INTERVIEW
How boss of buzzing business hub is humbled with OBE
Queen ’ s honour
Paul McEldon OBE talks to Wear Business consultant editor Rob Lawson about his love and passion for the Wear region …
PICTURES BY GRAEME ROWATT
P aul McEldon is one of the most respected and recognisable figures in the regional business community .
For more than 20 years , Paul has led Sunderland-based the North East Business and Innovation Centre ( BIC ), helping to establish and grow new companies and at the same time transforming thousands of lives and making a huge contribution to the regional economy .
The figures are staggering . Under his leadership , the BIC has supported more than 4,500 companies with the creation of more than 7,500 jobs , while there are currently more than 250 businesses located on the BIC ’ s three sites – its HQ in Wearfield , Sunderland , Business Central Darlington and the Hub , in Washington .
Although passionate about the city – and his beloved SAFC – Paul isn ’ t a Sunderland native . He was born in Salford , Manchester , and brought up in
Crook . His dad was a tourism officer with Wear Valley Council , a job he left to set up his own restaurant in Crook , aged 50 .
“ That was my first exposure to entrepreneurship . I saw at first hand how hard it is to set up your own business ,” says Paul .
One particular piece of advice from his dad has stuck with him : “ He taught me to work hard and care for people . “ Running a successful business means working well with people – you need to listen and learn from others , keep your promises and develop meaningful working relationships .” Paul went to school in Bishop Auckland before studying a degree in accounting and financial analysis at Newcastle University .
In the second year of his degree , Paul achieved the highest mark for accountancy in his year group . The award led directly to a job with global accountancy giant KPMG in 1987 .
“ I was there for six years , working in tax and audit across the North-East and further afield ,” he explains .
“ As part of my role , I went on secondment to Sunderland City Training and Enterprise Council ( TEC ) as interim finance director .
“ The TEC was one of 70 national government-funded schemes responsible for the new apprenticeship and skills programmes , as well as some fledgling enterprise programmes .” The temporary role became permanent and Paul became chief executive of the TEC .
“ The TEC folded in 2001 when the funding dried up and we then worked with the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation on the idea of supporting the development and growth of SMEs , innovative entrepreneurs and startups , based on a European model ,” he explains .
“ The result was the North East Business and Innovation Centre ( BIC ), a not-for-profit organisation tasked with driving entrepreneurship and
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