Amazon barred Rachael Bews, a breastfeeding marketing firm founder, from attending an in-person business course at its Dunfermline warehouse after informing her on the day of the event that children under six are not permitted on site. Amazon has since apologized for failing to communicate its policy clearly in advance.
A Scottish marketing boss has been turned away from an Amazon business course—not because of her qualifications, but because she was breastfeeding her 20-week-old baby. The story is raising serious questions about accessibility, inclusion, and what companies like Amazon actually do to support working mothers.
What happened to Rachael Bews at the Amazon event?
Rachael Bews, head of a marketing firm, was enrolled in a six-week business course run by Amazon. The in-person session took place at an Amazon fulfillment center in Dunfermline, Scotland. A week before the event, Bews proactively notified Amazon that she would need to bring her baby, as she was breastfeeding.
Here’s where it gets frustrating: she only found out that children under six were not permitted on site while she was on the train to the event. Amazon called her. By then, it was too late to make alternative arrangements.
What did Amazon say about the incident?
Amazon did not dispute the facts. In a statement to the BBC, the company said:
“We sincerely apologize to Ms. Bews that our site access policy was not communicated clearly before she traveled. That should not have happened, and we understand her frustration.”
The retailer confirmed that its long-standing health and safety policy prohibits children under the age of six from entering any of its fulfillment center sites—a rule that applies to all visitors and employees alike. Amazon also noted that a lactation room was available at the venue, which would have allowed Bews to express milk. However, Bews pointed out that she hadn’t brought sterilized bottles or expressing equipment—and, critically, not every breastfed baby will take a bottle.
Amazon says it is now reviewing its communications process to prevent similar situations from happening again.
Why does this matter beyond one missed event?
This is more than a scheduling mix-up! Bews articulated the broader issue really well. She told the BBC’s The World Tonight:
“The in-person, face-to-face connections you make over coffee, the people you meet over lunch—there’s connections I could have made to maybe help my business.”
She was offered access to the online portion of the course, but the most valuable parts—the networking, the spontaneous conversations, the human connection—were off the table. For new mothers trying to maintain a foothold in their careers, moments like these aren’t minor inconveniences. They’re missed opportunities that can have real professional consequences.
“It’s a challenging thing becoming a new mum, and being in business is a big part of my identity,” Bews said. “Having access to these same opportunities is really important for me and a lot of other working and professional mums out there.”
The NHS backs this up. Its guidance for those returning to work confirms that continuing to breastfeed after returning to employment, education, or training is “completely possible and many women do it.” The burden shouldn’t fall entirely on the mother to navigate every obstacle alone.
What should event organizers take away from this?
Bews put it simply: “All events should really have good consideration to accessibility and inclusivity for all sorts of considerations.”
That’s the takeaway here—not just for Amazon, but for any organization running professional development programs. A clear, proactive communication of site access policies could have saved everyone involved a lot of distress. Knowing about a lactation room is helpful; knowing about it before you board a train with a baby is essential.