North East BIC leader Paul McEldon to step down after 25 years

Mr McEldon – who received an OBE for services to business growth in the North East – will retire next year

A North East business leader is set to step down from his role at the head of a business support organisation after more than 25 years in the job.

Paul McEldon has been chief executive of the North East BIC since 2001, having joined the organisation in 1994. He has announced plans to retire next year, with the organisation starting the search for his successor.

The BIC, which has offices in Sunderland, was inspired by a European business model of fusing workspace with business support. It has become one of the region’s largest social enterprises, with a recent impact report revealing that it has boosted the regional economy by over £2.5bn.

The BIC’s four business centres have provided a home to more than 1,100 businesses over the past three decades and its events and support have helped more than 8,000 people set up and grow their own firms. Mr McEldon’s role in leading the organisation saw him receive an OBE in 2021 for services to local growth in the North East.

He said: “It has been an absolute honour to be part of the BIC team for the past 32 years and to have had the privilege of working with so many amazing people on the journey.

“Over the time we have served the region, we have created a business community unlike anything else in the North East, but this would never have been possible had it not been for our fantastic team.

“Everyone from our advisers to the maintenance teams, office staff and our receptionists are what make the BIC such a special organisation and if you speak to any of our customers, be they tenants or business support recipients, I am sure they will testify to that. They truly embody everything the BIC stands for.

“Now the time has come for me to step down and focus on the board work I do, which I thoroughly enjoy and which keeps me really busy. I do so in the knowledge that we have the incredible people already in place to ensure the BIC remains a force for good for another three decades and beyond.”

The BIC is recruiting for a new chief executive, with the successful applicant expected to be in post by Christmas. Mr McEldon will continue working with his successor for several months to ensure a smooth handover of activities.

BIC chair Kevan Carrick said: “Paul has been a driving force behind the North East BIC during his tenure, overseeing its growth into one of the region’s most respected business support organisations. Under his leadership, the BIC has provided vital workspace, mentoring, and innovation support to hundreds of businesses across the North East, helping to create thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to the region’s economic development.

“On behalf of the entire board, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Paul for his extraordinary dedication and the lasting legacy he has built at the BIC. His contribution to business support in the North East is immeasurable.”