Wolfe Power Club Podcast

In this episode of Wolfe Power Club, Alex Wolfe is joined by Managing Director, Tom Highland (Highland Group), and Commercial Director, Sarah Kind (Edge Petrol), to uncover the truth behind fuel prices as the UK enters week six of disruption following the Iran conflict.
With diesel prices up by as much as 40-50p per litre in just weeks, politicians have accused retailers of profiteering, but this episode challenges that narrative using real data from over 1,000 UK forecourts.
We break down what’s really happening at the pump: shrinking retailer margins, rising wholesale costs and the reality that most of the price you pay is driven by tax and global markets, not forecourt profits.
The episode also busts the biggest myths, including the idea that petrol stations are sitting on weeks of cheap fuel, and explains why independents often look more expensive than supermarkets during volatile periods.
From panic buying and supply concerns to the growing gap between petrol and diesel, this is a clear, no-nonsense look at one of the biggest cost-of-living issues in the UK today.

Tom Highland is the Managing Director of Highland Group. A family-run fuel retail business for over 45 years with 6 sites across Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Suffolk. He has taken a leadership role in running the sites for 10 years. Winner of several Forecourt Trader awards, including the Special Recognition award in 2024. First to trial Co-op's new & Co-op fascia offer. The business currently has 5 sites with BP and 1 with Esso, and previously with Shell. Tom runs a TikTok account to show what it's like to run a petrol station from under the @thepetrolretailer channel.

Sarah Kind is Commercial Director at EdgePetrol, a fuel pricing and analytics platform supporting around 1,000 independent forecourts. She joined in 2018 to build the Customer Success function when the business was in its early stages, and has since moved into a commercial leadership role. Sarah works closely with retailers to help them navigate fuel pricing, improve performance, and stay competitive in a fast-changing market. She is passionate about building customer relationships and bringing practical insight to the complexities of fuel pricing.
Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator
 
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Wolfe Power Club Production Team
Account Manager: Emilia Donovan
Director of Government Relations: Max Austin
Sales & Development Executive: Jacob Ryder
Wolfe List Chair: Judith Patten MBE
Designer: Nick Pelekanos
Editor: Adam Woodward
Social Media Manager: Bella Carter
 
Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

In this episode of Wolfe Power Club, host Alex Wolfe speaks to Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party and His Majesty's Official Opposition, as we enter week 5 of the energy crisis resulting from the Iran War.

The current government has not followed other European powers in either supporting their energy industry or reducing pump prices. We hear from Kemi what she would do, if she were Prime Minister, for the North Sea oil industry and the general public.

As we go to press, diesel prices in Britain have gone from £1.40 per litre to £1.80 in the space of 5 weeks, meaning for the average truck driver that is £75 more per fuelling. The second part that Ed Miliband, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are not addressing is that, as the government, they are receiving 8 pence per litre more in VAT but are not changing fiscal policy. Alex discusses with Kemi how to stop taxes on the working.

From North Sea oil and gas to rising fuel prices, she argues the UK should prioritise domestic energy production over imports, warning that current policies risk jobs, investment and long-term energy security. She also challenges the environmental case for importing fuel and calls for changes to fuel duty and energy taxation.

With energy bills, inflation and economic growth at stake, this is a direct look at one of the biggest political debates in the UK today versus our European neighbours.

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Kemi Badenoch has been the Member of Parliament for North West Essex since 2017 and was re-elected in July 2024. She currently serves as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party.
Before taking on her current role, Kemi served as Secretary of State for Business and Trade, President of the Board of Trade, and Minister for Women and Equalities. Her previous ministerial roles include positions at the Treasury, the Department for Education, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator
 
Follow Our Socials
Website: https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WolfePowerClub
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfe-power-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfepowerclub/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfe.power.club
 
Wolfe Power Club Production Team
Account Manager: Emilia Donovan
Director of Government Relations: Max Austin
Sales & Development Executive: Jacob Ryder
Wolfe List Chair: Judith Patten MBE
Designer: Nick Pelekanos
Editor: Adam Woodward
Social Media Manager: Bella Carter
 
Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

🎉 Upcoming Fundraiser – Support SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity. Be sure to join us for our SSAFA fundraiser event on Thursday 26th March 2026. 
🎟 Tickets & Dinner: Eventbrite – Greatest Car Company Debate
(Use code ForcesSupporter15 for 15% off) 
🚗 Charity Auction: Bid online now – closes on the night

🙏 Can’t attend? Donate online: Support SSAFA here
Thanks so much for supporting a fantastic cause.

This week on Wolfe Power Club, we dive into the extraordinary impact of the Iran conflict on energy markets and the companies we invested in at the start of 2026.
Since our January 5th purchases, major energy companies like ExxonMobil, Shell and BP have seen share price increases of nearly 30%, with total market cap gains across our ten tracked companies reaching $249 billion. We break down what drove these gains, which sectors benefited most and how this volatility is reshaping global energy markets.
We also highlight key UK winners, including Harbour Energy and Sirocco Energy, whose valuations soared more than 50% in just 12 weeks. Renewable-adjacent companies like Albemarle Corp also showed growth, reflecting ongoing demand for battery materials in the EV sector.
Finally, we examine broader economic impacts, including pressures on US markets and rising costs for UK businesses, providing insight into how energy volatility affects companies and consumers alike.

DISCLAIMER: We are not financial advisors. This podcast has no influence or responsibility if your shares will make or lose money in the next year. We are only covering what Alex is spending.
Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator
 
Follow Our Socials
Website: https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WolfePowerClub
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfe-power-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfepowerclub/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfe.power.club
 
Wolfe Power Club Production Team
Account Manager: Emilia Donovan
Director of Government Relations: Max Austin
Sales & Development Executive: Jacob Ryder
Wolfe List Chair: Judith Patten MBE
Designer: Nick Pelekanos
Editor: Adam Woodward
Social Media Manager: Bella Carter
 
Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Be sure to join us for our upcoming fundraiser event with SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, on Thursday 26th March 2026. Tickets are available: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ssafa-fundraiser-the-greatest-car-company-debate-charity-auction-tickets-1977379995797

This week on Wolfe Power Club, we take a deep dive into the realities of the UK’s electric vehicle transition.
After attending the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Electrified event, our host, Alex Wolfe, reflects on what we heard from across the industry. We meet the leadership teams from: Volkswagen Group, McLaren, JLR, Volvo, Toyota and Ford. 
So is it finally time to end the ZEV mandate?
Four years on from the ZEV ambitions and two years on from the Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate, we explore how expectations compare to reality from adoption rates and infrastructure rollout to the true cost of EV manufacturing and ownership.
We also examine the growing financial pressure on the industry, including what has become a multi-billion-pound challenge for manufacturers, and discuss whether current policy is helping or hindering progress.
Alongside this, we cover recent developments in global energy markets, including tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the impact on fuel prices.
Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator
 
Follow Our Socials
Website: https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WolfePowerClub
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfe-power-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfepowerclub/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfe.power.club
 
Wolfe Power Club Production Team
Account Manager: Emilia Donovan
Director of Government Relations: Max Austin
Sales & Development Executive: Jacob Ryder
Wolfe List Chair: Judith Patten MBE
Designer: Nick Pelekanos
Editor: Adam Woodward
Social Media Manager: Bella Carter
 
Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast

Oil markets are moving rapidly. The intra-day high reached $119 per barrel following conflict in the Middle East, after trading in the low $60s just two weeks ago.
Earlier this week, the market also moved through $119 per barrel, raising immediate questions about the impact on UK pump prices and fuel costs for drivers and businesses.
Could prices move even higher, potentially approaching the $147 per barrel peak seen during the Russian invasion of Ukraine energy shock?
In this episode, host Alex Wolfe welcomes back James Spencer, Managing Director of Portland Fuel, to explain what is driving the latest surge in global oil markets and what it means for UK consumers.
⚡ Oil rising from the $60s to $119 in two weeks
⚡ Oil crossing $119 earlier today and the impact on pump prices
⚡ Petrol and diesel prices reacting across the UK
⚡ What drivers and businesses should watch next
⚡ Incredibly large gap in refined products such as aviation fuel and kerosene
⚡ The OBR has warned that fuel prices could raise inflation by 3%
This episode builds on last week’s discussion with S&P Global, where we focused on upstream risks linked to potential disruption around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints.

James Spencer started his career in oil refining in 1994, with Mobil and then BP, after graduating from Cambridge University. In 2003, James joined the Bayford Group of Companies as Group Operations Director, looking after their £500m pa portfolio. During this time, he also became Chairman of the Association of UK Oil Independents. In 2009, James set up Portland Fuel, a company offering fuel price data, advisory services and fuel hedging. He is a regular contributor to national debates on oil prices and has appeared numerous times in the UK media.

Be sure to join us for our upcoming fundraiser event with SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity, on Thursday 26th March 2026. Tickets are available: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ssafa-fundraiser-the-greatest-car-company-debate-charity-auction-tickets-1977379995797
Season Two is in Partnership with The Spectator
 
Follow Our Socials
Website: https://www.wolfepowerclub.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WolfePowerClub
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfe-power-club/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wolfepowerclub/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfe.power.club
 
Wolfe Power Club Production Team
Account Manager: Emilia Donovan
Director of Government Relations: Max Austin
Sales & Development Executive: Jacob Ryder
Wolfe List Chair: Judith Patten MBE
Designer: Nick Pelekanos
Editor: Adam Woodward
Social Media Manager: Bella Carter
 
Recorded at Studio 55 - that has produced Breaking the Taboo and The ABTO Podcast