Andrew D Scott MIH
Owner, Victus consultancy
- What was your favourite subject at school?
I absolutely loved music, so much so that if I did not end up working in hospitality then a career in music would have been my next route.
- What was your first job?
My first job was the opening kitchen porter when Parklands Country Club first opened near Glasgow. I knew even then that I would now always work in hospitality.
- Which is your favourite restaurant /hotel?
I am so very lucky that I get to dine and stay in some of the most amazing businesses so to narrow it down to one is near impossible. I believe that the company you keep either enhances or detracts from the hospitality experience. It doesn’t matter if it is a £5 panini or a £500 bedroom – if you are with the right people then the experience is just better. ( well avoided – you’re welcome)
- How do you inspire your team
Honesty, humility, passion, fair, creativity and engagement to me is everything. We have no secrets in business. We celebrate the success, and we question the failings, we don’t blame but we learn and every single person is as important as the next.
- Which person in hospitality have you most admired / inspired you?
Many people within hospitality inspire me for different reasons. A colleague has been made CEO of a hotel company and I watch how he repositions this company post covid and attacks the future. Another is a 3 Rosette chef and I watch the relationship he has with food; another has the most beautiful team room and I watch how she engages with staff and customers. My own team in my coffee shop, café and consultancy inspire me daily. All of these people and more inspire me.
- How do you manage your stress levels?
I quite like pressure, a timeline, and a target so I can put myself under pressure and tend to deliver, so I am comfy with good stress. Negative stress is combatted by planning today for tomorrow, effective communication, knowing when to ask for help, knowing my limitations. Then I walk my dog or ride my bike or chat to friends, and nothing is as bad tomorrow as it looked like today.
- Instagram, Twitter or Facebook – and why?
I use all three and all three are important to my businesses, but I tend to spend most time on Instagram. It’s easy to show people where I am working, what I am eating and drinking, and I find it very inspiring looking at other pages.
- If you had not gone into hospitality, where do you
think you would be now?
I always knew from that very first day that hospitality was going to be my chosen career. 30 plus years on and its still going strong.
- What did you do on your last days off?
As I write this, I have just returned for a lovely weekend in Mull (again staying in a friends hotel being wined and dined) so its always linked to hospitality
- What do you do to relax, to support your wellbeing?
I read, I walk, I listen to podcasts, I cook, I watch movies, cycle, walk the dog. All of this helps support my wellbeing and I try and give back and help others in the industry whether that be through Hospitality Health or talking to schools and businesses about hospitality, mental health, balance and wellbeing.