PROFILE
W henever his beloved Boro play at home, Andrew Rowe catches the train from his hometown of Redcar to Middlesbrough – and it’ s a journey that encapsulates his outlook on life.
As a man leading the Teesside operation of a national accountancy and business advice company, Andrew’ s a man who’ s come a long way in his career, yet stayed close to his Teesside roots.
And out of the train window, he sees positivity springing up as Teesworks, the UK’ s largest industrial zone, takes shape as a platform for a new generation of sustainable businesses that will provide a fresh wave of jobs for local people after the demise of the steel industry.
“ It makes me optimistic to see the signs of progress and knowing the benefits those jobs are going to bring,” he says.
“ It’ s not just major companies, like SeAH Wind, but the knock-on effect it will have on SMEs and the supply chain.”
Andrew, 52, has risen through the ranks to become managing partner of the Teesside office of Azets, based at Wynyard Park, and it’ s a role that gives him a unique insight into the area’ s economic challenges and opportunities.
Azets provides expert support for up to 3,000 Teesside clients, from one-man corner shops to businesses with multi-million-pound turnovers and subsidiaries of international companies.
While it is a tech-driven company, its success is built on people, with a growing team of nearly 70 employees priding themselves on developing personal business relationships.
Primarily, it’ s about using local knowledge and connections to find a range of business solutions but, as the country’ s eighth largest accountancy firm, Azets can also call on national resources when needed.
“ The advantage we have is being able to provide a breadth of services for the full business lifecycle under one roof – everything from advising on startups, to growth, tax advice and corporate finance. It’ s a holistic approach – but with a genuine Teesside understanding,” says Andrew.
His own understanding of Teesside was forged through a happy, working-class childhood in Redcar, where he still lives.
His dad, John, was a customs officer at Tees Dock, and his mum, Helen, was a care worker.
Maths came naturally at West Redcar School, although sport dominated his early ambitions. He played football for Coatham Juniors in the days when Boro legend Tony Mowbray was coach, and cricket for Redcar up to the under-17s.
He also gained valuable, if unlikely, experience in juggling figures as a teenage“ bookies’ runner” while accompanying his dad on trips to Redcar Races.
Andrew joined Keith Robinson and Co accountants on a YTS scheme, run by the Chamber of Commerce, and qualified as a chartered certified accountant. He climbed the ladder to become a manager before the business was acquired by Vantis, which then became Evolution.
He progressed to become a director, then partner at Evolution before the business was taken over by Baldwins in 2016, rebranding as Azets in 2020.
As well as being managing partner of the Teesside office, he has a wider role as head of accountancy and business advisory services for the North-East.
IT’ S GOOD TO GET A FRESH PERSPECTIVE FROM THE OUTSIDE SOMETIMES, BUT BY RECRUITING LOCAL PEOPLE, YOU GET THAT BUY-IN TO TEESSIDE VALUES OF LOYALTY AND RESILIENCE.”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 13