November - December 2020

More cancelled trips abroad because of lockdown, so I’ll be coaching a couple of companies abroad by Zoom for their end of year results presentations to analysts and journalists. I’ll also be narrating both War Dogs and What Really Happened Aboard Air France 447, the first in a series of podcasts for an American company.

My guests on my BBC Radio Berkshire show will include decorated Falklands veteran Simon Weston, TV’s Judge Rinder, the cast of The Crown, Beverley Knight, Lesley Garrett, Christopher Biggins and Suzi Quattro.

I’ll also be helping switch on the Christmas lights in Richmond, London, the first time it’s been done online, as I host the video show from the town. The countdown to Christmas has begun!

September - October 2020

Following the cancellation of a trip to Portugal (again) because of quarantine restrictions, business plans are very fluid due to travel restrictions, though I’m looking forward to coaching in Ecuador (via the magic of Zoom!). All being well I’ll be in Leeds coaching the bosses of a household name supermarket chain for their virtual conference, and I’ll also be going to Switzerland to work on the presentation of full year financial results for a favourite client. That’s if Switzerland comes off the UK Government’s “naughty” list of course.

I’ll be hosting the annual conference for a charity named Ataxia, the first time the delegates will join on line rather than in person. What could go wrong?

My guests on my BBC radio shows will include the hypnotist Paul McKenna, broadcaster Bob Harris, hit producer Pete Waterman, musician Mike Batt, and BBC ‘Call The Midwife’ and ‘Ghosts’ comedy star Charlotte Ritchie.

July - August 2020

It was a joy working on the business audio book ‘The. In. Car. Nation Code’ which is now available on Amazon, Audible and all the usual outlets. It is a look ahead at how technology and cars will be revolutionised, and the smarter ways car manufacturers will need to work. We started recording this just before lockdown, so moving production to my home studio and sending large audio files each day to the engineer was a challenge. But we got there.

It has been heartening to see signs of a small comeback in the business world. My coaching sessions are happening by Zoom, rather than face to face, but there is so much that can be done this way. Be careful who else is in your home when doing these Zoom sessions though. Yesterday, I did a session that involved a few countries, and my colleague in Los Angeles was interrupted by a dog barking, followed by its owner pulling it out of the room. She was staying with my colleague, but she came to the camera to say hello to everyone. It was Lesley Nicol, alias Mrs Patmore on TV’s Downton Abbey. And no, she didn’t give us any cooking tips.

My guests on my radio show over the next few weeks will include award winning actresses actresses Ruth Madoc, Susan Penhaligon and Seeta Indrani. That’s on BBC Radio Berkshire, each Sunday morning 6am till 10am.

Stay safe and, if you’re one of the lucky ones to be having a holiday this year, enjoy!

May - June 2020

I hope that you, and yours, are safe at this difficult time. Covid-19 has changed the way we do business, changed incomes, changed interactions, but, most alarmingly, it has been indiscriminate in its ability to cause grief to us all. I lost a very valued, and dear mentor and former boss to the virus - a man, without whom, I would never have had my career.

Being able to carry on presenting my radio shows for the BBC has confirmed to me that we’re all struggling to make sense of the pandemic, trying our best while retaining an astounding hope for the future. Listeners have told me so many moving stories, like Mandy who got in touch to say her hero was a lady named Monica, a care home worker who looked after her 98 year old mum throughout her battle with the virus.

“Keep fighting. You’ll see your family again,” Monica told her each day while holding her hand. Monica was right, and Mandy’s mum recovered. But now Monica, a brave carer like so many others, has contracted the virus.

Businesses will get back to a new normal. Salaries will be paid again. Holidays will be taken. Business trips made. But we will all be different people. Grateful for those, like Monica, who went the extra mile.

We will be dismissive of those who showed greed or indifference, but even more loyal to those who really matter.

Stay safe.

March - April 2020

Paul is narrating an audiobook named The In Car Nation which will be available soon. He will also present his weekly show on BBC Radio.

Travel restrictions allowing, he will be travelling to Switzerland to work with a company on their half year results’ presentation to analysts and journalists, as well as working with companies in the UK on their communications strategies at a difficult time with the daily updates on Coronavirus advice.

Paul will also travel to his old school in Glasgow for a ceremony at which he will be honoured to be inducted in to the St Aloysius’ College Hall Of Fame.

 January - February 2020

Paul will be working with executives at British Telecom in the UK as well as companies in Belgium and Switzerland.

He will be heard presenting his usual shows on BBC Radio London and BBC Radio Berkshire.