Dennis Laidlaw

Previous to becoming a director of my own company I thrived in a role where service and quality was something that I took personally. Starting from the foot of the ladder where I learned a lot, but quickly realised I required a greater challenge. Moving swiftly up to supervisor and eventually General manager, working closely with the owners of a small family business gave me a lot of pride in what I was achieving. My biggest achievement was taking the company from 400k per annum to 1.6m per annum. Although extremely proud of my achievements I was still hungry for more. This left me with the difficult decision to move on.

The next step for me needed to be even more challenging, and in Sainsbury's I found it. Working as a department manager in the Fresh Produce I quickly realised this is what I needed. The store itself was turning over £1m a week, and my team was now 25 between day and nightshift. The store had over 150 employees and although each department had there own managers this role was much greater but I felt yet again I was thriving in it.

Yet in 2010 the opportunity and the desire to become my own boss became reality. My family has always been food serviced driven, so it began. I started a business plan to present to my bank manager and within weeks I had found a property and secured a £20k business loan. I was striving again to move and secure a wider customer base and in 2012 I was given the chance to tender for a second location. The company secured this and continued to grow from strength to strength. We were quickly becoming a destination for many and myself and the team were extremely proud of our accomplishments. I didn't stop there, in 2014 we opened in Carnoustie and again in 2016 and 2017 Brechin and Forfar respectively. Now with 5 locations and 60 staff spread over Angus I had achieved something that I was really proud of.

March 2020, COVID. This changed Cafe Bistro industry for everyone, understandable we were not the only business severally affected, and we were forced to close down a location completely and 3 years on our turnover has and in my opinion never will return.

I am also a director of my wifes successful Gift and Jewellery shop in Montrose, although successful its not something that we can both make a living from, neither working so closely is attractive either. As a motivational leader with a record of success in fresh food environments. I seek out a change in opportunities, capitalising on technologies, improved methods and gaps to surpass targets. History maintaining efficiency and high employee satisfaction with responsive management style. I am results-driven, ambitious and competitive business leader focused on transformative leadership and continuous improvement to drive growth and maximise profits. Tenacious executive ready to take on challenging role, meet goals and surpass expectations.

I am very organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals.