own experience.
Read moreBA (Honours) Business Management
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An introduction to business and management

This key introductory OU level 1 module provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to business and management in a globalised world.
Read moreAn introduction to business and management

About the radio series

Read more about the episodes in the series.

Return to Brexit

Almost five years ago on The Bottom Line, just before the EU referendum – the pros and cons of being in the EU were debated. In a tribute to Radio 4’s The Reunion, the programme has reassembled most of the original contributors to get a sense of whether hopes and fears have been delivered. From current customs glitches, aspirations to increase UK global exports, to Brussels red tape versus ease of trading in a European Single Market. What do guests think now?

Joining Evan Davis will be:
Jon Moynihan, venture capitalist.
Rachel Kent, head of financial services regulation at the law firm Hogan Lovells.
Julia Gash, artist and entrepreneur.
and Christopher Nieper, managing director of clothing manufacturer David Nieper.

Listen to programme.

The COVID Hangover

What are the long-term implications for the COVID crisis for the British economy. The government has borrowed more money over the last 12 months than ever before in peacetime. The ratio of public debt to national income is above 90%. If it rises even further do we need to worry? How will the chancellor manage the economic pain caused by coronavirus? What will it mean for tax and spending - and is there a route back to growth? Evan Davis and his guests discuss.

Guests:
John Kay, economist, author and consultant.
Dame Minouche Shafik, Director of London School of Economics and Political Science, former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England.
Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist, Institute for Government.

Listen to the programme.

Net Zero in the house

What are the business opportunities in turning our old housing stock green? The UK has some of the least energy-efficient housing in Europe – most of it built before environmentally efficient design was regulated. It’s estimated around a quarter of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy we use for heating, lighting or running appliances in our homes, public buildings or workplaces – and energy used in our homes is the most significant source.

How soon can heat pumps, solar panels and better insulation around the house help the UK Government achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050? And will this ramping up of energy efficiency measures really lead to a green jobs revolution?

Listen to the programme.

25 February 2021

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

4 March 2021

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

11 March 2021

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

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More on business

Find out more about business.

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Will artificial intelligence put us out of work?

Should companies be cautious when embracing new technologies for fear of displacing their employees?

Watch now ❯Will artificial intelligence put us out of work?

Ed Suominen [
Safer battery could spark investment in renewables

Researchers have developed a new battery to enable user generated renewable power to be stored cheaply and safely, reports Tim Radford from the Climate News Network.

Read now ❯Safer battery could spark investment in renewables

Bus image: Robin Sott / Geograph Battery image: John Seb Barber/Wikimedia under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0 license
Battery Challenge Glossary

Want to understand the science of battery recharging but don't know where to start? Dip into our handy glossary.

Read now ❯Battery Challenge Glossary

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What do literary agents do?

Johnny Gellar explains what it is that literary agents do to earn their money - and help their authors earn theirs!

Listen now ❯What do literary agents do?

The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Retail agnosticism

Andy Street, Managing Director of the department store chain John Lewis, discusses the future of retail.

Watch now ❯Retail agnosticism

Learn with the OU

Take a look at the related qualifications and free courses we offer at The Open University.

Qualifications

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BA (Honours) Business Management

How do businesses develop strategies, handle risk and take decisions? What’s involved in functions such as marketing, accounting and finance? This innovative degree is firmly rooted in your own experience.

Read more❯BA (Honours) Business Management

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MSc in Finance

This qualification is designed to support professional development and practice in a wide range of roles in finance ? whether you are developing in your career or aspiring to enter the sector. It provides a thorough grounding in areas such as corporate finance, financial decision-making, financial reporting and governance. It develops competencies in applying statistical and econometric techniques, and equips you with knowledge of the fundamentals of Islamic finance and behavioural finance. You can choose to specialise either in derivatives and financial risk management, or in investment and portfolio management, and you will develop research skills and techniques relevant to higher academic qualifications by completing a dissertation on a finance topic of your choice that is relevant to your interests or chosen career development.

Learn more ❯MSc in Finance

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MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Our internationally recognised MBA is a unique distance learning qualification that will build and develop your business skills. You'll be able to critically assess multiple perspectives and start applying your new understanding of management as you study. Designed for practising senior and middle-level managers, it will develop your strategic analysis, interdisciplinary skills, creativity and innovation. With an international emphasis and global reputation, our MBA programme is highly attractive for all ambitious executives.

Learn more ❯MBA (Master of Business Administration)

Modules

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An introduction to business and management

This key introductory OU level 1 module provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to business and management in a globalised world. Through readings and international case studies you'll explore a wide range of topics in contemporary business and management: what motivates people to work; how to assess financial soundness of a business; what attracts customers; how economic crises affect businesses; and ethical challenges in business and management. Using a blend of text, audio video and interactive online activities, you'll develop vital skills for study and for work in business, public or voluntary sector organisations.

Learn more ❯An introduction to business and management

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The human resource professional

This module considers the role and contribution of the HR professional and provide opportunities for you to examine and develop your own skills for this role. Topics covered will include an introduction to human resource management, managing performance, leadership and change management, and the nature of professionalism and ethics. You'll also develop the skills needed to work effectively as an HR professional. These include self-management, leading and working in teams, communication skills, using ICT and managing financial resources.

Learn more ❯The human resource professional

Managing in a changing world

This MBA module is framed within the complex and challenging nature of twenty-first century management. Its dual aims are to help you build on your current understanding of management and enable you to develop and improve your practice of managing. This module is a year-long programme of professional development which requires your active engagement with a wide variety of materials, activities and resource to enlarge your knowledge of the functions of management and make a real difference in your own context of managing. There is also a fast-track version of this module enabling you to complete the MBA within two years, see MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (fast-track) (BXFT716) for more information.

Learn more ❯Managing in a changing world

Free courses

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Products, services and branding

In this free course, Products, services and branding, you will find out about how organisations manage their products and services. This will include learning about how new products are developed and how the existing portfolio of offerings is managed. The particular characteristics of service products will be explained so that you can understand the impact that these features have on how services are managed.

Learn more ❯Products, services and branding

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Different types of business

A small grocery store run by one person and perhaps their family must pose quite different challenges from a multinational corporation with operations in many different countries. This free course introduces different types of business, depending on industry sector, size and type of ownership and discusses some of the ways in which businesses differ from each other.

Learn more ❯Different types of business

This free course, Retail marketing, explores how retailers use marketing to communicate with their customers, considering definitions of retailing and consumers, the basics of communications, before moving on to look at different forms of marketing communications and advertising used by retailers.

Learn more ❯Retail marketing

Meet the OU experts

Meet Dr Björn Claes and Dr Henry Lahr, the OU academic consultants on the series.

Academic Excellence

The academics at The Open University are some of the leading experts in their field, who apply their passion for their subject to teaching, research and public engagement.

The OU Academic team supporting this series have been chosen for their ability to advise on the programme’s subject area.

Dr Björn Claes, Senior Lecturer in Operations Management

Bjorn Claes The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 license Björn's teaching is predominantly in the area of Operations and Supply Chain Management. He has written and chaired several modules in this area as well as a MOOC on the digital supply chain. He is also involved in more general management courses and chaired core MBA modules and modules on management in intercultural contexts.

See Björn's OpenLearn profile.

Dr Henry Lahr, Senior Lecturer in Finance

Image of Dr Henry Lahr The Open University under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 license Most of Henry's work is concerned with the financing of businesses, in particular entrepreneurial finance and the link between early-stage financing and innovation. He has published articles on the financing activities of innovative firms and the consequences of venture capital and private equity financing in small and large enterprises.

See Henry's OpenLearn profile.

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Originally published: Tuesday, 2nd February 2021

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