Thinking Commercially

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Bright Network's Ben Triggs and commercial awareness guru and author Chris Stoakes discuss some of the key business trends of our time. Made for students and recent graduates, Thinking Commercially keeps things simple, developing your understanding of the business world and critical thinking about companies, sectors and the economy as a whole.

Bright Network


    • Sep 27, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 28 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Thinking Commercially

    Special - 5 essential commercial trends, interview tips & our top resources

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 57:36


    It's the final episode of Thinking Commercially... and Chris and Ben take you through the 5 commercial trends you need to know about right now. We also speak to Lucy - a recent graduate who has recently secured a role. She tells us why commercial awareness is important during the application process and her top tips.A big thank you to everyone who's listened over the last three year - do head to the back-catalogue for more top tips and business advice.

    Episode 27 - interviews, starting a job, types of businesses & top tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 70:09


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben cover everything you need to know about being commercially aware before an interview or starting a job. Plus, discover how firms are set up and what brilliant opportunities are open for graduates.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 26 - your questions: ESGs, SMEs, taxes, free internet & your soft skills

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 55:11


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben take all of our listeners questions. We cover a range of topics across wider business trends, what you can do to be more commercially awareness and tackling graduate interviews.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 25 - ChatGPT, business lobbies, shadow banking & holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 54:46


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss the short term impact of ChatGPT on the business world, CBI and the role of business lobbies, what is shadow banking and why you should know about it and whether bank holidays are a good thing.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 24 - SVB collapse, tax, EY split, leaving London & CEOs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 55:18


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss SVB collapse and what it means for the financial world, business tax rates, EY's possible split, renters leaving London and what is on the CEOs mind.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 23 - your questions, top trends, being commercial & applications

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 51:24


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben take all of our listeners questions. We cover a range of topics across wider business trends, what you can do to be more commercially awareness and tackling graduate interviews.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 22 - profits, cashflow, big tech, FTSE 100 & advertising blunders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2023 55:25


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss business profits, why cash flow is so important, what's next for big tech, the make up of the FTSE 100 and some famous advertising blunders.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 21 - REITs, strikes, cost of living & business of football

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2022 55:35


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss what are REITs, why there's so much strike action, the cost of living crisis this winter and the business of football.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 20 - mini budget, remote working, money laundering & Gen Z

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 53:25


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss why the markets were shaken by the mini-budget, bosses attitudes to remote working, money laundering and Gen Z's expectations from the working world.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 19 - special: ace applications & starting your first job

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2022 55:33


    It's series 3 and we start with a special episode of Thinking Commercially. Chris and Ben are joined by Hannah Salton and Jake Schogger for an application and starting in the world of work special. We give you practical tips to impress during an interview and on your first week, as well as giving you a key understanding of how businesses actually work.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 18 - price rises, rail strikes, economic productivity & wellbeing tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 51:18


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss how we can reduce the impact of inflation, striking on the railway, productivity in the UK economy and wellbeing in your early career.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 17 - Twitter, a recession, decline of cash & shopper returns

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 54:15


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss Elon Musk's Twitter offer, the potential for a recession later this year, should cash be completely phased out and why stores are charging for returns.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 16 - P&O, the tax year, influencers & flexible working

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 55:51


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss the P&O saga, the new tax year and what this means for business, the boom of influencers and flexible working.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 15 - economic sanctions, tech M&A, going meat-free & the Post Office

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 52:58


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss economic sanctions and asset freezing, M&A activity of the big five tech firms, Beyond Meat and the meat-free trend and the future of the the Post Office.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 14 - UK's economic growth, Peloton, oil prices and returning to the office

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2022 50:57


    We've reached the half way mark for this series but the insights don't stop. In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss growth in the UK economy, Peloton and other businesses that thrived during lockdowns, oil prices rising and how to build your brand when in the office.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 13 - balancing the UK economy, NFTs, China's property market & the pub

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 55:06


    It's a brand new year and in this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss how the UK can find balance in the economy, NFTs and why it's a popular investment, China's property market's recent troubles and what's next for the British pub.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 12 - businesses posting a profit, green energy, conglomerates & modern brands

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2021 56:25


    It's career upskilling month and in this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss why it can take some companies year to post a profit, the future for green energy, multinational conglomerates breaking up, the new Meta Platforms brand and thinking about personal brandWe hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 11 - the energy crisis, global corporation tax, job vacancies & top tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2021 51:14


    It's career upskilling month and in this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss the energy crisis and the shift to green fuel, the global agreement on corporation tax, job vacancies at a 20-year high and some top commercial awareness tips.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 10 - IPOs, M&A, staff shortages, the new NI rate & dressing for the office

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2021 59:03


    We're back for series 2! In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss why it's a record year for IPOs and M&A activity, staff shortages and stock troubles, the new National Insurance hike and how work fashion has changed due to the pandemic.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 9 - quantitative easing, pensions, the future of Channel 4 & sugar tax

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 59:25


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss quantitative easing and why the Bank of England does it, everything you need to know about pensions, the potential to privatise Channel 4 and the debate around the sugar and salt tax.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 8 - IPOs in London, taxing big tech, commercial property & Coca-Cola bottles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 51:58


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss why London's IPO marketing is hotting up, the G7 summit and taxing big tech firms, the future of commercial property and Ronaldo moving that Coca-Cola bottle.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 7 - vaccine IP, the roaring 20s, inflation worries & a new streaming service

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2021 59:45


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss why intellectual property is so important in business, whether we're heading for the "roaring 20s" economically, the worries about rising inflation and the new streaming service from AT&T. Plus, we have questions from listeners Harriet and Daniel.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 6 - how businesses raise money, Deliveroo's IPO, space exploration & the microchip shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2021 55:41


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss how businesses raise money, what makes a good investment, why many investors were put off by Deliveroo's IPO, the business around space exploration and why is there a shortage in the microchip industry. Plus, we have questions listeners Lydia, Lucy and Marshall.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 5 - the City after Brexit, the Budget, understanding oil & Amazon's new shop

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2021 57:35


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss the future of the City after Brexit, why the Budget is so important for businesses, understanding why oil prices are so widely tracked and the new supermarket you can just walk out of.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 4 - GameStop, green investments, research reports & that Trustpilot review

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2021 48:00


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss GameStop and armchair traders, the rise in green investment, Asos and Boohoo acquiring high street brands, that Trustpilot review and why research reports are a good source of commercial awareness.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group and Instagram page.

    Episode 3 - Bitcoin's value, international trade, Tesla's rise & business innovation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 57:41


    In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss international trade and tariffs in the context of Brexit, why Bitcoin is surging in value, Elon Musk and Tesla and why looking at what small businesses are doing is so important for developing commercial awareness.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know what you think on the 'Thinking Commercially' LinkedIn group.

    Episode 2 - big tech firms, negative interest rates, the high street and hobbies in 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2020 49:17


    In this episode of the Thinking Commercially podcast, Chris and Ben discuss competition and the big tech firms, how interest rates play such a pivotal role within an economy, how the high street is changing and the rise of reading and other hobbies in 2020.We hope you enjoy it and do let us know your thoughts on the LinkedIn group.

    Episode 1 - Government spending, FlyBe and commercial property

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2020 60:15


    In the first episode of the Thinking Commercially podcast, Chris and Ben discuss Government spending in light of the coronavirus lockdowns, Flybe entering administration, commercial property and the future of cities, along with cinemas, content and Netflix. To keep up to date with all the latest stories, sign up to the weekly commercial awareness updates at Bright Network, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday. 

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