Michael Beynon tells us about his unique Welsh cakes, about his multiple successes for Team GB, and about how he’s busting myths for Mencap and beyond.
How do you identify as disabled, and what does it mean to you?
I was born with Down’s syndrome and vision impairment. Having Down’s syndrome doesn’t define me, it is just a label that people like using. I’m Michael: friendly, kind, caring and hardworking.
Tell us a little about your business.
My business is Coalpit Welsh Cakes. We make unique black Welsh cakes packaged in environmentally friendly aluminium branded tins.
Why did you start the business? Share your story so far.
I created a unique black Welsh cake during a miners’ fortnight celebration. I thought it might make a good business opportunity for tourists that visited our town and started selling them in the town market and some tourist shops. They became popular in the community.
During lockdown, we had to diversify by creating an online shop and join other food platforms to sell our Welsh cakes.
We have grown steadily, and appeared on Saturday Kitchen in December 2021.
What do you see as the main challenges facing your business and its continued operation or growth?
Because people see my learning disability, especially my speech impairment, they don’t think I can run my own business.
The main challenge facing me and my business is getting the business world, especially business agencies, to engage and see that, with support, people with learning disabilities can run their own businesses and can contribute to the economy.
Over the last two years, we have grown our customer base by 600%. We are going to take this year to consolidate.
What can we do to encourage more disabled entrepreneurs to start businesses – what is holding them back and what can we all do to help change that?
I think that we need to showcase people with disabilities who operate successful businesses, and educate business support agencies on how to support disabled people to start and develop their own businesses. And we should make sure that job centres and schools include pupils with disabilities in their entrepreneur programmes.
After speaking at a number of colleges about how I set up Coalpit Welsh Cakes, the main theme that came out is that they didn’t think they can start their own business and didn’t know who to turn to. There is a lack of support from lecturers and career advisers.
What do you see as the main challenges facing your business and its continued operation or growth?
Because people see my learning disability, especially my speech impairment, they don’t think I can run my own business.
The main challenge facing me and my business is getting the business world, especially business agencies, to engage and see that, with support, people with learning disabilities can run their own businesses and can contribute to the economy.
Over the last two years, we have grown our customer base by 600%. We are going to take this year to consolidate.
What can we do to encourage more disabled entrepreneurs to start businesses – what is holding them back and what can we all do to help change that?
I think that we need to showcase people with disabilities who operate successful businesses, and educate business support agencies on how to support disabled people to start and develop their own businesses. And we should make sure that job centres and schools include pupils with disabilities in their entrepreneur programmes.
After speaking at a number of colleges about how I set up Coalpit Welsh Cakes, the main theme that came out is that they didn’t think they can start their own business and didn’t know who to turn to. There is a lack of support from lecturers and career advisers.
What do you consider your greatest achievement or the proudest moment in your life so far?
I was the first person from Wales with Down’s syndrome to complete the London Marathon, which I did in 2021.
I also represented Team GB at the Special Olympics European Games in Italy, Russia and Germany. I won three gold and four silvers medals in sprinting and long jump. I had the honour of running for the Pope as part of the Team GB at the Vatican City, Italy
My other great achievement is starting my own business and showcasing it at the Royal Welsh show 2019.
This year I will be one of Mencap’s Myth Busters.
If there was one thing you could change about peoples’ perception of disability what would it be and why?
Something I’d like to change is the perception that people with a learning disability can’t contribute economically to society, and that they are incapable of owning their own business.
Who or what inspires you?
Mo Farah inspires me to work hard and achieve.
