Andrew Finlayson: Championing Social Mobility from Blackpool

Andrew “Finny” Finlayson is a senior business leader based on the Fylde Coast who has combined corporate leadership with a strong public commitment to social mobility and inclusive growth. He serves as Managing Director at Accenture UK & Ireland and is the firm’s North West Regional Lead. In this role, he oversees regional operations and helps shape digital innovation strategies across the North West. His work spans both private and public sector transformation, with particular involvement in health and public services programmes that focus on modernising systems while keeping people at the centre of change.

In late 2025, Finlayson was appointed as a Board Director of the North West Business Leadership Team, where he champions sustainable economic prosperity, skills development and long-term regional growth. He is also a member of the North West Leadership Board for Business in the Community, supporting initiatives that promote inclusive employment and opportunity across the region. Away from his corporate responsibilities, Finlayson is widely recognised as an advocate for social mobility. He frequently speaks about his own journey growing up in Blackpool and describes himself as a “working-class lad” who benefited from opportunity and belief at key stages in life. He uses that experience to encourage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to aim high and see pathways into careers that may once have felt out of reach.

He is heavily involved with the BecomingX Foundation, which focuses on helping individuals from all backgrounds unlock their potential. Locally, he supports community organisations in Blackpool including Skool of Street, which provides urban skills programmes for young people, and the Polar Bears Multi-disability club, which offers inclusive sporting opportunities. Finlayson has also undertaken significant physical challenges to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. Among these are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and, in 2026, attempting the world’s highest marathon at Ojos del Salado. He often connects these endurance events with broader messages about resilience, mindset and community support. In addition, he has spoken openly about his experiences as a caregiver, highlighting how lived experience can shape leadership, empathy and better-designed public systems.

Through a combination of business leadership, regional advocacy and community engagement, Andrew Finlayson has positioned himself as one of the North West’s prominent voices on inclusive growth and opportunity.

Andrew (right) training for the infamous trek.

Andrew travelling up Mount Kilimanjaro in challenging conditions.