114 INSIDER March 2020 http://www.insider.co.uk
THE TEN
MINUTE
INTERVIEW
Gareth McKnight
Gareth McKnight is the managing director of Navigator
Employment Law, a role he has held for more than eight
years. He was previously a director of Law At Work and
before that was a business development manager with
RBS Mentor Services.What does your typical day involve?
A five o’clock walk around Cramond, get into work
early to get away sharp and to be home for reading a
bedtime story with my son, Matthew.
What five words would friends/colleagues use to
describe you?
Welcoming; hospitable; loyal; considered; overweight.
If you could choose anyone, who would be your
fantasy dinner party guests and why?
Bon Scott; Angus Young; Bob Dylan; Brian O’Driscoll;
Martin O’Brien; Martin Walker.
What is your favourite way to unwind?
Food and wine, only very occasionally in that order.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given or
what advice would you give to the next generation
of business leaders?
I am still learning so I would go with something simple
like... be passionate about what you do.
If you were in charge of Scotland, what would you
change and why?
I would finish the Trams so that we could all be a little
less embarrassed about the whole thing.
What sport are you interested in/which sporting
team do you follow?
I have always loved rugby and my natural affinity is
with Ulster, Ireland and the Lions.
What was the last film/concert/entertainment event
you attended?
Sonic The Hedgehog. Don’t bother.
What was the first record you bought/first film you
saw at the cinema/concert you attended?
Gillan at the Glasgow Apollo in the 80s. I still have the
tour badge on a green combat jacket with the band
name embroidered on the back.
What is your earliest childhood memory?
Care and love being shown to me by my Mum after
falling on glass in a playground in Dunblane.
What is your favourite memory of your schooldays?
Of the ones that can be aired in a magazine, playing
for Scottish Schools at Murrayfield. The others would
embarrass my son.
Describe a perfect day/night/weekend.
My perfect weekend starts with our Friday Fish Club
at home; Saturday is out with my son (football in the
morning, his brilliant tutor at lunchtime and a KFC)
followed by dinner with friends at our house; Sunday
is Matthew’s rugby in the morning, a sherry and the
papers in the afternoon and a roast to finish it off.What is your most embarrassing moment?
People who know me and may be reading this would
scold me for answering with any one single incident as
a very misspent youth resulted in many embarrassing
moments – mainly for my poor parents.Who would play you in the film of your life?
George Clooney. Obviously. If George was busy,
Luciano Pavarotti.What is your signature dish to cook?
Paella or Risotto Del MareIf you could choose your last meal on earth what
would it be?
One of two dishes cooked by my wife Teeny; Osso
Bucco or that Sunday Roast Dinner.What is your karaoke song/party piece?
Despite definitely not being a Hibbee, I love belting
out Sunshine on Leith given half a chance.What is your favourite shop/clothing brand/
restaurant?
My favourite shop is Loake – only there will they
serve you a glass of wine while you try on shoes. My
favourite restaurant is Chez Jules in Edinburgh; when
I was courting my now wife, our first date was in
Pierre Levicky’s previous incarnation Chez Pierre. The
original business card is in a plaque in our kitchen.What is your favourite place in Scotland?
I love where I live in Barnton but I also love Dollar
where I grew up and where until recently my brother
Andrew had the local hostelry. I have a lot of favourite
places in Scotland; despite being Irish, I married a Scot
and I am proud that my son will grow up a Scot. ■Gareth McKnight, main
picture, would choose
George Clooney, top, to
play him in a film and invite
Angus Young, above, to
dinner. His own signature
dish is paella, below