Meet Iain

Iain Young, Head Chef

“Care home food is evolving, and for chefs this gives the opportunity to maintain high standards and give full rein to creativity and professional fulfilment,” so said Iain Young, Head Chef at Murrayside care home in Edinburgh.

Iain should certainly know that this is the case, given that he joined Care UK in 2018 after 27 years in fine dining restaurants, Michelin-star restaurants and five-star hotels. He worked with high profile chefs including Gordon Ramsay, Paul Bocuse in France and was head chef for Raymond Blanc.

 

The skills and experience he gained over those years help Iain and his team to be at the forefront of care home cuisine. He commented: “If there are chefs out there who are put off the idea of working in the care home sector, I am here to put their minds at rest. A career in this area does not mean a drop in standard: in my experience it is a wonderful professional challenge. It is immensely satisfying to develop a catering team who are open to innovation and driving change.”

Iain joined the care sector as a way to give something back to the community. He said: “I fell in to my first job in catering and it was life changing for me – it saved me really. At Care UK I feel I’m giving something back by ensuring residents live a fulfilling life through the medium of food.”

As well as the positive professional challenge of working in the care sector, Iain also recommends the improved work/life balance. “It’s great,” he said, “no more 100 hour weeks! For years hobbies were impossible, but I’ve taken up golf and got myself back to the gym. More sociable hours also mean that I can spend more time with my family. It’s wonderful to get the balance back.”