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Smart Meters and Shared Ownership

Does shared ownership work? We hear how it may be a success, but not as it was originally intended. Also, why smart meters feel disconnected - and late night online shopping.

Three quarters of a million private renters in poor quality homes are stuck with around 拢1,000 higher costs to heating bills.

The fashion and homeware retailer Oliver Bonas saw profits after tax increase by 150% last year. That's the same year in which they became the first high street retailer to pay staff the living wage. That decision will cost the business an extra 拢1 million pounds in salaries this year. The chain has 58 stores, the most recent one opened last week in Manchester Piccadilly train station. Oliver Tress is the CEO and founder of the Oliver Bonas brand. He tells Winifred about his vision.

The majority of people who opted for shared ownership will never be able to buy their home outright - so has shared ownership failed?

The new breed of craft brewers sometimes lack what would seem to be a basic requirement of the trade - a brewery. Instead they hire existing breweries to knock up brew. One of the most successful Shindigger is made by a couple of entrepreneurs who paid their way through Uni knocking up home brew and selling at parties - When they wanted to get serious and open a brewery no bank would lend them the cash, instead they took their recipe and went looking for brewers with down time. They aren't alone one of the most successful gypsy brewers is Danish and his output is sold world wide.

The switch to smart meters involves fitting up to sixty million meters all linked by their own wireless network. But the roll out has not gone to plan. We hear why.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • Convenience Stores

    Figures reveal that UK supermarkets are applying for planning permission for fewer stores

    Duration: 05:54

  • Shared Ownership

    The government wants to see shared ownership grow by 70% in the next five years

    Duration: 05:37

  • Oliver Bonas

    Winifred speaks to Oliver Tress, CEO and founder of the retailer Oliver Bonas

    Duration: 06:51

  • Cuckoo Breweries

    Cuckoo brewers make new craft beers in space that's rented from established breweries

    Duration: 05:59

  • Vampire Economy

    An increasing number of us are shopping online between 11 at night and 5 in the morning

    Duration: 06:45

  • Smart Meters

    Listeners tell us the technical difficulties encountered with getting a smart meter

    Duration: 07:34

Broadcast

  • Thu 27 Oct 2016 12:15

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