A monthly podcast launched by a former regional daily editor has been ranked in the top three in the UK in its sector.

Steve Dyson, left, former editor of the Birmingham Mail and Teesside Gazette, produces the monthly ‘Aston means business’ podcast on behalf of Aston University’s Business School.

Since its launch in 2019, Steve has researched, presented and delivered 45 episodes in the series.

Now it has been ranked at number three in a list of “the best UK business school podcasts” by podcast blog FeedSpot.com, which analyses the traffic, social media followers, domain authority and “freshness” of thousands of podcasts.

Steve, who now runs his own business Dyson Media, said the podcast allows him “unfettered access” to top academics at the Business School, enabling it to focus on any topical subject with authority and expertise.

He said: “Some of my favourite episodes came during Covid-19, when we focused on heroes such as community supermarkets continuing to serve inner city areas and a festival business which flipped operations to help set up mobile NHS vaccination centres.

“The regular series is also fascinating, with recent episodes ranging from ‘How rejection should be treated as a stepping stone to success’ to ‘How small businesses are helping to solve the energy crisis’.

“As a former industrial correspondent on the Birmingham Mail, I’ve always loved reporting the human side of business, so I really enjoy this podcast outlet with Aston Business School.”

Paul Hebron, head of marketing at Aston Business School, added: “The detailed structure, planning, precision and journalistic input from Dyson Media has helped every step of the series’ development.

“From an initial workshop Steve held to set up the blog in mid-2019, through to what’s now 45 episodes across five series and counting, the support has been both unstinting and of a consistent quality.”

Since setting up Dyson Media in 2009, Steve has delivered hundreds of face-to-face media training courses for businesses, charities and universities, with clients as far away as London, Glasgow, Cardiff, Brussels and Zurich.

He also runs the ‘Society matters’ podcast for Aston University’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities, and is producing a podcast series aimed at simplifying family law for Thursfields Solicitors.