"I LOVE what we have created here. It just doesn't feel like work to me."

So says Paul Golder, the founder and chairman of Phoenix FM, from its new studios at the Brentwood Centre in Doddinghurst Road.

The station, which serves the communities of Brentwood and Billericay, has been running in one form or another since 1996 but it's clear that Paul's enthusiasm for community radio remains as great today as it was at the beginning.

Indeed, such is his firm belief in Phoenix that he is preparing to give up one or more of his business interests away from radio in order to become its full-time station manager.

Paul, 43, who already spends about 25 hours a week at Phoenix, said: "I will be looking to give it another 40 hours a week to try to get more schools, clubs and community groups involved.

"I would like to get people coming through the doors all the time.

"The costs aren't very high for this station so I believe I can make it more of a commercial success."

Although he wants to bring in more revenue from advertising and sponsorship, he stressed that he has no plans to try to make Phoenix a purely commercial venture.

"Commercial radio isn't something that I have ever aspired to," he said.

"I have always looked at this as a community project because a lot of people enjoy local radio and want to get on the radio in some way or other.

"I am not interested in coming here and trying to make as much money as possible."

Paul, who lives in Noak Hill Road, Billericay, is currently the finance manager for a franchise encompassing 21 Burger King restaurants.

He is also a partner in a snooker management company, which manages players such as three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and rising stars Judd Trump and Liang Wenbo.

The married father of three has enjoyed the ride but, as he explained, the time feels right for a change.

"I think the businesses that I have run have been successful but I am not motivated to try to make them double the size," he said.

"I am looking for a new challenge and trying to improve Phoenix is a great challenge."

He added: "I have always thought we can do more with Phoenix than we are doing at the moment and it just needs somebody to be here to shake it up and get on with it."

Phoenix, which now has 40 volunteer presenters and broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, started as a part-time station in 1996, when it was based at 14 Ongar Road, now the home of Brentwood Mind.

It then broadcasted from The Hermitage, in Shenfield Road, and Hutton Poplars Lodge, before relocating to The Baytree Centre, off the High Street, in 2007.

Over the years, thousands of celebrity interviewees have walked through Phoenix's doors, including pop star Pixie Lott, former glamour-model-turned-bodybuilder Jodie Marsh and comedian Lee Evans – many since the station first became full-time in 2007.

Reflecting on the Baytree years, Paul said: "We have achieved a great deal.

"We have gone full-time and had a lot of good interviews with a lot of good presenters.

"We have had thousands of people coming into the station and it has been a good end to the five years."

His best memory, however, is of the Creative Sessions, which took place in Bedfords Park, Havering-atte-Bower on February 12 and 13, 2011.

Paul, who presents his own alternative music show on Phoenix under the name of Eddie Curry, recalled: "That was the most fun I had.

"We had 25 bands, including Imogen Heap, who each did a live session for us over a period of 24 hours.

"It was surreal seeing bands coming and going all day long and we got 75 songs out of that, which we still play on the radio today."

With a chuckle, he added: "I fell asleep in front of a speaker putting out heavy rock music at 3am."

As the clock struck 7am on Saturday, Rob Harvey began the first live broadcast from Phoenix's new 1,000 sq ft suite at the Brentwood Centre, which will be the station's home for at least the next five years.

The day concluded with a "housewarming party" for the show's presenters.

Paul paid tribute to those who volunteer at the station, saying its success would not be possible without them.

"It is a team effort," he said.

"The station is nothing without the volunteers.

"I am not going on air for 168 hours a month – two is enough."

As for the future, Paul said: "The Brentwood Centre is somewhere we really want to be.

"We will be getting a lot more involved with Brentwood Town Football Club and all the things that are going on here.

"The future is definitely bright."