Campaign to increase hires of staff with Down’s syndrome

A Scottish charity is launching a campaign encouraging employers to provide more job opportunities for people with Down’s syndrome, with more than 30 companies already on board.

Meg Ayres, who has Down's syndrome has founded Megalicious, a gluten-free baking business. Picture: Kim Ayres

Down’s Syndrome Scotland has signed up employers across Scotland, ranging from major retailers and hotels to family-run firms and small businesses, to its #takeastepforward pledge.

The campaign aims to highlight the value that employees with Down’s syndrome can make to an organisation, after identifying poor awareness of this as a key reason for the low employment rate among its members.

Eddie McConnell, chief executive of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, said: “We’re calling on more employers to pledge their support to improve prospects for our members seeking employment.”

He cites the example of Meg Ayres, a young women with Down’s syndrome in Dumfries who has started her own business, Megalicious, baking gluten-free cakes.

Ayres has just completed three years as a trainee at The Usual Place - a social enterprise that supports people with additional needs to gain experience and qualifications in hospitality.

McConnell said: “Society needs to start recognising the positive contribution that people with Down’s syndrome can make, and we must support them to plan careers that match their skills and aspirations. It is simply not acceptable that so few people with Down’s syndrome are part of the workforce in Scotland."