White Lake Cheese, a local cheesemaker based in Pylle, Somerset, has been ordered to pay nearly £20,000 in compensation following a pregnancy discrimination and unfair dismissal case brought by a former employee.

Storm Botha, who was employed as a cheese-making assistant and later handled marketing duties for White Lake Cheese, won her case against the company after being demoted and dismissed upon revealing her pregnancy.

The employment tribunal concluded that Roger Longman, the CEO and owner of White Lake Cheese, was aware of Botha's pregnancy when he decided to demote her.

The company also failed to conduct a risk assessment to determine if the new role, which involved heavy lifting, was safe for Botha while she was pregnant.

Tragically, Botha miscarried in November 2021 and was dismissed the following month. The tribunal found her treatment to be unfair "on the grounds of pregnancy."

The recent hearing to determine Botha's compensation resulted in an award of nearly £20,000,