Businesses put their best foot forward in Sock Box campaign for equal opportunities
WARRINGTON, UK, May 19th 2023 - Warrington based company, Stand Out Socks, has teamed up with the Harrogate Chocolate factory to create a fathers Day gift box. Both companies have inclusivity and equal opportunities for people with learning disabilities at the forefront of their minds and wanted to create a gift of every dad’s favourite gift, socks and tasty chocolate bars.
The Harrogate Chocolate Factory is a social enterprise aiming to help young people with learning disabilities, get the skills they need, and help them get into paid employment by offering them work experience.
Christian Laing, Co-Founder of Stand Out Socks, said: “To work with an enterprise that aligns so closely with our values is a massive honour, and we can’t wait for our customers to taste their delicious handmade artisan chocolate.
Together we have not only made an amazing gift box for the most important man in your life, but your purchase will help both companies help empower people with learning disabilities.”
This collaboration is one of many plans for the Warrington-based business. Stand Out Socks has plans to eventually offer the same opportunities as the Harrogate Chocolate company but as a business. According to Mencap, in 2021, only 5.1% of adults with a learning disability known to their local authority in England are in paid work.
Christian continued: “Unfortunately, it is very rare that you see or hear of anybody with down syndrome or other learning disabilities in a manager position or launching their own company. Because of this, we want to empower and create opportunities for those people who are left behind, after leaving education.”
Inspired by co-founder Ross Laing, a young man with Down Syndrome, a man not scared to stand out in a crowd, and together with the help of his big brother Christian, Stand Out Socks was created as a family business.
Ross has struggled to find work since leaving education, which is common among people with learning disabilities. Now 36 Ross found that because he couldn’t gain the experience he needed, he also didn’t have the opportunity to build his skillset, which is why the brothers created Stand Out Socks with Ross at the forefront of the company as Co-Founder.
This was all after Chiristian found himself furloughed from his job during Covid-19, whilst Ross had to wait a long 14 months in isolation to get his vaccination as he was considered high risk.
But why socks? The brothers wanted to create a sock brand in particular, as the tripilfication of the 21st chromosome causes Down syndrome. The chromosome resembles the shape of a sock. As an obvious link, the team decided on fun, brightly coloured socks to represent their values and story.
The future
The vision is to create a brand where disabilities are valued, and differences are celebrated.
Through bright colours and bold patterns, Stand Out products will start conversations around disability inclusion and spread awareness of Down Syndrome.
The business's plan is to eventually offer people with learning disabilities paid employment and a valued role within the company. With this, they want to break the cycle of people with learning disabilities being left behind after education and offering equal opportunities to everybody.
To purchase your fathers day box visit: https://www.standoutsocks.co.uk/products/fathers-day-gift-box
Fathers day boxes include; 1 Pair of Stand Out Father's Day inspired socks, 4 x assorted bars of Harrogate Chocolate Bars. 1 Fathers Day Gift Box & Stand Out tissue paper.
All Chocolate Bars are Gluten Free, Dairy Free and Vegan. Boxes are Limited Edition