Simon Darby - Founder and Managing Director of SD Legal Services.
What were your career ambitions growing up?
I kept changing my mind, I went from Accountant to Journalist but ended up in Banking straight from school at 16 years old, I was a Police Constable in Cleveland Police before entering the private enforcement industry which then lead to setting up SD Legal Services. I always wanted to end up running my own company.
Tell us about your current role?
I am the founder and managing director of SD Legal Services, we provide a nationwide Process Serving and Tracing service to hundreds of clients across the country and my main role is keeping track of all the cases and liaising with clients. I work from home which allows me to spend more time around my family.
What is your proudest business achievement?
I think managing to smash through the £1/2 million pound mark in turnover last year was the best achievement.
How has your industry changed in the last decade?
A huge amount, mainly brought about by the Covid pandemic, it forced law firms into the 21st century, before Covid, most instructions for process serves were received in the post causing big delays in service. Now everything is digital which not only means we can serve documents incredibly fast, sometimes within minutes but it also means that I can run the company from anywhere and still offer the same level of service to clients.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on new website with Stacey Nottingham from Bombshell Design and also looking at what other services I can provide to my clients.
Tell us about the clients you work with?
We work for a very large number of law firms clients plus Housing Associations, Local Authorities, Debt Recovery Companies and Property Management companies.
What is the best piece of business advice you have been given?
A friend in London once told me that you should never wait until you have a quiet time in work before looking at carrying out marketing, this should be done all the time even when you are busy.
What has been your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge I have faced is managing cashflow, I pay my agents within a few days of receipt of their invoice but often have to wait months, sometimes years to be paid by clients, when you are dealing with 400-500 cases a week then this can be a challenge but a challenge that I have managed very successfully.
Who are your heroes inside and outside of business?
I have too may to mention, I admire anyone who, through shear hard work has managed to make a success of themselves in whatever area they choose.
What family do you have around you?
I have been with my wife Sharon, a fellow director at SD Legal Services for 35 years and have been married for 28 years. I have three sons, my eldest son achieved a first in his Masters degree in Pharmacy and along with his fiancé he is a Pharmacist at James Cook University Hospital and is getting married in November. My middle son is about to graduate from Teesside University in Criminology he works as a Mixologist at weekends and is starting a Masters degree in September. My youngest son has just finished his 2nd year of a degree in Paramedic Practice at Teesside University and works at Cipher Medical in his spare time.
How do you unwind outside of work?
I tend to be working 12-14 hours a day so unwinding is a challenge but I like to spend quality time with my family, go on long walks with my dog and spend as much time as possible going on weekend breaks in York and spend a lot of the summer in Cyprus.
Favourite Book and Boxset?
I don’t tend to read books to be honest, I am very interested in supercars and property so spend time reading articles etc with regards to these topics.
www.sdlegalltd.co.uk