PROFILE
THIS IS AN AREA THAT’ S HAD IT TOUGH, SO WE PEDAL A BIT HARDER. THE WHOLE OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM HERE IS MADE UP OF LOCAL PEOPLE WHO’ VE GROWN WITH THE BUSINESS.”
“ There’ s a lot of doom and gloom around, but we love the way Tees Business promotes positivity.“ We have a fantastic digital community in Middlesbrough and Teesside, and the challenge is to feed them with well-tuned people from local universities and colleges.”
Making a difference in the community is also underlined by Andrew’ s commitment to The Teesside Charity. Azets is a founding patron and Andrew is now vice-chair, having been a trustee for five years.
“ The Teesside Charity is perfect for us because it’ s driven by businesses and it’ s been good for my own personal development, given the fantastic businesspeople on the board,” he acknowledges.
A recent example of the charity’ s work is the way it has responded to schools highlighting a problem with“ bed poverty”.
“ It’ s incredible, and very sad, to have schools reaching out to say there are children who don’ t have beds – with a baby sleeping on the floor with blankets,” reveals Andrew.
“ So, we sourced hundreds of bed-packs, with duvets, pyjamas and bedding. It’ s often the little things that make the biggest difference.”
The charity also supports grassroots sports teams, while Andrew volunteers with Boro Rangers Football Club, helping with the financial side.
His son, Charlie, plays for Boro Rangers’ first team in the Northern League, and the community spirit is clearly rubbing off, with Charlie coaching junior teams.
Andrew’ s wife, Kelly-Ann, is a senior lecturer in nursing and social care at Teesside University, and they also have an 18-year-old daughter, Sydney.
“ I look at my kids and think I would be happy to be their age on Teesside today because there’ s a lot to be excited about,” he says.
It’ s certainly an exciting time for Azets, with plans to double the size of the North-East business within the next five years – both organically and through acquisitions.
“ We want to be the adviser of choice, growing alongside our clients, while always looking for new businesses to support,” he says.
“ I’ m proud of the personal and professional relationships I’ ve kept going as man and boy. I see myself as a custodian and my job is to pass the business on to the next generation in better condition than when I found it.
“ Hopefully, those who follow will see me as someone who started out on a YTS scheme and ended up running the show.
“ I want them to see the opportunities for themselves because this area is definitely on the up and there are exciting times ahead.”
No matter what the Boro result at the Riverside might be, the view through the train window tells Andrew Rowe that Teesside is winning.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 15