
Show Notes
In this special holiday edition of Trading Up Unpacked, Jim Fitzpatrick and Professor Richard Ramsey dive deep into the pressing economic questions facing Northern Ireland. They tackle the controversial "grant culture" and the "perverse incentives" that have shaped the region since the days of Delorean, arguing for a shift toward competition and tax-based incentives. Jim and Richard explore the "fiscal deficit attention disorder" affecting public services and propose a radical solution: moving the government out of Stormont to reconnect with the people. For business owners, the episode provides essential insights into succession planning, highlighting the Almac trust model and the evolving landscape of Employee Ownership Trusts. Finally, they debate the missed opportunities in the recent licensing review and the need for a more competitive hospitality sector. Whether you are a policymaker or an entrepreneur, this episode offers a masterclass in navigating Northern Ireland’s unique business environment.
Disclaimer Brought to you in association with EY. The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not reflect the views or positions of EY or its other member Firms. EY proudly sponsors the Trading Up podcast but does not endorse or take responsibility for any statements made by individual guests. The Trading Up podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Trading Up
In this episode of Trading Up Unpacked, host Jim Fitzpatrick and Professor Richard Ramsey analsye how economic realities are overriding culture wars to reshape global political agendas.
In this episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick sits down with tech entrepreneur Alastair Cameron to explore the raw realities of founder resilience, personal crisis, and starting over.
In this episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick and economist Professor Richard Ramsey unpack Northern Ireland's dramatic economic split.
Every successful economy is built on the foundations of a good education system. So what happens when education standards begin to fall and what can Northern Ireland learn from what works elsewhere?
In this latest episode of Trading Up, host Jim Fitzpatrick explores why traditional top-down central control holds scaling businesses back. Featuring business leaders across tech, retail, and travel, the episode reveals how delegating real authority to local teams drives performance and innovation.