Thinking Commercially
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.
Episodes
28 episodes
Special - 5 essential commercial trends, interview tips & our top resources
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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57:36
Episode 27 - interviews, starting a job, types of businesses & top tips
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 gr...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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1:10:09
Episode 26 - your questions: ESGs, SMEs, taxes, free internet & your soft skills
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 h...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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55:11
Episode 25 - ChatGPT, business lobbies, shadow banking & holidays
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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54:46
Episode 24 - SVB collapse, tax, EY split, leaving London & CEOs
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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55:18
Episode 23 - your questions, top trends, being commercial & applications
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 h...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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51:24
Episode 22 - profits, cashflow, big tech, FTSE 100 & advertising blunders
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 u...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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55:25
Episode 21 - REITs, strikes, cost of living & business of football
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 ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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55:35
Episode 20 - mini budget, remote working, money laundering & Gen Z
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...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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53:25
Episode 19 - special: ace applications & starting your first job
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 a...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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55:33
Episode 18 - price rises, rail strikes, economic productivity & wellbeing tips
In this episode of Thinking Commercially, Chris and Ben discuss how we can reduce the impact of inflation, striking on the railway and productivity in the UK economy. Plus, we discuss wellbeing in your early career and hobbies which have taken ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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51:18
Episode 17 - Twitter, a recession, decline of cash & shopper returns
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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54:15
Episode 16 - P&O, the tax year, influencers & flexible working
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 ...
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55:51
Episode 15 - economic sanctions, tech M&A, going meat-free & the Post Office
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 en...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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52:58
Episode 14 - UK's economic growth, Peloton, oil prices and returning to the office
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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50:57
Episode 13 - balancing the UK economy, NFTs, China's property market & the pub
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 Brit...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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55:06
Episode 12 - businesses posting a profit, green energy, conglomerates & modern brands
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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56:25
Episode 11 - the energy crisis, global corporation tax, job vacancies & top tips
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 awa...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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51:14
Episode 10 - IPOs, M&A, staff shortages, the new NI rate & dressing for the office
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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59:03
Episode 9 - quantitative easing, pensions, the future of Channel 4 & sugar tax
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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59:25
Episode 8 - IPOs in London, taxing big tech, commercial property & Coca-Cola bottles
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 en...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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51:58
Episode 7 - vaccine IP, the roaring 20s, inflation worries & a new streaming service
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 fr...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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59:45
Episode 6 - how businesses raise money, Deliveroo's IPO, space exploration & the microchip shortage
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 t...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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55:41
Episode 5 - the City after Brexit, the Budget, understanding oil & Amazon's new shop
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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57:35
Episode 4 - GameStop, green investments, research reports & that Trustpilot review
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 comm...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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48:00