Episode Details

In this episode of Scale HER Up, I'm joined by Laura Weir, Managing Director of Direct Lettings — a letting agency based in Edinburgh and Dundee, now servicing much of the East Coast of Scotland and growing into the build-to-rent sector.

Laura joined Direct Lettings 14 years ago, was essentially told to "run with it," had four children while running the business, never really took maternity leave, and found emails coming from her account on the day she had a C-section. Two years ago she bought into the business and became MD.

This is a conversation about what it actually looks like to build something while also being a human — and the moment you realise you need to change.

We cover:

- What Direct Lettings does and how the business has grown on referrals alone

- The build-to-rent sector: what it is, why it's exciting, and why it's a hard slog

- Laura's career journey: from getting a job to keep her parents happy to becoming MD and co-owner

- What it's like to be a self-described control freak — the benefits and the cost

- The C-section email moment — and why she wouldn't do it now

- How she went from reactive and everything-myself to starting early, leaving at 3pm and taking Fridays off

- The "company Bible" — and why every process being documented changed everything

- Building a team of 11 across two offices and why culture has been non-negotiable

- Career development over pay rises — supporting staff through qualifications and internal moves

- What's next: the Borders market, more build-to-rent, and finally opening that office she's been talking about for four years

- Her advice for women in business: be kinder to yourself than she was

**Quote of the episode:** *"Be kinder to yourself than I've been."* — Laura Weir

If you've ever answered work emails when you absolutely shouldn't have — or if you're just wondering how to grow a business without losing yourself in the process — this one's for you.