Behind the Business

2025 is our 25th anniversary, so it’s already a silver-lined year! We’re currently having our shop refitted, and our hope is that there will be a better, more streamlined flow. From the minute our customers drive onto our forecourt, we want them to have the very best experience. The shop is going to look great, and it will definitely feel more modern and contemporary. At the moment, I’ve got people on the roof above me, walls missing, and we’re still trading – it’s crazy! I know it will be worth it though, and it feels right to be making a big change in an important anniversary year. As long as our customers are happy – that’s the most important thing.

I met my partner Andrew on holiday, and he already had a JET site at Haddington, which he had been running for 10 years. I was working for the civil service, and this vacant Shell site became available. We came to look at it one evening, clambered over the chain-link fence, had a quick look and a five-minute chat – and the rest is, well, history. I had no knowledge or experience of the retail fuel industry but thought, why not – let’s give it a go! So that’s how we came to be here – and absolutely no regrets.

Andrew had always been with JET, so there was never any question that Aitken Rigg would also be a JET site. We are both very brand loyal. Andrew has always said that if you cut us in half, one side would be the Royal Bank of Scotland and the other would be JET! It’s about the people – good, positive relationships are so important. I also like that, while we are supported by JET, we have the responsibility of running our site. And we love the name. People around here refer to us as ‘The JET’ – we even named our dog Mr Jet! He’s become very well known – even becoming a little bit famous on the pages of Forecourt Trader…

We sell coal, logs, kindling, etc., so first off, I like to make sure that everything is fully stocked. I also like to put products outside of the shop, so that customers can see what we sell. I’ll then check the JET Wash area to make sure it’s clean and tidy and that all the chemical levels are correct. After that, it’s into the office — head down with accounts and paperwork. The nature of the job is that, if something needs doing, you do it. From drains to toilets to hedge cutting – I’m on it! We take pride in presenting a tidy, clean, well-kept site. I think it shows that we care, and I think our customers appreciate it. If you don’t take pride in what you do – what are you doing it for?

Wow – that’s a tricky one! Well, you’ve got to have energy; it’s a full-on job, and to want to do it, you need to have passion too. I think it also helps to be practical and have a ‘doing’ mindset. There are a lot of elements to running a site, so you have to be organised and, when needed, adaptable. It’s also a customer-facing role, so people skills are super important. Also, running successful sites is a massive team effort, and we’re lucky to work with a great bunch of people. Make sure you put the time and effort into running a happy ship – and surround yourself with good people.

We sell fuel and essentials, but I think (hope) that we are more than that. We have a lot of loyal customers who have been coming to us for years – sometimes they drop in for a pint of milk and a chat. Everyone is welcome, including dogs! It’s a customer-first business, and I feel that after 25 years, we must be getting something right.

You need to be friendly, helpful, organised, and patient. It’s hard work – so it definitely helps to love what you do.