The value of inclusive employment: Emilia’s placement at Edinburgh Zoo

Interview with Tony Stephens, Retail Team Leader at RZSS

When Emilia first joined the zoo’s retail team, Tony’s initial impression was that she was shy and quiet. Like anyone starting a new job, she was finding her feet in an unfamiliar environment. But it didn’t take long for Emilia’s personality to shine through.

Arranged through the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) partnership with Down’s Syndrome Scotland, the placement has given Emilia the opportunity to gain real workplace experience while building her confidence and independence. 

“By the second week, Emilia was settling in well. Her sense of humour was starting to come out and she was more relaxed,” says Tony. 

Working two days a week over the summer, Emilia quickly became a valued member of the team. She developed a particular enthusiasm for a range of tasks including organising the magnet boards, filling the sweet displays, maintaining the queue line and cleaning stock areas. From her very first day she was also keen to learn new skills and showed an interest in working on the till.

Initially Emilia needed guidance and support, but as her knowledge and confidence grew, she was able to take on more responsibility. Towards the end of her placement, she was completing the queue line independently and had the opportunity to work on the till under supervision.

Tony adds: “Emilia was always inquisitive and carefully watching what we were doing so she could take on these tasks herself.”

The placement was about more than developing practical workplace skills. Tony saw a clear change in Emilia’s confidence over the three months. She became more comfortable asking questions, expressing her opinions and advocating for herself.

Emilia’s positive attitude, hard work and willingness to get involved also had an impact on the wider team. Tony describes her presence as creating “a nice vibe” on the shop floor and says colleagues were always happy to see her. Her interactions extended beyond the immediate retail team, with Emilia building positive relationships with staff from different departments.

For Tony personally, the experience highlighted the contribution people with Down’s syndrome can make in the workplace.

He also believes that inclusive employment benefits the wider community. With thousands of visitors passing through the zoo, seeing people with disabilities working in visible roles can help normalise inclusive employment and encourage other organisations to consider similar opportunities.

His advice to other employers considering an inclusive placement is simple:

“I would say go for it. Just go for it. You won’t know until you do it. Then you realise what you’re missing, and what you can offer people by giving them that chance."

For Emilia the placement provided valuable workplace experience, new skills and increased confidence. For Tony and the wider team, it demonstrated the difference an opportunity can make — both to an individual and to the workplace around them.