DUNFERMLINE — Rachael Bews, CEO of the Scotland-based marketing agency Nu Coton, was barred from attending the Amazon Innovation Accelerator programme at Amazon's fulfilment centre in Dunfermline. Amazon informed Bews that bringing her five-month-old daughter to the industrial site would pose a health and safety risk.

Bews planned to breastfeed her daughter, Sophia, directly throughout the day while her husband cared for the infant. She requested that her husband and baby be accommodated in a nearby meeting room while she attended workshops. An event organiser told Bews that children under the age of six are not permitted on the industrial site due to health and safety requirements.

Bews stated on LinkedIn: "I completely understand the need for strict health and safety rules in an active industrial environment." She added: "But the practical outcome is that I can't take part on the first day because there isn't a workable way for me to breastfeed my baby during the programme." Bews did not attend the event on the scheduled day.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "We sincerely apologise to Ms Bews that our site access policy was not communicated clearly before she travelled to the event." The spokesperson stated: "Amazon does not permit children under the age of six on any of our fulfilment centre sites." Amazon offered to cover Bews's travel costs and provide her with a place on an upcoming programme near Manchester. The spokesperson added: "We are reviewing our communications process to prevent this from happening again."