In their new roles, Gleneagles’ Food & Beverage Support Services Manager, Elaine Watson, and Estate Executive Sous Chef, Richard Dalgleish – who’ve been named the Scottish Chair of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) and Vice Chairman of The Masterchefs of Great Britain (MCGB) respectively – will be inspiring the next generation and helping to shape the future of hospitality.
Elaine has clocked up nearly four decades at Gleneagles – her entire working life – having worked under three different owners and eight different general managers, making her one of the longest-serving members of our team.
After joining the team in 1986 as a Strathearn Commis Waiter, she climbed the ranks, eventually taking the reins as Strathearn Restaurant Manager – the first female restaurant manager in the hotel’s history – before hanging up her service apron to take on a range of roles in back of house support and training & development.
Describing the secret to her successful career at Gleneagles, Elaine says: “Traditional five-star service in Scotland has always been understated, unassuming and unshowy and my style was no different. I wasn’t looking for accolades and praise and I’ve never been driven by career titles; my motivation has always been to focus on one area, one restaurant, or one team, and do my job to an exceptional standard. I try to inspire that mindset in my team. If you do your job well and bring the right attitude, then promotion, opportunity and success will naturally follow.
“But to do your job well, you need excellent training,” she says. “As a young waiter, I had great role models and was given exceptional training and that’s something I’ve always aspired to give back to the next generation.”
Commenting on her appointment as Scottish Chair of the RACA, Elaine says: “I’m honoured to be given this opportunity by RACA to help inspire people to come into hospitality and support the industry’s success through the education and training of young people. As the first ever female to hold the position, I’m especially proud.
“In many countries in the world, a job in restaurant service is highly respected and considered a fantastic career path, but in the UK a lot of people would still discount a career in hospitality. For the success of this industry, that mindset needs to change. Through my role in the RACA and my job at Gleneagles, I’m proud to be playing my small part in shifting that perception.”
