Great British Brands

In the final episode of series 2 of Great British Brands, Michael is joined by Deborah Pocock, CEO of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, the foundation supporting the training and education of talented and aspiring craftspeople, through traditional college courses, vocational training, apprenticeships and one-to-one training. Helping to support Britain's cultural heritage and sustain vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts, over the last 30 years QEST has awarded £5million to over 600 individuals in 130 different craft disciplines.

Michael is joined by Lady Deirdre Dyson, the designer and curator of the eponymous Deirdre Dyson carpet collections. Described as a “fascinating blend of art and process, of ancient skill and new technology”, Lady Dyson's concepts are crafted from what has been called a “gift”: her instinct for colour, brought to life by the finest Tibetan materials. Her latest collection, All at Sea, is inspired by a unique experience of the pandemic that kept her out on stranger tides for three months while sailing the Guadeloupe islands.

Joining Michael Hayman today is Anabela Chan, described as “the jewellery designer you need to know now.” Recognised as one of the 50 most influential people in British luxury and a “pioneer” for her use of lab-grown diamonds and synthesised gemstones, Anabela is blazing a trail for a more ethical jewellery industry, and has global superstars such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Taylor Swift following in her wake.

Joining Michael Hayman today in this second episode of Series 2 of Great British Brands, is Alexandra Llewelyn, the award-winning designer of luxury games. From her famed backgammon boards and poker sets to exquisite games tables and card boxes, Alexandra is inspired by the universal language of board games, which transcend culture and generations – leading to the launch of her eponymous brand in 2010. With designs owned by clients such as Sir Richard Branson, Elle Macpherson and even Royalty, this is the story of a Great British brand with a global flavour.

The first conversation in a new Great British Brands X Change Makers series, a collection of conversations that look at the secrets of some of our most iconic businesses and the art of their craft. Michael Hayman is joined by James Fox, Head of Marketing, Crockett & Jones, the legendary British shoemaking brand some five generations in the making. It boasts a who's who of have fans from around the world, and perhaps non more famous than 007 himself, Daniel Craig. But unlike Bond this is a brand that has not just shaken but also stirred the retail world. Listen to hear its story.

As a qualified nutritional health coach and student of functional medicine, Marie Guerlain embrace all aspects of holistic wellness and non-toxic living, and champions the many simple ways to nourish and nurture our bodies and minds. A lifelong love of preparing meals for family and friends grew into a passion for delighting through food. Marie strongly believes that by eating the right foods we can feel stronger and more balanced in body and mind, and that cooking delicious food does not have to compromise nutritional quality. It is this thoughtful approach to holistic wellbeing that inspired the launch of Ondine professional cookware. Ondine champions a philosophy of enjoying food and enhancing the experience of cooking, anchored by the desire to design and innovate a non-toxic cookware solution. 

Built on 50 years of engineering cutting-edge performance apparel, Musto is the world's leading sailing brand and a British leader in shooting and equestrian sports. It uses the same fabric technology that protects its ocean racers to keep its customers dry and comfortable. Its designers are fanatical about detail and style. From the precise placement of ergonomic panels on active jackets to the careful crafting of the handmade leather shoes, this is where style meets hi-tech performance. Musto tests its products to the extreme in the world's most hostile environments, and in the labs, to drive innovation so customers can trust its products to perform and endure.

Emma Rice's passion for wine started, aged 19, with a taste of Krug 1979 from a double magnum, whilst working part-time at The White Horse Inn, Chilgrove. From there, her career has taken her from Oddbins to Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book, to Napa Valley – completing her degree in viticulture and oenology at Plumpton College along the way. After travelling to California and later Tasmania, Australia, Emma returned to the UK to set-up Custom Crush UK Ltd – a wine analysis laboratory and consultancy - through which she met owner and chairman of Hattingley Valley Wines, Simon Robinson, just as he had planted his vines. Today, Emma's role as Head Winemaker at Hattingley Valley is varied – she oversees the development of the vineyards, including producing Hattingley's signature wines, manages the growing winemaking team and, as a director of Hattingley Valley, is involved in running the business at board level.

Award winning designer and entrepreneur, Fiona Barratt-Campbell is recognised as one of Britain's leading figures in the international world of interior design. Born and raised in Northumberland, Fiona draws on the history of the rugged landscape from which she was immersed growing up. Design is embedded in Fiona's DNA. Her chief mentor and greatest inspiration was her grandfather, property developer Sir Lawrie Barratt, who founded one of the largest residential property development companies in the UK in 1958, Barratt Homes, which has since inspired her to establish four very successful businesses. Fiona, now with 17 years' experience in the industry, trained at London's Chelsea College of Art followed by Parsons School of Design in New York. She went on to secure a position at a highly regarded interior design firm before launching her own successful interior design studio Fiona Barratt Interiors in 2006.

Duke + Dexter challenges expectations of what a British shoe brand can and should be – striking a balance between progressive style and familiar British charm. Since 2014, D+D has expanded from its London roots into a global community; working with athletes, musicians, artists, designers, photographers and pioneers who do things differently, who go against the grain. D+D has received international recognition, selling to over 120 countries worldwide and working with reputable international retailers including Harrods, Selfridges, The KaDeWe Group, Levels and Tsum. A truly British enterprise, each pair of Duke & Dexter shoes is designed in London and handmade in our family-run Sheffield workshop. Over 80 years old, the factory prides itself on combining deep-rooted skills with precision and care to ensure all products are crafted to the highest standard.

Symprove Ltd was founded in the belief that recovering and maintaining a healthy gut balance can help you live a fuller life. We hold that same belief today, but have stayed curious in the years since, dedicated to researching the microbiome and developing the Symprove formula. Unhappy with existing animal feed, Barry his own feed based on germinated grains – a form of probiotic. After witnessing the impact of this on his animals, Barry realised this could improve the wellbeing of humans. Based around a barley, a natural grain which has undergone fermentation, Symprove (known as Multigerm at the time) became available on the agricultural market in 1996 and was found to have a positive effect on a range of animals. Backed with funding for clinical research into human health and food supplements, the formula was refined for human use and Symprove was born in 2002. In 2010, following a period of research and clinical studies, Symprove was launched as a food supplement, available to the public for the first time.

Founding the company in 1982, Theo Fennell's eponymous fine jewellery brand has become something of a British treasure in its few decades, with every piece of jewellery and silverware meticulously handcrafted in its workshops above its flagship Fulham store. Classics such as the silver Marmite pot lid or skull rings all come from inspired collections combining artistry and craftsmanship, with one collection inspired entirely by bees, resulting in colourful, idiosyncratic, yet entirely gorgeous pieces. Forever carrying a sketchbook should inspiration take hold, Theo Fennel has ensured that his fine jewellery brand is one full excitement and a very particular variety.

Asma Khan moved to Cambridge from Calcutta in 1991. After completing her law degree, Asma went on to do a PhD in British Constitutional Law at Kings College London. Cooking was her passion and Asma registered for a food business, which began life as a supper club in her home in Kensington in 2012. In 2015, she opened a pop-up in Soho to much acclaim, and Darjeeling Express the restaurant opened its doors in June 2017. She has been voted ‘Female Entrepreneur of the Year' at the Asian Restaurant Awards and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year' in the Asian Women of the Year Awards. Her debut cook book Asma's Indian Kitchen was published by Pavilion on 4th October 2018.