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 to Beth Harding, who at 26 heads up a staff of 50 at Montpeliers in Edinburgh. As our youngest GM to be featured – and having just bagged a spot on the prestigious Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scholarship course in Switzerland – Beth is certainly one to watch.
Name: Beth Harding
Role: General Manager, Montpeliers
Location: Edinburgh
Age: 26
Aged just 26, Beth Harding heads up a staff of 50 at Montpeliers in Edinburgh.
As our youngest GM to be featured, we definitely agree when Beth says, “I think it’s pretty incredible that in five years I’ve gone from being a waitress to General Manager.”
She continues, “It’s through the group’s support and what they teach you that I’ve managed to achieve that. They really allowed me to progress.”
Originally from Dunsborough, Australia, Beth came to Edinburgh backpacking at 18 and never left. She started waitressing at Indigo Yard (also owned by Montpeliers) in 2011 and quickly worked her way up to Deputy Manager at Montpeliers, then up to General Manager at Indigo Yard before moving back to Montpeliers as General Manager last year.
“Becoming GM does come with added responsibility which I enjoy as you have more control,” says Beth, who’s just been accepted onto the prestigious Hospitality Industry Trust (HIT) Scholarship course in Switzerland.
She sees her future firmly rooted in the trade, adding, “I love it, at the end of the day it’s a fabulous lifestyle and you can achieve a lot on a day-to-day basis.”
When it comes to her staff, Beth says one of her key aims is to “get the work/life balance right”.
She adds, “As far as I’m concerned happy staff will more likely work hard for you, so I want to encourage people to work hard but also know they can go off travelling for a month if they want. Keeping that balance is key.”
Drink of choice: Pickering’s gin with tonic and grapefruit
Words of wisdom: Work hard and learn from everyone you can
When I’m not in work: I’m off travelling or visiting new restaurants and bars
Star sign: Gemini
Click below for 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
Nicola Haslam, The Seven Kings, Dunfermline
Sandy Gourlay, Oran Mor, Glasgow