As part of our ongoing focus on supporting business growth through export opportunities, we are spotlighting Andrea McGuigan, whose role at Business Durham includes liaising with key export support providers and signposting businesses to the right resources.
With over 35 years of experience in marketing and business development, Andrea plays a pivotal role in supporting and growing businesses in County Durham. As a dedicated chartered marketer and Team Manager for the Business Engagement and Account Management team at Business Durham, Andrea’s extensive expertise spans various facets of business support, making her an invaluable asset to the region’s economic landscape.
Q: Can you tell us about your career to date?
Andrea McGuigan: I’m a dedicated chartered marketer and business development professional with more than 35 years of experience working with businesses, supporting their growth and development. A member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, I have a master's level qualification in Leadership and Management Development. Throughout my career, I’ve acquired a wide range of specialisms spanning marketing, team management, project management, exporting, property management, and business support and development. I have been with Business Durham since its formation in 2012, where I've continued to leverage my expertise to drive significant business growth and development in the region.
Q: What are the key areas of responsibility in your current role?
Andrea McGuigan: As the Team Manager of the Business Engagement and Account Management team, I manage nine staff members who focus on either key account management or business engagement.
Key account management involves building long-term relationships with approximately 250 significant companies in the county. We aim to be trusted guides, helping businesses access the right support. This involves understanding their needs, the sectors they operate in, and how we can help them with challenges like planning applications, skills requirements, and succession planning.
Our Business Engagement officers work across the county as an integral part of the Durham Business Growth Programme to ensure businesses can access the right help and support they need to improve productivity and grow.
Q: How do you help key accounts?
Andrea McGuigan: We assist key accounts in several ways, including helping with complex planning applications, bringing together key partners such as planning, ecology, property and land, business rates and highways, and facilitating interactions between businesses and Durham County Council. We aim to ease the process for businesses, whether they are recruiting and managing staff levels or seeking higher-level strategic contact. Understanding the companies, their sectors, and their needs is crucial. Our support is driven by the needs of the businesses and how much they want to share.
Q: How does Business Durham support exporting businesses in County Durham?
Andrea McGuigan: Exporting can be a game-changer for many businesses, opening up new markets and opportunities for growth. At Business Durham, we’re dedicated to helping businesses navigate this complex but rewarding journey. My role involves liaising closely with key export support providers like the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC). By understanding the breadth of services they offer, from trade missions to practical advice on documentation and regulations, we ensure that businesses in County Durham are signposted to the right support at the right time. Whether a business is new to exporting or looking to expand into additional markets, we’re here to help them tap into the resources and expertise they need to succeed on the global stage.
Q: Tell us a bit more about the Durham Business Growth Programme.
Andrea McGuigan: The Durham Business Growth and Productivity Programme is a comprehensive initiative designed to improve productivity and foster growth within businesses located in County Durham, working with two other delivery partners, Umi and RTC North, it is the first fully integrated business support programme of this nature in the region.
To date, we have referred over 600 businesses, providing support ranging from productivity improvements, digitisation, energy audits, and decarbonisation plans to grants for the acquisition of new equipment, expansion or fit out of existing premises or to access specialist support consultancy to help accelerate growth and improve productivity.
Q: Can you explain your role in driving forward the County Durham Pound campaign?
Andrea McGuigan: The County Durham Pound campaign involves 12 key organisations, including Durham County Council, Business Durham, housing associations, educational establishments, water authorities and police and fire services, working together to maximise social, economic, and environmental value throughout the county. The goal is to improve the lives and well-being of local residents by maximising the spending and influence of these organisations. Business Durham’s role is to support the partners in their role to deliver social value in their contracts and promote opportunities to local businesses to assist them to connect with tender opportunities and highlight successful partnerships. Since the campaign started in September last year, it has delivered millions of pounds worth of social value and received national recognition, winning the Best Public Sector Project award at the 2023 Social Value Conference.
Q: What motivates you in your work?
Andrea McGuigan: I am driven by the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the local economy and the lives of residents in County Durham. Whether it’s helping a company expand, securing funding for a new project, or driving initiatives like the County Durham Pound campaign, I am passionate about fostering growth, creating jobs, and promoting social value. Every success story motivates me to continue working towards a thriving and sustainable economic future for the region.
Andrea’s dedication and extensive expertise have made her a cornerstone of Business Durham’s efforts to support and develop businesses across the county. Her work not only drives economic growth but also enhances the social and environmental landscape of County Durham.
If you think you can benefit from the support provided, find out more about export support here.
