Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business issue 32 | Page 18

18 | Aycliffe Today Business
New boss – Brian Archer,
the new managing director
of Business Durham.
ARCHER
TAKES AIM
EXCLUSIVE:
Aycliffe Today editor
Martin Walker talks to
Business Durham’s
new managing director
Brian Archer about his
ambitions for the county...
B
oasting an impressive CV, Business
Durham know they’re in good hands
with the appointment of their new
managing director.
Brian Archer succeeded Simon Goon
in December as head of Durham County
Council’s business arm, bringing with him a
wealth of knowledge and experience from
varying sectors.
The Leeds-born entrepreneur started
his own business before building it up and
selling on. He has since held chief executive
roles with two Business Links – one of which
he launched – and has been senior director of
a London-based FTSE250, £3 billion company
employing 100,000 staff in 30 countries
around the world.
More recently, Archer was commercial
director of Leeds City College Group – the
third-largest FE group in the UK with a
£80m turnover – before taking up his new
role with Business Durham, the economic
development organisation for County
Durham.
And already, despite his early days, he is
highly-encouraged by not only the progress
that has been made in recent years, but also
the opportunities that exist for the county.
Despite the cold weather, Archer seems in
high spirits as we meet at Jackson’s Coffee
Shop in the Xcel Centre. Fresh from a week-
long health and fitness break in Alicante,
which consisted mainly of a strict diet and
warm-weather exercise, he exudes energy
and enthusiasm, and seems genuinely
excited about his new challenge.
“What has really impressed me the
most already here is the strength of the
partnerships in County Durham,” says Archer,
as he sips a decaf skinny cappuccino, no
sugar.
“Durham County Council has a very
dynamic and entrepreneurial leadership
team. They’re open to change, to new ideas
and innovations from the private sector and
elsewhere.
“We’ve had years of austerity and year-
after-year of funding cuts. And during a