Executive Commute: Local Interviews | Paul Smith’s Bridgwater Legacy | Insurance, Family & Football

Paul Smith joins Pippa Whitfield for a proper local legend catch-up about Paul Smith Associates, the family-run Bridgwater insurance broker he founded in 1993. We talk about how the business started from the dining room table, grew into a high street office, and still focuses on SMEs, commercial motor, shops, offices, pubs, cafés, hotels and other local businesses. Paul also explains why being visible in the community still matters in an increasingly online world. There’s also a really personal side to this conversation: Paul shares the story of discovering his father’s Japanese heritage, the family history that shaped his sense of identity, and the surprise backstory behind his dad’s life in Bridgwater. On top of that, we get into football, community work, and Road Lane Wanderers, the youth club Paul helped build to support kids and families across the town. If you like honest business chat, local roots and proper community spirit, this one’s for you. Find out more about Paul Smith Associates here: paul-smith-associates.co.uk 🎤Hosted by: Pippa Whitfield (LLB Agency) 🚗 Courtesy car: Hilton Ames Executive Travel 🏢Guest: Paul Smith, Paul Smith Associates 🎥 Filmed by: Justin Krause at IMPACT 20Twenty 📻 Brought to you by: Sedgemoor FM --------------------------------- 👉 Subscribe for stories, updates, and behind-the-scenes insights!    / @sedgemoorfm104.2   ---------------------------------------- ⏱️ Video Timestamps⏱️ 00:00 – Intro and joking about the name 00:27 – Why Paul is “Bridgwater royalty” 00:48 – Childhood in Bridgwater and school days 01:21 – Discovering his father’s Japanese heritage 02:21 – Dad’s education and engineering career 04:25 – College, bad A-levels and first job in insurance 04:56 – Setting up the business in 1993 05:32 – Starting from home and growing the firm 06:00 – Family business: Suzanne, Sam and Chloe 07:06 – Why having a town-centre office matters 08:23 – Why the business has lasted 09:41 – Who Paul works with: SMEs and local businesses 10:30 – Commercial insurance and local customers 11:28 – Haulage and nostalgic client stories 12:19 – Football, youth sport and playing locally 13:43 – Road Lane Wanderers Junior Football Club and helping kids play 15:48 – The Bridgwater Cup and community recognition 16:49 – How to contact Paul Smith Associates 17:32 – Help needed for Road Lane Wanderers 18:56 – Limo chat, loyalty and Paul Newman 19:52 – Final shout-outs and goodbye ---------------------------------------------------- 👉 FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Listen Live & Visit our homepage🎵 https://sedgemoorfm.com/ Facebook 🔝   / sedgemoorfm   Instagram📸   / segdemoorfm   Twitter 🕊   / sedgemoorfm*   Linked In:   / 86876633   -------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT SEDGEMOOR FM Broadcasting from our studios in Bridgwater, Sedgemoor fm unapologetically supports and promotes the area and community. --------------------------------------------------------- 👉 LISTEN TO SEDGEMOOR FM 104.2fm | Smart Speaker | App | Sedgemoorfm.com