Jimmy's Jobs of the Future

Boxlight Creative Studio

Former Downing Street adviser, Jimmy McLoughlin interviews top entrepreneurs, politicians, and just about anyone at the top of their game on where they think the future of our economy is going through the prism of jobs.

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21 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes21

Newest first

Tuesday · 59 min
The Real Threat to Your Career Isn't AI | Steve Rigby, Rigby Group CEO
AI, Sovereign Compute, and the Future of Family Business in the UK | Steve Rigby on Jobs of the Future In 2026, Steve Rigby joins Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future to discuss why AI adoption in large companies will be slower than hype suggests because it requires difficult process transformation plus governance and security, while SMEs can move faster with low barriers to entry. He argues the UK is behind on preparing society and government for disruption, citing data that 39% of MPs have never used AI and calling for a multi-department “war footing,” including urgent AI data-center expansion and sovereign compute backed by government offtake. Rigby explains his role as chair of Family Business UK, the impact of new 20% tax charges on intergenerational transfers, and why the UK incentivizes selling businesses over long-term ownership. He outlines the Rigby Group’s scale, family succession planning, his philanthropy and education programs, and his efforts to influence policy via media, LinkedIn, and a new podcast. 00:00 AI Shift Like the 90s 00:43 Why Big Firms Move Slow 01:46 Reskilling and Job Risk 04:14 MPs Not Using AI 06:50 Data Centers and Compute 08:49 AI Sovereignty Plan 10:31 Chairing Family Business UK 11:22 Tax Changes Hit Succession 12:51 Rigby Group Overview 15:14 London Family Office Hub 16:40 Non Doms and Tax Carrots 19:39 UK Incentives and Mittelstand 22:40 First Jobs and Joining Family Firm 25:28 Building Tech Retail in the 90s 27:42 Family Business Life and Succession 29:40 Preparing the Next Generation 32:21 Kids Careers Outside the Firm 33:29 What Intelligence Really Means 34:08 Learning Styles Matter 34:42 Tech Powered Classrooms 36:24 Cradle to Career Impact 38:23 Inspiring Futures Model 40:12 Plural Career Time Split 41:44 Influencing Policy and Media 44:40 Family Business UK Growth 46:39 Podcast for Hard Issues 48:59 Sleep Data and Health Tech 52:22 Competitive Sports Journey 57:12 Giving Values and Dividends 57:58 Future of Family Firms 01:00:40 Mittelstand and UK Incentives 01:02:28 Podcast Pick and Wrap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Saturday · 29 min
Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Youth Unemployment, Work Shadowing, and the Future of Work | Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future Thanks to LinkedIn for partnering on this episode. Learn more about how the UK labour market is changing in the age of AI in LinkedIn’s latest report: ⁠https://lnkd.in/labour-market-report⁠ In a special early interview at 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham joins Jimmy to discuss why too many young people are struggling to get their first break, and what government, employers and senior leaders can do about it. Reflecting on his own journey from an unpaid local newspaper reporter to Prime Minister, Andy explains why family connections often matter more than qualifications, why work shadowing can transform a young person's confidence, and why every leader should help open the door for someone without an established network. They also discuss the future of education, apprenticeships, AI, recruitment, social capital and why Britain needs to value technical careers as much as university degrees. Andy shares what he looks for when hiring, why creativity and communication remain essential skills in the age of AI, and the leadership lessons that have shaped his career. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:29 Sponsor 01:49 PM Priorities on Youth Jobs 02:50 Early Career and Drift 05:35 Social Capital and Access 06:53 Hiring and Leadership Skills 08:51 Ambition Beyond London 09:42 English Degree and Creativity 12:24 Kids View of Job Market 13:49 Placements and Employer Role 17:26 AI and Future of Work 18:30 LinkedIn Data Break 19:51 Apprenticeships and Reform 21:28 Nostalgia Game and Advice 26:24 Closing Note and LinkedIn Credits: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Thuy Dong Aggie Mellor Annabel Wilcken Ethan Pearman Josh Eames Laura Dunn Special thanks to: Sunny Winter Nguyen Anh Duc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 24 · 1 hr 7 min
From Boots the Chemist to Lewis Hamilton's Boardroom | Dr. Hayaatun Sillem
This week, a special crossover episode: Jimmy's Jobs of the Future meets What We Don't Know. Check out What We Don't Know here Hayaatun Sillem, host of What We Don't Know, spent eight years as CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering - the first woman, and the first person in over two decades, to hold the role. Before that: 8 years of biochemistry, a walkout from the lab that ended her PhD overnight, and a stint advising Parliament on everything from forensic science to carbon capture. She also co-chaired Lewis Hamilton's commission on the representation of Black people in UK motorsport, and is now a founding trustee of his charity, Mission 44. In this conversation, Jimmy and Hayaatun cover the moment people mistook her for anyone but the CEO, the leadership skill she thinks is most underrated, the decision to leave a job she loved while she was still doing her best work, and why she thinks "more jazz than classical" is the only way to lead through uncertainty now. ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter Producer: Thuy Dong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 23 · 55 min
How Heathrow Runs Britain's Biggest Workplace | CEO Thomas Woldbye
Heathrow isn't just an airport - it's one of the UK's largest workplaces. Every day, more than 200,000 passengers pass through Heathrow, supported by around 100,000 people working across hundreds of different roles. From firefighters and engineers to security teams, baggage handlers and AI specialists, it's a city-sized operation that has to work flawlessly, every single day. In this episode, Jimmy sits down with Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Heathrow Airport, to explore what it really takes to run one of Britain's most complex organisations. They discuss: Why Heathrow employs around 100,000 people The leadership challenges of running a 24/7 operation How AI is changing the future of airports Why security queues have fallen to under five minutes The case for Heathrow's third runway How Heathrow balances growth, sustainability and passenger experience What makes a great leader in high-pressure environments Whether you're interested in leadership, infrastructure, business, operations or the future of work, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of one of the world's busiest airports. Chapters: 00:00 The UK's Biggest Workplace 01:28 Why Heathrow Is Britain's Biggest Workplace 05:12 What Does the Heathrow CEO Actually Do? 09:45 Leading 100,000 People 15:34 Behind the Scenes of Running an Airport 20:48 Security, AI & The Future of Travel 27:41 Why Heathrow Wants a Third Runway 34:26 Can Heathrow Keep Growing 40:55 Sustainability vs Growth 47:18 Crisis Leadership & Decision Making 53:07 Careers at Heathrow 58:14 Leadership Lessons from Running Heathrow 01:03:10 Quick Fire Questions ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter Producer: Thuy Dong This is a partnership with Heathrow Airport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 22 · 57 min
Johnny Reynolds on Jobs of the Future: Skills, Scale-Ups, Net Zero and AI
Johnny Reynolds on Jobs of the Future: Skills, Scale-Ups, Net Zero and AI This is a replayed 2023 interview with Johnny Reynolds, now returning to run the Department for Business amid major UK government reshuffles under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, including moving AI to the Cabinet Office. Jimmy and Johnny discuss visiting businesses such as Football Manager’s studio and Nissan’s Sunderland plant, arguing the state should help people manage economic change, especially through net zero, automotive transition and opportunities like green steel. 00:00 UK Government Shakeup 00:32 Why Replay This Interview 01:54 Football Manager Visit 04:19 Factory Tours and Learning 05:47 North East and Change 08:38 Future Sectors and Trade 13:27 Workplace Flex and Hybrid 15:41 Manchester Boom Story 18:00 City and Listing Concerns 20:57 Scaling Up UK Startups 24:52 How Reynolds Works 28:29 What Business Wants Most 30:12 Policy Levers for Growth 30:39 Skills Shortages and Immigration 32:25 Reforming the Apprenticeship Levy 34:06 Devolution and Local Skills Planning 35:12 From Law to Parliament 38:42 How the MP Job Changed 42:24 Working-Class Roots and Values 45:36 AI Disruption and Regulation 49:18 Entrepreneurship and Risk 51:25 Dream Jobs and Capital Allocation 53:15 Books Podcasts and Wrap-Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 14 · 55 min
Georgie Coleridge Cole, Sheerluxe Founder | Building a £40M Business By Ignoring the Rules
SheerLuxe Founder on Hiring, Creator-Led Media & Selling the Business for £40M Jimmy interviews Georgie Coleridge Cole about building SheerLuxe over nearly two decades into a creator-led digital media business, what she looks for when hiring (culture add, broadcasters/curators/tastemakers), and how the company is structured across editorial, social, content, design, marketing, commercial, and video teams with around 100 staff and strong retention. She explains SheerLuxe’s approach to new channels using gut instinct, prioritizing engagement and the right content “order” by platform, and a people-first model that drives trust and monetization. Georgie details early fundraising before the financial crisis, becoming profitable within about three years, and maintaining disciplined growth. She discusses launching Blush Talent Management to manage internal and external talent, and reflects on selling SheerLuxe to Future for £40M, why she publicized the number, and what she wants to focus on next, including education, ex-offending initiatives, and support for under-16 social media restrictions. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:47 Sheerluxe Team Structure 03:05 Editorial vs Content Workflow 05:14 Growth Stages and New Channels 08:32 Launching Platforms by Instinct 13:42 Employee Generated Content Origins 17:11 Early Hires and Retention 22:25 Funding and Profitability Lessons 26:38 Leadership Style and Chief of Staff 29:27 Hiring for Culture 30:37 Blush Talent Launch 34:01 Internal and External Roster 34:53 Why Share the Sale Price 39:46 Slow and Steady Growth 42:55 Life After the Exit 45:06 Purpose Beyond Business 51:38 Social Media Age Limits 55:43 Status and Aspiration Shift 01:00:26 Closing Thoughts ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 6 · 14 min
Amazon: The Plan to Get 30,000 People Into Work
Amazon’s Upskilling Push: Career Choice, Skilled Hiring, and Supported Internships At a new Amazon fulfillment center, Amazon UK & I Country Manager John Boumphrey discusses job announcements, hiring needs, and major upskilling efforts, including the Career Choice program that funds nationally recognized qualifications up to £3,000 a year in the UK, training about 30,000 people in the UK and 300,000 globally, with a planned $1B investment by 2030 to train an additional 500,000 people. He explains employees often retrain for tech and hard-to-hire roles such as mechatronics for increasingly robotic warehouses, and describes a skills gap despite 1 million under-24s in the UK not in education or training. John details ongoing UK hiring and investments, including new sites in Northampton and Peterborough and a previously announced £14B UK investment. John emphasizes work experience, communication, teamwork, and reflection, highlights Supported Internships for young people with learning disabilities and autism, and shares his executive hiring approach focused on evidence-based examples and continuous learning. 00:00 Upskilling at Amazon 01:22 Courses and Career Paths 02:18 Mechatronics and Robotics Roles 02:57 The Hiring Paradox 04:03 UK and Europe Expansion Plans 06:02 What Amazon Wants in Hires 07:12 Work Experience and Inclusion 08:35 Supported Internships Stories 10:42 Hiring Senior Leaders 12:41 Lifelong Learning Wrap Up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 2 · 38 min
Tom Kerridge REVEALS What Destroys the Hospitality Industry
Tom Kerridge on Why UK Restaurants Are Failing: Rising Costs, VAT the Problem, and the Fight to Save Hospitality Watch the full documentary: https://youtu.be/LKaEiZ5TE5Q At Tom Kerridge’s Whitehall restaurant, we explores why UK hospitality is struggling despite strong demand: rising utility bills, food inflation, minimum wage and national insurance increases, and business rates have eroded already thin margins, contributing to three hospitality closures a day across an industry involving 4.5 million people. Tom explains his hiring priorities and outlines London kitchen pay ranging from over £40k to six figures in senior roles. He argues government support that helped during COVID (furlough, VAT reduction) has vanished, calls for hospitality to have its own dedicated ministry, and criticizes Labour’s communication and lack of action on VAT. He also discusses how TV and commercial work subsidizes his five restaurants and shares his journey to sobriety at 40 after years of extreme drinking. 00:00 Inside a Busy Service 00:15 Kerridge’s Profit Struggle 01:02 Why Restaurants Are Closing 02:08 Building Great Teams 04:17 Pay and Career Progression 04:55 Costs Crushing Margins 08:29 Hospitality’s Social Impact 13:36 Kitchen Tour and Stations 15:55 Plating the Crab Crumpet 18:06 Making Lobbying Relatable 20:00 Why Not Run For Office 22:01 Fixing Hospitality Policy 23:53 Labour Comms And Leadership 27:06 TV Work Funds Restaurants 29:36 How Cooking TV Changed 31:00 Why Independents Are Struggling 32:22 Quitting Alcohol For Good 36:08 Staying Sober In Hospitality 37:32 Which Minister Can Cook ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 23 · 1 hr 10 min
Brexit Made Us Poorer? Think Again | Vote Leave CEO Lord Elliot
Lord Matthew Elliott on Vote Leave, Modern Campaigning, AI Microtargeting, and the Jobs Foundation Jimmy interviews Lord Matthew Elliott, former Vote Leave CEO and author of “Ten Years On,” about building and running political campaigns, recruiting and developing talent, and measuring success through objectives, media impact, and interim targets. Elliott contrasts traditional campaigning with today’s faster, noisier, social-driven landscape, describing Vote Leave’s use of polling, fundraising, Facebook/Google ads, and the iconic bus tour with Boris Johnson, plus the operational roles behind it. He discusses how AI and data-driven microtargeting, especially in the US, could reshape elections, and predicts more short-lived single-issue campaigns. Elliott reflects on Brexit’s effects, arguing the UK avoided “Project Fear” outcomes and has performed comparatively well versus some European economies. He also shares his adult autism diagnosis, links it to his focus and work, highlights low autistic employment rates, and outlines the Jobs Foundation’s mission to promote business-led jobs, training, and pro-growth policy. Chapters: 00:00 Brexit Ten Years On 01:14 Meet Matthew Elliott 02:43 Building Campaign Teams 04:40 Recruiting Early Talent 07:50 Developing Spokespeople 09:22 Measuring Campaign Success 11:12 Modern Campaign Playbook 13:23 Cutting Through Noise 15:44 Brexit Campaign Today 18:11 The Iconic Bus Strategy 20:08 Behind the Bus Operation 23:34 AI and Microtargeting 27:31 Winning Swing Voters 31:33 Why Brexit Hit Hard 34:37 Culture Replaces Class 35:45 Why Culture Wars Rise 37:28 Short Term Politics Trap 40:50 Running Government vs Campaigning 43:05 Future of Campaigning 44:29 Autism Diagnosis Story 48:53 Autism and Employment Gap 51:58 After Vote Leave Fallout 54:56 Building Jobs Foundation Coalitions 58:18 NEETs AI and Flexibility 01:00:51 Brexit Reassessment Debate 01:04:13 Regulators Planning and Growth 01:07:10 Coalition Building Skillset 01:08:36 Closing Thanks ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 20 · 1 hr 33 min
The TRUTH About The BBC | Nihal Arthanayake, Former BBC Radio 1 Presenter
Nihal Arthanayake: From Radio 1 to Corporate Storytelling - Class, Diversity & the BBC’s Blind Spots Nihal Arthanayake, former BBC Radio 1 presenter, joins Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future to trace his career, from promoting rap nights at 16 and fronting Collapsed Lung to being dropped by a major label and pivoting into music journalism and PR before becoming a Radio 1 DJ in 2002. Nihal explains how radio shifted from gatekeeping to curating as social media and algorithms changed music discovery, and recounts his 23 years across Radio 1, Asian Network and 5 Live, including planning his exit and ultimately being engineered out after speaking out. He argues the BBC’s biggest bias is class, says it “lies about diversity,” keeps people of color in boxes, and fears the Daily Mail more than ideological labels suggest. We also discuss interview craft, his book on conversation, and how doing stand-up comedy increased his confidence. 00:00 Intro 01:22 Welcome and Early Dreams 02:51 First Money in Music 05:33 Collapsed Lung Breakthrough 09:22 Go Discs and Muddy Funksters 12:34 Dropped and Reinventing as Journalist 13:46 Why British Rap Lagged 15:36 Gatekeepers to Algorithms 18:14 Landing Radio 1 Asian Beats 22:29 Representation and BBC Culture 31:24 Calling Out Window Dressing 40:05 Is the BBC Left Wing 46:32 Politics and Interview Nerves 49:33 Nerve Wracking Guests 51:08 Peterson Clegg Clash 52:53 Interview Style Lessons 55:06 Talking Ends Conflict 57:36 Mutual Friend Story 01:00:00 Research Like A Pro 01:05:19 No Gotcha Headlines 01:09:12 Media Tech Farage 01:14:55 Politics Brutal Switch 01:26:14 Kids Time Football 01:30:55 Stand Up Confidence Credits: Host/Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter Producer: Thuy ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/Jimmy MLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: hello@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 16 · 1 hr 27 min
Jimmy Wales: What Happens When Nobody Trusts Anybody?
Jimmy Wales on Wikipedia, Trust, and AI’s Disruptive Future
June 10 · 36 min
The Adobe Takeover Nobody's Talking About & The Future of Creativity
How Adobe Quietly Powers the World (and the AI Fight for Creators)This episode of Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future visits Adobe’s London headquarters to explore how Adobe’s influence extends beyond Photoshop and PDFs into marketing technology that powers personalized experiences for major brands and institutions like Tesco, the Premier League, banks, Channel 4, Sky, Disney, and governments. VP Simon Morris explains Adobe’s creative, document, and marketing solutions, how customer data is unified to deliver tailored communications, and highlights a campaign recreating Edvard Munch’s physical brushes as Photoshop tools. The discussion covers Adobe’s UK-wide initiatives, including tools for Women’s FA Cup clubs, the Adobe Digital Academy, and government skills programs. Policy lead Stefanie Valdes-Scott addresses AI governance, creator protection, copyright, trust, content attribution via content credentials, and the unresolved tension between AI-enabled creativity and creators’ fear of losing control of their work. 00:00 Adobe Hidden Influence 01:57 Quick Adobe History 02:45 Inside London HQ 04:15 Brands Powered By Adobe 05:40 Premier League Personalization 07:28 Banking Experience Design 10:05 Creativity Meets Data 13:11 Hiring Modern Marketers 14:08 Tools For Everyone 17:33 AI Productivity Debate 20:25 UK Initiatives And Skills 22:32 Creator Copyright Fears 24:01 Policy And AI Governance 25:31 Copyright And New Rights 30:30 Content Credentials Trust 32:55 Final Takeaways ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Camera Operations: Felix Cohen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 9 · 52 min
Currys CEO Alex Baldock & Octopus Energy’s Greg Jackson on Retail, Energy, Regulation and AI
Currys CEO Alex Baldock & Octopus Energy’s Greg Jackson on Retail, Energy, Regulation and AI Jimmy hosts a panel with Currys CEO Alex Baldock and Octopus Energy CEO Greg Jackson on how retail and energy drive jobs, growth and prosperity. Baldock outlines Currys’ scale (nearly £10bn sales, 24,000 colleagues) and argues retail employs around 20% of the private sector workforce with rising productivity, but faces policy-driven cost increases, red tape and employment regulation that threaten flexible entry-level jobs. Jackson describes Octopus’ rapid growth (8m UK households, operations in 30 countries), the demerger and valuation of its Kraken platform, and diversification into EV leasing and charging. Both stress competition over heavy regulation, cite inefficiencies and distortions in UK energy pricing, discuss geopolitical risks and electrification, and explain how AI is transforming customer service, operations and energy system optimization. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 03:06 Currys Retail Snapshot 03:41 Retail Jobs and Productivity 05:10 Octopus Energy and Kraken 08:47 Enterprise and Profit Narrative 12:17 Regulation and Competition 17:10 Energy Shocks and Electrification 21:43 Inflation and Cost Pressures 29:36 Employment Costs and Flex Work 36:09 Work Culture and Transparency 41:44 AI Impact on Retail and Energy 49:27 Closing Thanks and Networking Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Dong AP: Ethan Pearman Special thanks to the Margaret Thatcher Conference organising team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
June 2 · 40 min
Zahra Bahrololoumi, CEO Salesforce UK & I | Britain's AI Skills Gap
Thanks to Salesforce for Partnering on this episode, check out our new AI report here: https://www.jobsofthefuture.co/salesforce-ai-poll In this episode of Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future, Jimmy interviews Zahra at Salesforce’s new AI centre in London’s Devonshire Square, discussing careers, AI adoption, and skills. Zahra shares her first job in a pizza place, an early ambition to become a diplomat blocked by 1990s eligibility rules, and a 22-year career at Andersen Consulting/Accenture before moving to Salesforce. They discuss polling with Focal Data showing 51% of people have received no employer AI training and concerns about a widening digital divide. Zahra explains Salesforce’s focus on enterprise AI grounded in trusted company data with guardrails, the value of a physical AI centre for collaboration, and how she uses an internal AI Slackbot for daily task lists and meeting prep while staying critical and authentic. They cover AI benefits for mid-market firms, a Simplyhealth contact-centre example, and Salesforce’s Future Trailblazers schools program and call for a national “front door” for skills like Trailhead. 00:00 Intro 00:50 Inside Salesforce's New AI Centre 01:41 My First Job: Making Pizzas for £5 an Hour 03:48 From Diplomacy Dreams to Big Tech 06:31 Britain's AI Training Problem 09:07 Why Salesforce Built an AI Hub 10:46 How I Use AI Every Day 14:21 Why Authenticity Still Matters 15:07 The Priorities Every CEO Must Balance 16:15 Is an AI Divide Emerging? 17:40 Why Businesses Still Don't Trust AI 19:01 The Companies Winning With AI 22:23 Buy Commodity, Build to Differentiate 23:16 Which Skills Will Matter in the AI Era? 26:24 What I Look For When Hiring 30:07 A National Plan for AI Skills 32:40 Sending 1,000 Employees Into Schools 34:12 My Unexpected Dream Job 35:42 Final Thoughts ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 19 · 26 min
Lord Michael Spencer: The Future of Enterprise
Lord Michael Spencer on the CPS, Conservative Renewal, and Making the Case for Enterprise Jimmy interviews Lord Michael Spencer at the Centre for Policy Studies’ Margaret Thatcher Enterprise Conference in London, discussing Spencer’s career founding ICAP and his current role chairing the CPS as it recruits a new executive director to succeed Robert Colvile. Spencer explains what a think tank and its chair do, arguing the CPS should build detailed, sequenced pro-growth policy plans for a Conservative opposition and communicate them more effectively through broadcast media and podcasts. 00:00 Conference Setup 01:44 Meet Lord Spencer 01:52 Building ICAP 03:47 Conservative Party Years 06:42 Leading the CPS 10:17 Hiring New Director 14:36 Making Case for Business 17:38 Westminster Talent Problem 19:17 Think Tanks and Funding 24:15 Closing Thanks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 12 · 1 hr 11 min
Mathieu Flamini | Arsenal, Building a Company & How To Win Like An Athlete
Former Arsenal F.C. midfielder Mathieu Flamini joins Jimmy to talk about life after elite football, building a global biochemical company, and what Arsène Wenger taught him about leadership, pressure, and winning. Mathieu opens up about the reality of playing for Arsenal, the loneliness of elite sport, the mentality required to survive at the top level, and why “footballers die twice”. He explains how he went from Premier League football to running a major sustainability business, meeting world leaders, attending Davos, and building a company focused on replacing oil-based chemicals with plant-based alternatives. They discuss resilience, competition, biohacking, retirement, hiring winners, entrepreneurship, and why most people are too afraid of failure. 00:00 Intro 01:02 Entrepreneur vs Elite Athlete 03:15 What Arsène Wenger Taught Him 05:08 How Football Recruitment Really Works 06:34 Hiring Winners 09:02 Joining Arsenal After The Invincibles 12:02 Starting A Business While Playing Football 14:20 Building A Biochemical Company 16:45 Why Athletes Make Great Entrepreneurs 19:05 Running A Huge Business After Football 22:10 The Loneliness Of Elite Sport 25:00 The Reality Of Being A Footballer 30:08 “Footballers Die Twice” 34:02 Retiring From Football 36:20 Finding Purpose After Arsenal 39:22 Meeting King Charles & World Leaders 40:05 Biohacking & Performance 46:10 Cooking, Health & Longevity 47:40 What The Next 10 Years Look Like 50:15 Why Competition Makes You Better 54:20 How To Hire Great People 57:15 Turning “Impossible” Into Possible 58:40 Quick Fire Questions 59:30 Arsenal, Spurs & Football Today 1:02:10 Advice For Young Footballers ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 5 · 46 min
Anthony Scaramucci | Trump’s Ballroom, Starmer’s Strategy & The King’s Visit
Anthony Scaramucci doesn’t hold back. From Trump’s obsession with legacy (yes, including the “ballroom” idea) to why Keir Starmer’s strategy with Trump might actually be working, this is a rare insider breakdown of power, ego, and what really happens behind the scenes. Scaramucci explains: Why Trump respects King Charles — and what Americans really think of the Royal Family What the next two years of Trump actually look like (and why it could get messy) Why people around Trump say one thing publicly… and another privately The surprising reason Starmer standing up to Trump could be the right move And the brutal truth about status, ego, and chasing the wrong career He also reflects on his infamous 11 days in the White House, getting publicly destroyed, and how it changed the way he thinks about success, failure, and building a life you actually want. If you care about politics, power, or just making smarter decisions in your own career — this one’s packed. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:00 Meet The Mooch 02:03 Own Your Weaknesses 03:22 Trump and King Charles 04:59 Why Americans Love Royals 07:43 Next Two Years Forecast 10:40 Who Runs After Trump 13:51 Outsider Candidates Return 15:23 Status and Potomac Fever 19:28 11 Days Fallout Lessons 21:49 Workplace Status Shifts 23:53 Reading Like Buffett 24:23 Delegation And Empowerment 25:13 Rocks And Sand Priorities 27:01 London Sprint Schedule 27:38 Relax And Love Work 28:20 Brand After Trump 29:10 Trump Strengths And Charm 31:55 Starmer Stands Up 33:11 Advice For The Kids 37:07 White House One More Day 38:21 Peer Group And Leadership 41:01 Book Picks And Stoicism 44:04 Life Is Good Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 28 · 46 min
McDonald's UK & Ireland CEO | Interns, New Menu & British Food
Note: For transparency, McDonald’s have previously sponsored Jimmy’s Jobs and have been strong supporters of the show. What’s really going on inside McDonald’s? Jimmy sits down with the new UK & Ireland CEO, Lauren Schultz, inside McDonald’s HQ — with a live restaurant running behind them — to break down how one of the world’s biggest brands actually operates. They cover: The real reason McDonald’s keeps changing the menu Why UK restaurants are the busiest in the world What it’s actually like working there And why they’re now hiring thousands of young people Lauren also explains the Youth Confidence Index, why Gen Z are misunderstood at work, and how McDonald’s is trying to solve the “first job” crisis with paid work placements. Plus: menu experiments, AI vs creativity, and what it takes to run a £6M restaurant. 00:00 Intro: Inside McDonald’s HQ 01:01 The Daily Rush (Breakfast → Late Night) 02:18 First Months as CEO 03:56 The First 90 Days Playbook 05:27 Reinventing a 50-Year Brand 06:43 Why the Menu Keeps Changing 08:41 How McDonald’s Tests New Ideas 10:52 The Youth Confidence Crisis 13:52 Inside the Paid Work Experience Scheme 17:16 How Tech Is Changing Jobs 21:04 Creating “Magic Moments” in Restaurants 23:06 How Much Freedom Franchisees Really Have 24:12 Why McDonald’s Service Feels Different 24:35 What They Look for When Hiring (3 C’s) 26:22 Creativity vs AI 27:58 How She Got Into Marketing 30:33 The Happy Meal Turnaround 31:19 Why the First Job Matters So Much 34:39 Expanding the Work Experience Programme 36:01 Raising Kids With Work Ethic 39:43 British Food Taste Test 43:08 Pub Culture & Final Thoughts ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 23 · 50 min
Apprentice Winner - Karishma Vijay
Karishma Vijay on Winning The Apprentice, Explosive Growth & What Lord Alan Sugar Is REALLY Like Behind The Scenes Days after winning The Apprentice, Karishma Vijay sits down with Jimmy’s Jobs to break down what actually happens when you win — from £250K investment decisions to £250K in sales in just 72 hours. She reveals the truth about working with Lord Sugar, how she built skincare brand Kishkin from rock bottom, and why not watching the show might have been her biggest advantage. From losing a 20,000-unit shipment to scaling globally, this is a raw, behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s fastest-rising founders. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Meet The Apprentice Winner 01:08 Winning Without Watching 02:08 Spending the Prize Money 03:46 What Kishkin Actually Is 05:10 Rock Bottom to Moonshot 06:30 From Side Hustles to Agency 09:37 Building the Team and Ops 11:14 Sourcing and R&D Worldwide 12:48 Why The Apprentice Works 16:38 Favorite and Worst Tasks 18:46 Behind the Casting Process 22:07 Life After the Final 23:26 From One Sale to Lorries 24:25 Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs 24:50 Stop Funding Yourself 26:22 MVPs and Digital Products 27:39 Launch Fast Decide Faster 29:11 Experience Beats Education 31:58 From Medicine to Business 34:07 Tracksuit Job Pitch 36:35 Drive and Doing Reps 38:07 Teach Money in Schools 38:43 Apprentice Production Secrets 41:27 Boardroom Reality Check 43:57 Tim vs Karen vs Sugar 44:35 Winning Reactions and Wrap ********** Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 21 · 1 hr 2 min
Classics: Ben Francis & Noel Mack CEO & CBO Gymshark
Our guests need no introduction- Ben Francis & Noel Mack are the founder and Chief Brand Officer of Gymshark. Setting up their HQ in the Midlands, Gymshark is one of the most exciting brands in the UK and is now valued at over £1 billion. Ben and Noel would be the first to admit that traditional schooling and academia did not suit their strengths and neither left school with great results- but it didn’t stop them from becoming a success. This episode will delve into Ben’s first time meeting the Prime Minister, where he thinks the jobs of the future are coming from and the biggest disasters they’ve had at Gymshark. We hope this leaves you with inspiration and advice on how to start your career- or simply piques your interest in the future of the UK economy. --------------- Follow us on socials! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjobs Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jimmysjobsofthefuture Twitter / X: https://www.twitter.com/JimmyM Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmy-mcloughlin-obe/ Want to come on the show? hello@jobsofthefuture.co Sponsor the show or Partner with us: sunny@jobsofthefuture.co Check out our clips channel here! ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@JimmysJobsClips Credits: Host / Exec Producer: Jimmy McLoughlin OBE Producer: Sunny Winter https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnywinter/ Junior Producer: Thuy Dong Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices