A new podcast called Voices of Influence has launched this week, hosted by Influencer CEO Ben Jeffries and Co-Founder Caspar Lee.
The first episode features entrepreneur Simon Squibb, known for his strong opinions on education and business. Squibb doesn’t hold back, saying: “If I were the Prime Minister today, I would ban business degrees.”
During the episode, Squibb argues that universities operate like banks, putting young people into debt while failing to teach practical life and business skills.
He says, “I think that universities are partly an extension of the banking system. How can we get people into debt from a young age? Sell them something they don’t understand.”
Squibb, who founded HelpBnk, explains how his own experience of homelessness made him realise the need for better financial education.
He adds, “When I was homeless, I wasn’t thinking about biology or chemistry but about how little I knew about money and looking after myself.”
Ben Jeffries, who dropped out of university himself to build Influencer at eighteen, agrees there’s more value in real-world experience for many professions.
He says, “Often in the UK school system you are encouraged to go to university, but for a lot of degrees there’s so much more experience to gain outside.”
Voices of Influence will feature a line-up of guests sharing their opinions throughout the summer. The podcast is available on Apple and Spotify, with more details at Influencer’s website.
