Don't take it too seriously
So what have I learnt after four years at the helm of the Restaurant Association? Quite a lot, actually. I have learnt that some politicians appear genuinely interested in what you have to say, and that others are easily distracted. I've learnt that some restaurateurs join trade bodies because they understand the power of a collective voice, and that others don't. That some love networking, others can't be bothered. Some value the financial benefits on offer, others don't.
In other words, I have discovered that the restaurant industry is pretty much a reflection of society itself, in that people will feel kinship to those they identify with, but won't necessarily do so in consistent ways. Which goes to prove that running an association is a nightmare if you like things all neatly boxed and lined up in rows.
I used to like things neat, tidy and predictable, but I have found that I have thrived on the unpredictability and variety of the job, and have loved having to react spontaneously to the unexpected. I can honestly say that there has not been a day that I could have called dull.
Running the association has provided an opportunity to influence, and be influenced by, some of the leading figures in the industry, government ministries and trade media. It has enabled me to express the concerns of industry at the highest echelons, while also allowing me contact with operators at grass-roots level.
It has allowed me to push back the boundaries of what associations such as ours have traditionally done, while ensuring we continue to do those things that should always be maintained as standard. It has given me insight into how difficult it is to categorise the restaurant industry, but at the same time reinforced how easily people seem to understand just how powerful and sexy the sector is.
God help any government that tries to categorise, label and box it neatly in the belief that in so doing it will be better managed and understood. The restaurant industry is a wonderful thing. It is full of creative, passionate people, and it is addictive. When you get it right, it is joyous and rewarding. Get it wrong and it is unforgiving.
If I have one plea for government, it is "back off" - let restaurateurs get on with what they do and love best, running restaurants. If I have one plea for restaurateurs, it is "don't take yourselves too seriously" - issues such as education, poverty, crime and the heath service will always take priority in the minds of government. What we have to do better is learn to live with each others' strengths and weaknesses.
Ian McKerracher leaves his role as chief executive of the Restaurant Association at the end of this month. His successor has not yet been appointed
