Ross Watson speaks with the easy confidence of someone who has spent years in fast-paced hospitality environments. Yet beneath that calm exterior is the constant motion of a manager preparing to bring something entirely new to life.
This summer, Ross will open the doors to the fifth GRIDSERVE Electric Forecourt, located in Markham Vale, boasting 22 EV charging bays from launch and providing drivers on the M1 with the ultimate EV charging destination. For now, that anticipated buzz of vehicles charging and conversation over coffee is being replaced by the hum of electric diggers and contractors all working together to reach deadline.
While his own site remains a building site, Ross has been spending the last few weeks at GRIDSERVE’s other flagship Forecourt locations, shadowing general managers and assisting team leads to better understand the day-to-day rhythms of each site as well what makes the EV charging experience here so special. “It’s been invaluable,” he explains. “Not just seeing how the GMs operate, but understanding every role, from the small auditing details to how teams are managed on the floor. You start to see how everything connects.”
Ross’s route into GRIDSERVE didn’t begin in energy or retail, but with food and drink. Originally from Nottingham, Ross spent three decades in the hospitality sector, first working with local microbreweries and later gastro pubs where quality and service went hand in hand.
But it was his move to Ibérico World Tapas that defined the next chapter. The Nottingham restaurant, recognised in the Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand, became his professional home for a decade. “That was a huge part of my career – 10 years in an environment like that really shapes how you think about food, service and consistency,” he says.
It also cemented his love for the craft. “I’ve become a real foodie and aside from entering ultra-marathons, I spend pretty much all of my spare time cooking, learning new recipes and seeking out the best restaurants to understand what makes them so successful.” That background – equal parts high standards, high tempo and curiosity – is exactly the sort of energy Ross wants to bring to Markham Vale.
Set near Chesterfield, an area known for its market town heritage and surrounding communities, Ross is confident the Markham Vale Electric Forecourt can move way beyond simply supporting motorway drivers looking for a fast place to charge. “Once you charge here, I’m confident you won’t want to go anywhere else. But it isn’t just about people passing through,” he explains. “It’s about the local communities and the local businesses around us. There’s a real chance to make this place feel like part of the area from day one.”
One idea already taking shape reflects that ambition: inviting local traders to exhibit at Markham Vale. “I’d love to give local businesses a platform,” Ross explains. Whether they don’t have a permanent space or just want to reach a different audience, it could create something really unique here.”
While the vision is big, Ross knows it hinges on the people delivering it. When we meet him at Gatwick Electric Forecourt, he is in the process of hosting several final-stage interviews, carefully curating the right balance of new team members required. “I’ve always believed in having a real mix of ages, backgrounds and experiences,” he explains. “It works better. You might have someone with incredible barista skills, and someone with more retail experience, but that blend is what makes a team dynamic.”
If there’s one theme running through Ross’s career, it’s an emphasis on the customer and truly understanding the product. Whether that’s knowing what region of the Iberian Peninsula produces the best Jamón Ibérico or understanding the charging curve of a Honda e:Ny1, that level of focus is a constant. “I’ve always tried to make sure every team I’ve worked with really understands what they’re offering,” he says. “Because when you have that knowledge, you’re never caught off guard by a customer question. The Forecourts have established a best-in-class EV charging experience based, in part, on that level of knowledge. Our role at Markham Vale will be to go above and beyond customer expectations every time,” he says.
When the doors officially open this summer, it’s clear that Ross isn’t just going to be running an Electric Forecourt. His ambition is to establish a place with energy, identity and a sense of community that becomes the default place to recharge in the East Midlands. That’s the sort of place we’re looking forward to visiting.
