We came across some news stories this week that could stir up some conversations, make you rethink your job options, or reconsider what you can put in your next sandwich
Jerry, the cat that got the cream and 400 applicants to hang out with him
News this week about a high-paying office cat-sitting job in London, offered by Aviamarket, an aircraft sales firm, made us do a double-take.
The advertised role involves taking care of Aviamarket’s office cat, Jerry, a British Shorthair, by buying toys from Harrods and playing classical music for him. The owner of the firm travels frequently and had often brought Jerry into the office when he was away or just to have more time with him when he was in town.
The job pays £65 per hour, equating to £135,000 a year for a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week. After going viral on social media, the job posting was removed due to overwhelming interest, with over 400 applicants. A company representative described Jerry as “a member of our team” and “a gentleman of our office.”
Pet sitting has become big business as anyone who has used one of the booming pet or home/pet sitting services, such as Rover or House Sitters UK.
Recent divorcees have been known to take up house-sitting when they are ironing out their finances and saving up for a new place to live after the split. So, while pet and house sitting may seem out of the ordinary, it’s pretty tame in comparison to other roles we’ve come across.
According to Career Feed, some of the most unusual decent paying jobs out there include professional mermaid (where synchronised swimmers become underwater entertainers), pet food taster (food scientists), professional sleeper (anyone with kids or over 50 will be up for this) and golf ball diver (if in Florida watch out for what lurks beneath).
Some other jobs we came across that could get tongues wagging at a dinner party include ethical hacker, animated character voice actor, food stylist, underwear welder, crime scene cleaner and one very in-demand job of late in the US: air traffic controller.
Nick Clegg doesn’t give a Scooby about artists’ copyrights
In a report by The Times it came to light that Nick Clegg, a British retired politician and media executive who served as Deputy Prime Minister, believes the AI “industry” would crumble if tech companies and large language models had to ask permission to use creators’ work to train their products.
Of course, there will be those who side with Clegg and others who have a different take on Clegg’s way of thinking, such as OBenon, King of the Fairies. OBenon, gave his two cents on Mastodon in response: “I’m sorry but requiring me to ask permission before entering Nick Cleggs house, going into his fridge and making a Scooby Doo-style sandwich then leaving with all of his valuables and his wife would ‘kill’ my desire to eat a Scooby Doo-style sandwich from the contents of Nick Cleggs fridge and run away with his wife.”
Recipe for a Scooby Doo sandwich (we thought you’d be curious)
A “Scooby-Doo sandwich” is an off-the-cuff, piled-high, and often unique concoction, inspired by Shaggy and Scooby-Doo’s love of food on the cartoon hit show. The ingredients can vary, but according to research, they often include a mix of meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, and other veggies, along with sauces and sometimes even sweet toppings like marshmallow fudge.
But if you want a more refined Scooby sarnie, check out this one.
Greggs is no longer a “grab and go” British institution
The rise of thug culture and theft in Great Britain has given Greggs, the UK bakery chain, no choice but to fight back behind the counter. The chain that has a cult following for its sausage rolls is trialling a new approach to curb shoplifting by moving self-serve food and drinks behind the counter in select stores. The pilot programme is being tested in locations that experience high levels of theft and anti-social behaviour, such as Whitechapel, Peckham, and Ilford. While this change isn’t expected to apply to all of Greggs’ 2,600 stores, it may be extended to areas where theft rates are particularly high.
Shoplifting has surged in the UK, with police recording a 20% increase in incidents in 2024. However, retailers report far higher numbers of thefts, suggesting that shoplifting is becoming more widespread and sophisticated. Some shoplifters operate in organised gangs, using Bluetooth headsets to communicate and even triggering store alarms to distract employees while stealing goods.
Experts are divided on the reasons behind the rise in theft. While some argue that criminals see shoplifting as a way of life, others suggest that economic struggles are leading to unexpected offenders, including pensioners and parents shoplifting essential goods. Above all, though, Greggs has made the move to keep its employees and customers safe in the face of anti-social behaviour and to keep theft loss down so it can keep contributing to its charitable Greggs Foundation, which helps pay for school meals and extra-curricular activities.
Fraudsters use couple’s identity to set up companies and bank accounts
A couple’s discovery that their personal information had been used without their consent to set up fraudulent companies and business bank accounts is a wake-up call for all freelancers and business owners in the UK. Their investigation led them to a block of flats in Solihull, where multiple fake businesses were registered. They faced significant stress trying to remove their details, struggling with slow processes at Companies House and a lack of police response.
How did the couple first know something was wrong? The husband and wife who run their own business first discovered something was wrong when the husband’s postal vote did not come through for their local elections in 2023, the BBC reported.
When they contacted the council, they were told their address had been changed. The wife then received a letter from a trade company asking her husband to confirm a business account for a company that was not theirs. It goes to show, never dismiss such letters and immediately take action.
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, passed in 2023, grants Companies House more power to handle such fraud cases, but the couple believes stronger identity verification is needed when new businesses are registered. The BBC article also provides guidance for individuals who suspect they’ve been victims of identity fraud, including reporting to Action Fraud and seeking support from relevant organisations.
Instances like this are more common than you think, according to Tax Policy Associates. Some schemes are so elaborate and ridiculous it boggles the mind how Companies House does not see the telltale signs of fraud. Tax Policy Associates is investigating Companies House cases where people have been filing fake accounts, along with a very large number of fake banks that file fake accounts. You would think with all this effort, the fraudsters would actually use their time and ingenuity to create a legitimate business. But they would rather take the path less travelled and with all the rewards and risks if they get caught.
Our love of fried chicken brings 7000 new jobs to UK and Ireland
KFC has announced plans to create 7,000 new jobs across the UK and Ireland to create a larger footprint against rival fast food chicken chains such as Wingstop and Popeyes, the latter made famous for catering to singer Beyoncé and rapper Jay-Z’s wedding in 2009.
Over the next five years, it has been reported that the fast-food chain made famous by founder Colonel Saunders’ fried chicken recipe, will invest close to £1.5bn. That investment will go towards new restaurants in “key locations” such as Ireland and northwest England, where it opened its first-ever British restaurant 60 years ago in Preston.
Consumers in the UK and Ireland spend billions of pounds in fried chicken chains every year. However, this is made possible through franchisees, who invest in and run most of the more than 1,000 KFC restaurants across the UK and Ireland.
New jobs will include servers, kitchen-based roles and managers.
KFC’s plan to create 7,000 new jobs in the UK and Ireland is significant, but how does it compare to other industries?
- Foreign Investment: Over 80,000 jobs were created across various sectors—including manufacturing, life sciences, and tech—through foreign direct investment projects. This is according to a 2023 government report.
- Automotive Industry: In 2022/23, 76 new projects led to 3,807 new jobs, showing steady growth.
- Aerospace Sector: New investments resulted in 3,208 jobs, highlighting expansion in high-tech industries.
- Life Sciences & Biotech: These sectors saw 3,546 and 2,089 new jobs, respectively, as the UK pushes to become a tech and science superpower.
While KFC’s job creation is impressive, prior to 2025m industries like tech, banking, manufacturing, and life sciences were driving even larger employment opportunities. However, with the rise of Artificial Intelligence, job vacancies in these sectors and others like online education have already decreased alongside job cuts.
Spot an unusual story? Please drop the link in the comments section.