A SOUTHAMPTON woman's inclusive badge idea is set to be rolled out across M&S stores around the country.

Megan Tomkies came up with the idea of a symbol for name badges for colleagues with a stammer or speech impediment.

It aims to let both customers and colleagues know they may need more time and patience when speaking.

The 22-year-old, who works at M&S Shirley, submitted the idea to the newly launched M&S ‘Straight to Stuart’ colleague suggestion scheme.

Introduced by new CEO Stuart Machin, the scheme encourages colleagues to share ideas and views with him directly via Microsoft Teams, with a 'quick response guaranteed'.

Megan has had a stammer since the age of five and is a former pupil at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering.

This is a specialist centre for stammering children and young adults, which helped her control her stammer with an intensive speech therapy course.

Megan said: "My stammer affects me in many ways every day and as I have grown older, how I feel about my stammer has certainly changed.

"When I first heard about the Straight to Stuart scheme, I thought about how there is no universally recognised symbol to indicate that a person with a speech impediment may need time and patience.

"I wanted to change this as I feel it would not only help people with a speech impediment but also help others to understand more about it.

"I have had continued support from my amazing colleagues and loved ones throughout the idea process and not long after I submitted the concept, I found out that it had been accepted.

"I have created the first ever symbol within any workplace for people who have a speech impediment.

"I have been overwhelmed by the reaction from M&S as a business. This is a world first and my aim is to implement my design and idea throughout all workplaces and ultimately spread awareness of stammering.

"This is so important to me and I hope I can continue to help people like myself in the future.”

After a quick design process, the new badges are already available for M&S colleagues across the country to order.

Stuart Machin, CEO at M&S, said: “This is just the latest brilliant idea submitted into our Straight to Stuart scheme, a simple change that will make a real difference for colleagues all over the country.

"I want every colleague to feel comfortable at work and empowered to bring their whole selves with them, so I’m grateful to Megan for sharing her story, raising awareness, and inspiring meaningful change."

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