24/06/2026
This little plaque means more to me than I can properly explain. Not because PURR is a Living Wage Employer, but because for a very long time I was the employee.
Before I became a cat groomer, opened Scotlandās first cat-only grooming salon, orĀ hired my first team member, I spent years working jobs that taught me exactly what kind of employer I wanted to be one day.
I worked with the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts, supporting projects focused on community, belonging and social change.
Iāve spent the past six years at the University of Glasgow in a variety of roles: a Resident Assistant in student accommodation, lecturing, supervising Masters dissertations and widening participation instructor.
I worked for Walt Disney World. Twice!
I worked as a character performer, character attendant and within Disney Youth Education Series. It taught me a lot about customer experience, storytelling, teamwork and creating moments people remember.
I worked at the College of Charleston in South Carolina helping new students navigate one of the biggest transitions of their lives.
Then there were the jobs that paid the bills: Starbucks barista, film and TV extra, Ā security staff in New Zealand, historic house tour translator, cat rescue foster coordinatorā¦and a whole collection of volunteering, side jobs and temporary roles in between.
Every one of those experiences taught me something; how people want to be treated (and donāt want to be treated), how much difference good leadership makes, how exhausting poor leadership can be, how work affects peopleās confidence, wellbeing and entire lives.
And today, PURR employs a team! š We pay the real Living Wage, we provide training, development opportunities and private healthcare. The tips you leave us? We pool them each month and divide them to the whole team based on hours that month.
Being a business owner is exciting, but being an employer is something else entirely. Itās a privilege, and a responsibility.
So putting up this plaque feels less like an award and more like a quiet reminder of how far this journey has come.
Life is weird sometimes, and Iām very grateful for it. ā¤ļø
