Ahead of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, 8 March, DRAM celebrates just a few of Scotland’s inspirational female general managers who are making their mark on the licensed trade.
Today, we speak Nicola Haslam, General Manager of Belhaven pub The Seven Kings in Dunfermline about her career and advice to women looking to move up in the trade.
Name: Nicola Haslam
Role: General Manager, The Seven Kings
Location: Dunfermline
Age: 42
Nicola Haslam has 26 years’ experience in the licensed trade. She started as a chef and manager in her parent’s business, The Plough Hotel in Stenhousemuir, and has since managed a number of restaurants and pubs, including Belhaven venues The Cold Beer Co and No 2 Baker Street in Stirling.
She has worked for Belhaven/Greene King for eight years, the last three of which have been spent running The Seven Kings in Dunfermline.
Nicola manages a staff of 35 and has helped drive a huge uplift on food sales to see the popular local pub move from an 80-20 split between wet and dry sales to 60-40, aided by a recent refurbishment.
Nicola says that as well as ensuring The Seven Kings runs smoothly and successfully, a key part of her job is “helping her staff move up in the trade and achieve their goals.”
Her key advice for women looking to progress in the industry is: “To go for it, speak your mind and believe in yourself but listen too. Don’t be afraid to make changes, be courageous, live by your values and others will respect you.”
When I’m not in the pub: I spend time with family and my dog, a Springer called Ben. Being out in the hills and fresh air with him helps me clear my mind and come up with plans and ideas.
Drink of choice: I’m a Malibu and diet coke girl – it reminds me of the 80s!
Star sign: Aquarius
Click below to meet more inspirational general managers in the Scottish on-trade
Therese Grethe, Waxy O’Connors, Glasgow
Helen Taylor, The Anchor, Broughty Ferry
Geraldine Murphy, The Pot Still, Glasgow
Babs Steele, The Allison Arms, Glasgow
Gayle Copland, The Wine Press, Dundee
Rozlynn Gavin, The Applebank Inn, Larkhall
Sandy Gourlay, Oran Mor, Glasgow
Lynda McGaw, The Parkville Hotel, Blantyre