Share Sounds

Today's edition of The Apprentice Investor. Regular listeners to the show will know that our Apprentices are five members of the Share Radio team who've each been given fifteen thousand pounds of virtual money to build individual share portfolios. They can own a minimum of eight stocks, which they've been buying and selling through The Share Centre. So, as we roll towards the end of February are the five cash strapped, or cash wealthy? Apprentices Ruby Johnson and Alexi Phillips join Juliette Foster along with Share Radio's, Senior Analyst, Ed Bowsher.

Juliette Foster was joined in studio as always by Gavin Serkin, bringing you the only show dedicated to global emerging markets. Their guests this week were Stuart Culverhouse, Head of Research at Exotix Partners, one of the largest dedicated frontier markets investment firm and Ahmed Tabaqchali, CIO of AFC Iraq Fund. This time Iraq, Argentina and Ukraine feature among others.

Share Radio's Robert Van Egghen joins Managing Editor of Forbes Africa Magazine, Chris Bishop, to discuss the latest events in politics and business in the continent. This week: It's crunch time for South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan as he prepares to deliver Wednesday's budget speech, regarded as the country's last chance to avoid junk status An unexpected rally in the rand More arguments in the South African Parliament as the Democratic Alliance Chief Whip is thrown out Why a plane was detained in Zimbabwe with two officials from the South African reserve banks, millions of rand and a dead body

Could you imagine a future where humans are out of work because their jobs have been taken over by highly intelligent robots? It may sound like the plot from a science fiction novel but technological advances mean it's a possibility that shouldn't be ruled out. A recent study by Oxford University found that 47% of all jobs in America could be carried out by robots with sophisticated artificial intelligence systems. We have this special report from Share Radio's Alexi Philips.

Andy Silvester, Head of Campaigns at the Institute of Directors, talks about the new IoD survey which shows that the majority of its members are set to vote to remain in the European Union. Six in ten business leaders plan to vote to remain according to the snap poll and Andy discusses this with Nigel Cassidy and Louise Cooper.

David Buik, Market Commentator at Panmure Gordon, talks about the Brexit referendum and the implications of an EU deal for the City. The Institute of Directors has found that 60% of its directors plan to vote to remain, and an open letter signed by half of the FTSE100 chairmen and chief executives say that leaving the EU “would put the economy at risk”.

This week, Nick Peters hits the Shop Floor to discuss why ever high levels of employment are not translating into higher wages with Steve Lewis, a former army officer and businessman who runs the Number 18 coffee shop in Crickhowell. Steve is one of the leaders of the Fair Tax Town programmes. Nick looks at why leaders need to listen to their followers in order to close the digital skills gap inside corporations with Colin Sloman, Managing Director of Accenture, a consultancy firm who conducted a major survey of global businesses to assess how they are keeping up with the pace of lightning fast technological change. Despite unemployment levels falling, and more people striking out on their own to add to the country's growing micro-business community, Nick Peters hears from Gerwyn Davies, the Labour Market Advisor at the CIPD about why this good news isn't necessarily good for wages and productivity levels. And the good, the bad, and the ugly, Nick takes a closer look at workforce surveys to find out the do's and don'ts when it comes to writing them with Anthony Hughes of recruitment specialists Coburg Banks. Plus, the first in our series of IDG Insights is launched, bringing you the stories that matter.

Linda Lewis speaks to Dave Millett, Founder of Equinox, an independent Telecoms Brokerage and Consultancy company, based in Putney. Since 2009 they have gathered over 250 brokerage clients around the country and are managing a number of international projects on the go as well.

Sue Dougan speaks to Richard Gillingwater (CBE), Chairman of Henderson Global Investors and recently appointed Pro-Chancellor of the Open University. Together they look back at his life and career through his chosen tracks.

Sarah Pennells is joined by Sean Tipton, Business Development Manager at ABTA (The Travel Association), and Charles Gulland, owner of Wigwam Holidays, where they discuss Easter holidays and spring breaks, as well as answering our all important listeners questions on things like insurance packages and when to get the best deals. Our Share Radio Producer Matthew Cook spoke to Lonely Planet writer, David Else, to find out the best time to go away for the Easter holidays, and book that all important break.