New office has AGP Decorators feeling ‘fresh as paint’
A FAMILY owned commercial decorating business has solidified its success, after moving into a new office at the North East BIC.
Paul Mullaney, founder of AGP Decorators, started out as an apprentice at 16 before setting up AGP in 2010 thanks to the North East BIC’s free business start-up support.
Fast-forward 14 years and he has gone from strength to strength, moving from domestic to commercial services and serving clients from various sectors, all over the country.
Prior to signing for the new office, AGP held a virtual tenancy at the BIC for three years, but by the end of 2023, the company’s growth meant it required a bigger office to accommodate its growing team.
The company has grown a great deal over recent years, with Paul’s wife, Sophie and son, Alex, among those to have joined the business, making it a real family affair.
Following redundancy in 2023, Sophie joined as commercial director in November with Alex, who is currently completing his NVQ Level 2 through on-site assessment with AGP.
As well as team expansions, Paul has also seen the company’s client base grow, securing contracts for popular retail stores, gyms and hospitals, as well as external work on the BIC.
“We’re reliable and believe in doing the job right the first time every time. We don’t cut the corners and deliver on promises, and I think that’s what sets us apart,” he said.
“As for our growth, I’d put that down to our focus on quality, efficiency and outstanding customer service, as well as the support the BIC has shown us.
“The BIC champion you and go above and beyond to help you out, whether that’s networking and promoting each other or helping with business advice. Everyone has welcomed us into the community, and it’s really helped us establish ourselves as a business here.”
The BIC has always been familiar for Paul and with the ‘flexibility and support’ offered to businesses, it was a ‘no brainer’ to make it AGP Decorators’ new HQ.
“We couldn’t recommend them enough to anyone who’s starting out or needs business support and professional workspace. From initial set up to money management, there’s always someone on hand to help,” Sophie said.
“We started out with them and the support they gave to Paul all those years ago has really helped us grow and get to where we are today and we want to continue this growth to be bigger and better, and thanks to the BIC, we can.”
As AGP continues to paint the town with success, the future looks bright, with a commitment to growing the team, celebrating achievements and widening horizons from an Environmental, social and governance (ESG) perspective.
“We know how important it is to engage with the community and we’d really like to make a positive impact beyond the realm of commercial decorating, as well as welcoming new talent in as our apprentices near the end of their training,” Paul said.
Debbie Simpson, business adviser at the North East BIC, said: “AGP Decorators are a great addition to the BIC. Paul and Sophie have fully embraced our connected community here, engaging with their neighbours and utilising Sophie’s core skills to grow the business.
“We’re excited for the team and their future with the North East BIC”.