The Journey: Stuart MacBride and Christmas offshore

Scottish entrepreneur Stuart MacBride follows a distinct set of rules.

First, in a bid to look like Santa Clause he never trims his beard past September.

Second, he’s determined not to let his young trainees make the same mistakes their managers did.

Finally, he very much believes in the evolution of the industry.

The Trinity chairman and Queen’s Award recipient first moved to Aberdeen with three young children all under the age of three in 1971 and has experienced every downturn since.

“We’ve been through four recessions, but this is the worst one that we have ever seen. When it hits Norway you know that it is really serious, so we don’t quite know where it is going to go from here,” he said.

“There’s talk of 65,000 people being paid off in the oil industry. I suspect it’s a lot more than that and there are more people nervous and waiting to see if they will have a job next month and the month after.”

When the sector does bounce back, MacBride has one request.

“I hope it’s not too slim, particularly in the hotel services field, because you can save pennies but totally ruin a good service,” he said.

“On top of that with reduction inevitably comes risk and expecting people to clean their own cabins, while it saves money, it is minimal in comparison to the danger that is created by doing it.”

However, the business leader added: “The industry will always survive. It will possibly come back in a different shape with a different business model. That is evolution and we have to welcome and embrace all forms of evolution because it’s a natural thing – sometimes it’s difficult when it’s being promoted by an accountant. “

MacBride’s own career has undergone evolution after evolution.

As a young boy, he ditched sailing and transitioned into catering when he realised he much rather own a yacht than captain someone else’s.

He was mentored by the operations director of Playboy Europe and helped position Sodexo at the forefront of the hospitality sector.

When a company restructure later left MacBride out of a job, the father-of-three launched Trinity in 1990.

As the company celebrates its 25th year, it proudly owns the accolade of being Scotland’s largest independent catering company.

In its quarter of a century of operation, the family-owned business has experienced both triumph and trials, including trying to retain staff.

“I suppose the most frustrating thing is when you’re providing an excellent service and the client steals all of your staff to do the service themselves,” he said.

“That’s a moment that’s not a nice one

“They say your standards are wonderful everything is great but we’re going to manage it ourselves.”

He added: “There’s no way to get around it. It’s legal, it’s legitimate and it happens regularly. I had a friend who took on six graduates, trained them up and all of a sudden they were all gone, offered larger money to go elsewhere.”

But as the industry endures one of its most trying periods yet, MacBride, who regularly employees trainees and graduates, has turned his attention to the next generation of talent struggling to catch a break.

To them the businessman said: “Keep learning. The industry nowadays is all about bits of paper, but a bit of paper shows you’ve made the effort to learn and hopefully some of it has stuck. Get to know people who will mentor you, who will bring you on.”

Despite the evolution, MacBride insists there’s always been one constant.

He said: “Behind every successful man it is said that there is an astonished mother-in-law. What success I have enjoyed is down to the unwavering support of Sheena, my wife of 47-years. She agreed that our house should be used as security for the company overdraft which required enormous bravery. Wherever I go and whatever I do she follows the progress of the business and her ability to read people is exceptional. Success is a team effort and it takes a solid partnership with the added strength from our middle son and all of the Trinity family.”

For more on MacBride watch his episode of the Journey or browse any of the highlight clips. To see the mouthwatering dinner served offshore this Christmas skip straight to part six!