Finding Purpose After Redundancy
By Meg Roberts, Founding Director of Meg Roberts PR Ltd
If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be running my own talent consultancy full-time, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
For a while, Meg Roberts PR was my little side hustle. I built it quietly alongside my day job in senior marketing, PR, and communications roles for brands like Silentnight, Timpson, and Sainsbury’s Group.
I loved my corporate career. It was a huge part of my identity and something I poured everything into. But I didn’t realise just how much of my self-worth I had tied up in my job until the day I lost it.
When my Marketing Manager role at Sainsbury’s Bank was made redundant as part of a wider restructure, it hit me really hard. I had always imagined moving up, not suddenly stepping out altogether.
Redundancy makes you question everything: your ability and your value. But once the shock settled, something surprising happened. The noise stopped, the space opened up, and I started to see it for what it really was: a blessing in disguise and an opportunity to give MRPR my all.
It gave me the push I needed to finally go all in on the business I’d been quietly growing in the background. Looking back now, it really and truly feels like the stars aligned.
A chance to rebuild with purpose
For the first time in years, I had space to ask myself what I actually wanted to do, not just what I should do. I’d spent a decade helping build other people’s brands, leading influencer, PR, and social strategies. I’d launched campaigns that reached millions and led teams that delivered incredible results.
But I wanted to build something that felt more personal. Something that still tapped into my creativity and experience, but allowed me to really make a difference. That’s how Meg Roberts PR became more than just a hobby but rather a truly boutique talent and influencer consultancy representing digital-first content creators across home & interiors, family, and lifestyle verticals.
Why brand-side experience is my superpower
When I first started in talent management, a few people asked how I’d find the shift without direct agency experience. But honestly, my brand-side background is what makes the agency what it is (and so special!).
I know exactly what marketing managers and PRs are looking for, because it used to be me.
All the sneaky little clauses brands try to slip into creator contracts, the way social budgets are structured, and the performance metrics that really matter behind the scenes.
It means I can protect my creators’ value, negotiate stronger deals, and ensure partnerships feel fair and beneficial on both sides.
Having sat on both sides of the table gives me a level of empathy and perspective that is hard to teach. I understand what makes a collaboration work from a strategic point of view, but I also know how personal and emotional it can feel for creators who are putting their name and reputation behind a brand. That combination of marketing strategy, data, and heart is what sets MRPR apart.
Intentionally small, proudly boutique
My agency is small on purpose. Boutique isn’t just a buzzword – it’s how I like to work. Every creator I represent gets one-to-one support from me directly, not passed from pillar to post or left with a junior account exec managing more talent than they know what to do with.
They’re working with a senior leader who’s been in social media marketing for over ten years, who knows how brand decisions are made, and genuinely cares about helping them grow.
It’s hands-on, collaborative, and personal. I’m the one personally checking contracts, sending voice notes, joining brand calls, and celebrating wins with my creators. They’re not just another name on a roster; they’re women I believe in and advocate for every day.
That approach has helped MRPR win business and secure paid partnerships with leading home and family brands like Debenhams Home, Boots, Nivea, Natural Baby Shower, and Checkatrade. It’s also built a reputation rooted in trust, transparency, and kindness.
I’m really proud of the relationships we’ve built – not just with creators, but with brands and agency partners who know they can come to me for thoughtful, authentic collaborations.
Collaboration over competition
One of the most rewarding parts of running MRPR has been connecting with other female founders and talent managers. Whether it’s sharing briefs, recommending each other’s creators, or joining forces on bigger campaigns, I’ve learned that collaboration always wins over competition.
There’s room for everyone when you focus on community instead of comparison. That belief runs through everything I do. I want to be known for doing great work, but also for doing it fairly with as much kindness as possible.
Redundancy as realignment
Redundancy was the hardest thing I’ve been through professionally, but it was also the most transformative. It forced me to stop, reassess, and rebuild a career that actually fits who I am now as a 30-year-old woman.
It reminded me that success doesn’t always mean climbing higher; sometimes it means finding your own lane entirely.
Running a business hasn’t been without its challenges, but it’s given me something corporate life never could: freedom, creativity, and genuine connection. I get to help creators tell their stories, build long-term brand relationships, be paid fairly, and feel valued for what they do.
So if you’ve just been made redundant
When it first happens, redundancy feels like the rug has been pulled from underneath you. You lose the structure, the purpose, and the confidence that comes with feeling secure, and for me, stability was everything!
But I promise, it’s not the end of your career.
Here’s what genuinely helped me in those first few weeks:
- Pause before you plan. You don’t have to figure everything out straight away. Give yourself some time to breathe, relax, process what’s happened and let the initial noise quieten down. Clarity comes when you stop rushing to fix everything at once.
- Reach out to people who lift you up. Talk to past colleagues, mentors and friends who remind you what you’re good at. It’s easy to forget your strengths when your confidence has taken a hit.
- Do one small thing each day. Whether it’s updating your CV, rewriting your LinkedIn bio, or even getting dressed, having a shower and doing your morning skincare, then going for a walk in nature. Small wins that bring a bit of normality and structure to your day really help rebuild momentum and give you purpose.
- Don’t take silence personally. Some companies never reply or give vague feedback. It’s not a reflection of your worth; sometimes decisions are already made before you’re even in the room, and chances are, they already have someone lined up.
- Keep your side projects alive. MRPR was something I built in the background long before it became my full-time business. Sometimes, the little things you work on quietly are the ones that change everything.
If you’re navigating redundancy or rejection right now, you’re not alone. You are still brilliant. You still have something to say. And you’ll find the right place, or create it yourself. The uncertainty won’t last forever. You’re not starting from zero, you’re starting from experience.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that sometimes the moments that knock your confidence the most are the ones that show you exactly where you’re meant to be.
For me, redundancy wasn’t the end – it was the start of everything I’d been too afraid to begin.
So if you’re a creator looking for supportive 1-1 management, or a brand interested in working together on digital-first influencer campaigns or strategy, you can reach me at meg@megrobertspr.com.
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