In this episode of Fishers on the Case, Amanda Payne sits down with Simon Baines from De Montfort University to explore the journey of entrepreneurship, creativity, and turning ideas into reality.

Simon shares his experience supporting students, graduates, and aspiring entrepreneurs as they navigate starting a business from finding the confidence to take the first step, to understanding the risks, opportunities, and importance of building the right foundations.

They discuss:

Whether you're thinking about starting a business, growing an idea, or simply looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with insights to help you move forward.

00:00 Why Taking the First Step Matters

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, Amanda Payne is joined by Lee Robinson from Leicester Movers and Storers.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne welcomes Tom Blake, a Partner at Fisher German with over 23 years of experience in property agency and advisory services. Tom shares his journey from a childhood fascination with building and architecture to managing regional teams across the Midlands.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne sits down with Tom Parkman from MT Services to discuss the critical intersection of IT, cybersecurity, and modern business. With over 13 years at MT Services, Tom provides a deep dive into how Managed Service Providers (MSPs) protect small to medium businesses and how tools like AI are reshaping the technical landscape.

Welcome to another episode of Fishers on the Case, the podcast where we dive into the lives and careers of business owners and industry experts. In this episode, host Amanda Payne, CEO of Fishers Solicitors, sits down with Elaine Penhaul, the founder of Lemon and Lime Interiors.

What happens when you trade the courtroom for the copy desk? In this episode of Fishers on the Case, CEO Amanda Payne sits down with Kirsty France, founder of Kirsty France Writes, to explore her fascinating transition from a 10-year career as a solicitor to becoming a professional copywriter and fiction author.

Kirsty reveals how her legal background specifically her time in personal injury and defendant litigation gave her a unique "Guide" authority, allowing her to translate complex technical jargon into compelling stories for businesses. We dive into the importance of networking, overcoming writer's block by "writing nonsense," and the mindset shift required to move from professional services to creative entrepreneurship.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, Amanda Payne sits down with Jack McBillips from Digital Office to talk about local business, family-run companies, and how Ashby has changed over the years.

Jack shares his journey from studying business and marketing to joining the family business, starting from the ground up, and helping Digital Office grow into a modern provider of print, IT, cloud and telecoms solutions.

Amanda and Jack also discuss the growth of Ashby, the importance of face-to-face relationships, working in a family business, and why local businesses continue to play such an important role in the community.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Martyn Baum, estate agent and long-standing friend of Fishers, to discuss the realities of buying and selling property. Martyn shares how he fell into estate agency through work experience, his journey from trainee estate agent to running his own business, and why property is ultimately about people, relationships and trust. Amanda and Martyn also explore why property transactions now take much longer than they used to, what causes delays in conveyancing, why communication between estate agents and solicitors matters, and what could be done to improve the process for buyers and sellers.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Sophie Allen from Serrano Media to discuss what it is really like setting up and running a small business as a sole trader. Sophie shares her journey from working in retail to building a career in graphic design, gaining hands-on experience in print and marketing before launching her own business. They discuss the realities of being a sole trader, including wearing multiple hats, managing finances and learning new skills along the way. The conversation also explores the power of networking, building meaningful relationships through events like Ashby Connect, and how strong client relationships define success.

In this episode of Fishers on the Case, host Amanda Payne is joined by Sharon Butter, Senior Financial Adviser at Ashwood Law Wealth Management Ltd. Sharon discusses her career journey from studying business management and financial services to working in banking before moving into financial planning. The conversation explores how financial planning has evolved over time, the qualifications required within the industry, and how advisers work with pensions, investments, protection and long term financial planning. Amanda and Sharon also discuss the role local professional firms play within communities like Ashby, and why collaboration between legal and financial professionals can support clients across different areas of life and business.