Neil Raw

I set up my franchise four years ago, and it has been a rewarding journey. I find great satisfaction in working with a variety of businesses, offering insights, tools, and training to help them maximize profit and manage costs effectively.

Over the years, my business has grown to include a diverse client base in terms of business type, location, and opportunities. Each day brings something new, and no two client visits are alike, whether it’s the reporting of results or the opportunities for improvement.

After spending 23 years in the dynamic and fast-paced world of hotels, I had achieved my career goals and had the privilege of working with some amazing people along the way. The opportunity to become more of a specialist and work in partnership with clients to focus on specific areas of their business was too enticing to pass up.

What keeps the job interesting is the variety of working with both direct clients and national accounts, as well as collaborating with other Stocktakers as part of a team. The system, reporting suite, and operational experience we provide are truly second to none.

Being a Stocktaker in Edinburgh, the most rewarding part of running the business is witnessing the agreed-upon actions being implemented and benefiting the clients. For instance, a recent food review uncovered 3-4 points of margin improvement while creating a more commercially competitive environment for the client.

Outside of work, I am an avid follower of various sports, and I play golf as often as I can to stay active and unwind, if that’s even possible on the golf course. I take pleasure in dining out and exploring new cuisines and wines. We are fortunate to live in an amazing part of the country, and my partner and I regularly enjoy long walks along the beautiful coastal beaches.

If I could go back in time and offer advice to my former self, it would be to work harder on my golf game, and most importantly, to listen more and ask more questions along the way. But above all, make sure you truly enjoy what you do.

Building and running your own Stocktaking franchise provides the flexibility to work with your clients in a way that suits both you and them. It’s a rewarding and versatile career path.