Breastfeeding Entrepreneur Barred From Amazon Business Course

Published: 6 July 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

A Scottish business owner has raised concerns about workplace accessibility and support for breastfeeding mothers after she was unable to attend an in-person business development course hosted by Amazon because the company would not allow her 20-week-old baby onto one of its fulfilment centre sites.

The incident has sparked wider discussion about the challenges faced by new mothers balancing childcare with professional development, particularly as more women return to work while continuing to breastfeed. Although Amazon has apologised for the way the situation was handled, the case has prompted renewed debate about whether businesses should do more to ensure training programmes and networking opportunities are accessible to parents with young children.

Rachael Bews, an entrepreneur from Scotland, had enrolled in a six-week business course organised by Amazon, with the opening session scheduled to take place at the company’s fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.

According to Bews, she informed organisers approximately one week before the event that she was breastfeeding her infant daughter and would therefore need to bring the 20-week-old baby with her to the in-person session.

She believed the advance notice would allow organisers to accommodate her circumstances or advise her if any issues existed.

However, while travelling by train to the event, Bews said she received a telephone call informing her that children under the age of six were not permitted inside the Amazon facility because of the company’s health and safety rules.

The call effectively ended any possibility of attending the opening session.

Unable to leave her breastfeeding baby elsewhere at such short notice, Bews was forced to abandon plans to participate in the face-to-face component of the programme.

Speaking after the incident, she described the experience as both disappointing and frustrating.

She explained that while the event venue reportedly included a dedicated lactation room where mothers could express milk, that option was not practical in her situation.

Bews said she had planned to breastfeed her baby directly throughout the day rather than express milk beforehand.

As a result, she had not brought sterilised bottles, breast pumps or storage equipment required for expressing milk.

She also pointed out that many breastfed babies do not readily accept bottle feeding, making direct breastfeeding the only realistic option for some mothers.

Her experience, she said, illustrates a broader issue affecting women returning to professional life after having children.

“All events should really have good consideration to accessibility and inclusivity for all sorts of considerations,” she said.

She added that becoming a mother had not diminished her professional ambitions and that maintaining her business remained an important part of her identity.

Access to networking opportunities, training and business development programmes, she argued, is essential for many women seeking to grow their careers while raising young families.

Although Amazon allowed her to continue participating in the online elements of the six-week programme, Bews believes she missed one of the most valuable aspects of the course.

She explained that informal conversations during breaks, networking over lunch and face-to-face interactions with fellow participants often create professional relationships that cannot easily be replicated in virtual settings.

For many entrepreneurs, such opportunities can lead to collaborations, mentoring relationships, new clients or future investment.

Missing those interactions, she said, represented a significant lost opportunity for both her business and her professional development.

Amazon later issued a public apology, acknowledging shortcomings in how the situation had been communicated.

The company said it was sorry that its site access policy had not been clearly explained before Bews travelled to the event.

Amazon stated that children under six are not permitted inside its fulfilment centres under a long-standing health and safety policy that applies to both employees and visitors.

The retailer emphasised that the restriction exists because fulfilment centres contain moving vehicles, heavy machinery and other operational hazards that make them unsuitable environments for young children.

At the same time, Amazon accepted that the communication process should have been handled differently.

The company said it was reviewing its procedures to ensure similar misunderstandings do not occur in future.

The incident has generated wider discussion among parenting organisations, employment experts and equality campaigners.

Many acknowledge that health and safety policies are essential within industrial workplaces such as warehouses and distribution centres.

However, they also argue that employers organising professional development programmes should consider alternative arrangements where participants have legitimate childcare or breastfeeding requirements.

Suggestions include hosting events in separate office facilities, providing hybrid attendance options or ensuring any restrictions are clearly communicated well in advance.

Employment specialists note that supporting employees and business participants during early parenthood has become an increasingly important issue for organisations seeking to promote workplace equality.

Many companies have introduced flexible working arrangements, enhanced parental leave and dedicated facilities for breastfeeding mothers in an effort to retain skilled employees after childbirth.

Nevertheless, experts say barriers still exist when training, networking events or conferences fail to account for the practical realities faced by parents of very young children.

Health guidance also supports continued breastfeeding after returning to work.

The UK’s National Health Service advises mothers planning to resume employment, education or training to discuss breastfeeding arrangements with employers before returning.

The NHS states that continuing to breastfeed while working or studying is entirely possible and remains the preferred option for many families.

Healthcare professionals emphasise that every breastfeeding relationship is different.

Some infants adapt easily to expressed milk, while others feed exclusively from the breast, making separation difficult during the early months.

As a result, rigid policies may unintentionally affect breastfeeding mothers more than other participants.

Advocacy groups argue that businesses should strive to balance operational safety with reasonable flexibility wherever possible.

The discussion also reflects broader changes in modern workplaces.

Across the United Kingdom, increasing numbers of women own businesses, establish start-ups and participate in professional training while raising young families.

Many entrepreneurs continue working throughout pregnancy and shortly after childbirth, often combining childcare responsibilities with demanding professional commitments.

As these patterns become more common, expectations surrounding accessibility and inclusion continue to evolve.

Organisations are increasingly encouraged to design programmes that accommodate a diverse range of participants without compromising legitimate health and safety requirements.

For Bews, the experience has become about more than a single missed event.

She hopes it encourages organisations to think more carefully about the needs of breastfeeding mothers when planning business programmes and professional development activities.

She believes greater awareness and earlier communication could prevent similar situations from affecting other women attempting to balance motherhood with career ambitions.

Amazon’s apology and commitment to review its communication procedures may represent an important first step.

However, the incident has also highlighted the continuing conversation surrounding workplace inclusivity, parental support and equal access to professional opportunities.

As more women seek to maintain active careers while caring for young children, businesses across the UK are likely to face increasing expectations to ensure that training, networking and development programmes are accessible to everyone—without forcing parents to choose between caring for their children and investing in their professional futures.

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