Inverness BID Person Behind the Business Q&A: New role is the recipe for success
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Person Behind the Business in association with Inverness BID
Chef Cameron MacFarlane has swapped the kitchen for the office as acting manager at the Victorian Market.
Q How would you describe your business role?
A As acting manager, I’m many things! My main job is to make sure everyone is happy. I wanted to bring back the family feel, that city centre hub for locals and tourists alike.
It’s a unique market with local, independent businesses selling arts, crafts, souvenirs for tourists, with restaurants, cafes, a fish shop, butchers – it’s diverse.
It’s very quirky and inviting; from the building and also from the tenants. They are passionate about what they do. It’s an amazing place to work, I love it!
They are brilliant people to work with, the tenants and the council.
Q What led you into your business role?
A Because of Covid, a lot of restaurants were closed so I was a freelance chef in care homes. I felt I was doing some good for the community. During that time I was asked if I would be interested in the Victorian Market food court that was opening.
With my background, it was perfect. I had opened 26 restaurants around the world and that’s what they needed – someone who was food orientated.
Initially I was taken on to manage the food court and then I was asked if I would oversee the retail side as well. Chefs are very passionate people. I think that’s how I’ve built that relationship with tenants. With their help we’ve done some good things.
Q What is your greatest achievement?
A When I worked for the company Living Ventures in the early ‘90s I won chef of the year four years on the bounce. I’m also proud that when I came here, I helped to change the mentality.
We’re like a family. I like the feeling that we’ve got here. It’s very family orientated.
We look out for each other.
Q Who do you admire in business?
A I admire local, individual businesses that have survived Covid and are still fighting to get back what they lost.
Anyone that owned a business through it and is still running it today, you’ve got to admire them.
A personal one is the late Tim Bacon, one of the founders of Living Ventures. He would go into a kitchen and know every member of staff’s name – some of these kitchens had 25 chefs in them! And everyone got a personal email on their birthday.
I always thought these wee personal touches were unbelievable. It makes a difference, you’re seen as a person not a number.
Q What’s your advice to budding entrepreneurs?
A You’ve got to stick at it. Especially in retail and catering. You have to want to do it, to be able to do it.
You miss a lot of birthdays and stuff through work so you have to be dedicated to do this. But life is important too so you also need a balance.
You have to be dedicated but you also need to have your time off, especially now with mental health issues. You have to go in 100 per cent, but in the same breath you need your time off.
Q Can you tell us more about yourself?
A I love going out for food and eating new things. I’m a big Aberdeen FC fan. I left school at 15 to do professional cookery at Inverness College. I’m from Conon Bridge but I’ve lived all over the world including Washington DC, Dubai, France and Guernsey.
