Good work ethic set during teenage years was key for leading retail boss
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Jackie Cuddy is retiring as manager of the region’s largest shopping centre. She talks to Val Sweeney about leaving school with no qualifications but still reached the highest level in retail.
When she left school aged 16, Jackie Cuddy had no O levels and no idea of what she wanted to do.
It is a measure of her determination and talent that she made it to the highest level in the retail industry – picking up a Master’s degree along the way, a Woman of Inspiration award and an invitation to serve on a Scottish Government-backed retail industry group.
Even as she prepares to retire early in the new year as the manager of Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness – which draws in eight million customers a year – she has remained focused on the run-up to Christmas and the launch of a new food offering.
As she reflects on the intervening 49 years since leaving school, she reveals the foundations were laid during her teenage years in Birmingham taking on jobs such as relief paper rounds or helping in a corner shop after school.
“I was not interested in academia,” she said.
“But I have always worked from the age of 14.
“I have always had a good work ethic. I have only ever been out of work for two weeks.”
Her first job on leaving school was in a bank and she later worked as personal assistant to the director of a charity which did outdoor pursuits for under privileged youngsters.
When he left, she was made acting director which she pinpoints as the start of her career.
She went to college part-time and gained a diploma in management studies which spurred her to do a Masters in Business Administration specialising in marketing.
“I did it purely for me,” she said.
“I think if you have that education, it gives you that confidence in your abilities.”
She later went to work as head of marketing for leisure services at Birmingham City Council – where she met her husband, Mike Smith – and subsequently moved into shopping centre management.
When the owners of the Pavilions, Birmingham city centre’s top shopping centre, sold it in 2004 she was asked to consider a move to one of their other shopping centres – Eastgate in Inverness.
“I said, ‘Where it is it? Is past the Lake District?’,” she recalled.
After flying up to the Highland capital, she took about three months to make up her mind on what would be a big move and because of family.
Two requirements – a good cheese shop in the area plus a theatre as she loves culture and the arts – were met.
“Some people said this was where you would go to end your career,” she recalled.
“I know it is a different area but the role carries the same responsibilities and the same demands. It demands the same commitment wherever. It still has the same pressures.
“I said I would come for five years – and I am still here after 18 years!”
During that time, she has earned a reputation for her commitment to the community and has served as vice-chairwoman of the Inverness Business Improvement District (Bid), president of Highland Business Women and championed various charities, helping to raise more than £200,000.
Her own diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006 led her to organising fundraising lunches for the cancer care charity, Maggie’s, for example. She was also on the board of the Archie Foundation which works to make a difference in health care for children and their families.
Three years ago, she was one of 20 women recognised with a Women of Inspiration award by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen.
The tribute stated: “Jackie is not only a cancer survivor, she is a warm-hearted elegant lady whose quiet dignity and achievements inspire others to want to work with her.”
Her retirement comes at a time when the retail industry is facing huge challenges and while footfall is down at Eastgate from two years ago, she says it is better than the national average.
She maintains Eastgate is a shopping centre rather than a ‘walk-through’ centre.
“We have to make sure we have a different offering to retail parks,” she said. “We have to keep the experience fresh for all customers.”
As she prepares to hand over to her successor in January, it is of personal importance everything is in good order.
“It was really important to me to see the food offer back up and running again in Eastgate before I retired and while it had made my last few months here have been pretty full on it will be so rewarding to see it open.
“Ideally, it would have been good to see somebody in Debenhams unit but that is still a year or so away, although things are bubbling away in the background.”
Looking ahead to her own future, she will have time on her own interests including wild water swimming, yoga and cooking.
She and Mike – who has retired as manager of the Inverness Bid – also plan to travel more but she may not be ready to entirely give up work just yet.
“If I have skills that businesses think they could use, it would be nice to do some consultancy work – perhaps five days a month,” she said.
