After a successful career in education, Paul opted for voluntary redundancy in 1997 and established an independent ecological consultancy specialising in arachnological and entomological surveys. His work has included establishing the invertebrate charity Hymettus and developing spider and other invertebrate identification courses for the Field Studies Council, University of Birmingham and Manchester Metropolitan University. This new career was based on a lifelong interest in invertebrate recording that has involved spells as newsletter editor for both the Conchological Society and the British Myriapod and Isopod Group (BMIG), Chairman of the Suffolk Naturalists Society and BMIG and he is currently National Organiser for the Millipede Recording Scheme. He is county recorder and SRS Area Organiser for Suffolk and has served on BAS Council as an ordinary member and as Vice-president and President.