Why the FAB ESuB Scheme Makes Business Sense (and Human Sense)

Supporting breastfeeding employees isn’t only the right thing to do; it is a practical way to improve retention, wellbeing and reputation. Families and Babies’ Employers Supporting Breastfeeding (ESuB) Scheme gives organisations a simple, affordable framework to do this well—without the time and cost of a full programme. Plans start from £500 per year (scaling with business size up to £3,000), making it accessible for SMEs as well as larger employers. 

ESuB is a ready-to-use support package that helps employers provide meaningful, evidence-based help to staff who are pregnant, returning from maternity leave or breastfeeding/expressing at work. It combines practical guidance for HR and managers with direct support for employees and their families through FAB’s established network of peer supporters and resources.

Benefits for your people include:

Early, informed support

Employees get clear information on their options from pregnancy onwards. That reduces anxiety, prevents last-minute scrambling for solutions and helps families plan confidently.

Access to expert help

Staff can be signposted to trained FAB peer supporters for one-to-one guidance, antenatal education and online community support. Knowing where to turn—quickly—can be the difference between continuing to breastfeed and stopping before they are ready.

 A dignified return to work

ESuB helps you set up practical arrangements—private space, time considerations and reasonable adjustments—so returning parents feel respected rather than inconvenienced.

Better wellbeing

When parents feel supported, it shows in morale, mental health and day-to-day engagement. Small, empathetic changes can have a large impact on confidence and productivity.

Benefits for your organisation

Retention and engagement
Replacing valued staff is costly. ESuB helps you keep experienced colleagues by making the return to work feel manageable and fair, reducing the risk of disengagement, sickness absence and resignation.

Legal confidence
Clear guidance for HR and line managers reduces the risk of missteps that can lead to grievances or tribunal claims. ESuB gives you the building blocks to meet your duties and demonstrate reasonable adjustments.

Measurable DE&I progress
Breastfeeding support is a tangible, often overlooked test of inclusion. Implementing ESuB shows you take gender equity seriously and are prepared to back your values with practical action.

Reputation and employer brand
Being visibly family-friendly helps you attract and keep great people. It also strengthens CSR/ESG narratives with real, people-centred outcomes.

With ESuB, you’ll receive practical guidance for managers and HR to handle conversations with empathy, set expectations and agree reasonable adjustments; policy and communications support so staff know what’s available and how to access it; signposting into FAB services such as antenatal education, breastfeeding peer support and online groups; resources and assets to promote a breastfeeding-friendly culture internally (and externally, if desired); and light-touch reporting to evidence action and impact across wellbeing, DE&I and social value. Specific inclusions can be tailored to your business size and sector. 

Why choose FAB?

For over 21 years, FAB has supported families across the UK through peer support, antenatal education, community groups and a trusted helpline. That frontline experience means the ESuB scheme is practical, empathetic and grounded in what families really need—paired with simple steps employers can implement quickly.

With pricing from £500–£3,000 per year depending on business size, ESuB delivers a high-value route to better support working parents—without taking teams away from core duties or requiring complex change projects.

Ready to make breastfeeding support a normal part of how you care for your people?
Explore the ESuB scheme and request a short call to see how it would work in your organisation.