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Business English Essentials with Higher English

Business English Essentials with Higher English

Craig Branch 73 Episodes Oct 19, 2026

Higher English is a podcast for professionals who want to improve their business English communication skills. Hosted by CELTA-qualified trainer Craig Branch, it covers vocabulary, idioms, phrasal verbs, and fluency for workplace situations. The show also promotes a Business English Essentials course and offers free lessons to help learners express themselves confidently and effectively in English.

Episodes

Borrowed Time — The Language Room, Episode 3
Borrowed Time — The Language Room, Episode 3 Oct 19, 2026 00:09:58 Time is one of the most powerful themes in music — and inEnglish. In this episode we explore ten songs built around the theme of time, from Pink Floyd to The KLF, and ask what each one reveals about the way English handles urgency, nostalgia, regret, and hope. This episode is free to watch on YouTube. The companionworkbook is available free on Substack. Subscribe at: https://open.substack.com/pub/
The Great Meeting Debate: Should You Always Speak?
The Great Meeting Debate: Should You Always Speak? Oct 19, 2026 00:02:24 Is staying quiet in meetings a mistake, or is it sometimes the smarter move? Part 2 of our Meetings series weighs up both sides of the debate, with international teams in mind.
How to Lead a Meeting in English (Without Hesitating)
How to Lead a Meeting in English (Without Hesitating) Oct 14, 2026 00:07:15 Leading a meeting in English is a very different skill from attending one.In this episode, we walk through six key moments every meeting leader faces, and the kind of language that helps you handle each one smoothly. It's practical, it's workplace-focused, and it's designed to help you sound clear and in control, even when you're thinking in another language.Part 1 of a 3-part mini
More Small Words, More Big Mistakes
More Small Words, More Big Mistakes Oct 6, 2026 00:02:59  Part 2 of our series on describing graphs and trends in English. More of the small prepositions that make a big difference to what your data actually says.
The Grammar Behind Every Good Data Presentation
The Grammar Behind Every Good Data Presentation Sep 27, 2026 00:03:09 One small preposition can completely change what your data means. Part 1 of a 2-part series on the essential words for describing graphs, trends and changes in business English.
The Real Skill for International English
The Real Skill for International English Sep 19, 2026 00:03:16 Most workplace English isn't native-to-native — it's international, and that changes what "good English" actually means. Five practical habits for clearer communication when you're both working in your second language.
Hearing vs. Listening: The English Skill You've Been Missing
Hearing vs. Listening: The English Skill You've Been Missing Sep 12, 2026 00:04:58 There's a difference between hearing someone and actually listening to them — and most of us don't notice which one we're doing. This week's video looks at a few natural phrases that signal real listening in English, and why they matter more in business settings than most people realise.
Stop Starting Your Presentations Like This
Stop Starting Your Presentations Like This Sep 5, 2026 00:02:42 Most presentations lose people before the first slide even loads. This episode covers 8 ways to open that keep the room with you from the first line — sharp, practical, no fluff.
What Colour Sounds Like — The Language Room, Episode 2
What Colour Sounds Like — The Language Room, Episode 2 Sep 3, 2026 00:01:43 What Colour Sounds Like — The Language Room, Episode 2.Colour words in English carry far more than their dictionarymeaning. In this episode we explore ten iconic songs — from Elvis Presley toJimi Hendrix to Fleetwood Mac — and ask what the colour in each title is really telling us.This episode is part of The Language Room — a free monthlyvideo series for curious English learners, available on Subs
Is your social media strategy actually working?
Is your social media strategy actually working? Aug 31, 2026 00:03:19 That's the question two colleagues are trying to answer in this week's Higher English lesson.Rather than simply studying a list of vocabulary, you'll hear a realistic workplace conversation about social media marketing and the language professionals use when discussing campaigns and results.A practical way to develop your Business English through realistic workplace communication.
Numbers. Results. Performance.
Numbers. Results. Performance. Aug 22, 2026 00:01:29 How do you talk about quantities and results naturally in English?It's not always as straightforward as it looks.When you're discussing things like performance, activity and results, the language you use depends on what exactly you're talking about.This week's Higher English lesson explores that problem through social media marketing, giving you practical language you can use when
Want your Business English to sound more natural?
Want your Business English to sound more natural? Aug 16, 2026 00:01:39 Knowing the vocabulary doesn't necessarily mean you can use it naturally.One of the secrets of fluent English is knowing which words naturally belong together.That's where collocations come in.This week's Higher English lesson focuses on useful collocations for talking about social media marketing, giving you practical language you can use in professional conversations.

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