People & achievements · England
People who run businesses
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Meet Michael Beynon and John Cronin, who helped build businesses.
Your own interests and achievements matter too.
What is a business?
A business sells something or provides a service.
People can run a business with support.
Michael Beynon
Michael is a baker in Wales.
He owns Coalpit Welsh Cakes.
Michael wants people to ask about what he can do.
He challenges unfair ideas about working for yourself.
John Cronin
John lives in the United States.
He started John’s Crazy Socks with his father.
Their business sells socks.
John has an important role in the business.
Your own ideas
You might have an idea for a business.
You could write, draw or talk about it.
Ask for advice before spending money or signing an agreement.
Ask what support could help you.
You can explore an idea at your own pace.
You can choose a different path too.
What you can do next
Choose a story that interests you.
You can ask someone to explore the links with you.
Read about Michael’s business Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- Michael Beynon: a baker and business owner Web page
Mencap profile of the owner of Coalpit Welsh Cakes in North Wales.
- John Cronin: starting a sock business Web page
The company’s own biography describes its co-founder. This is a commercial website.
- John’s Crazy Socks: the company’s story Web page
The business describes how John and his father started it. This is a US business, not an England support service.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
People who run businesses
Meet Michael Beynon and John Cronin, who helped build businesses.
For readers in England · People and achievements may be from other countries
Michael Beynon: a business in Wales
Michael Beynon has Down syndrome and owns Coalpit Welsh Cakes. He is based in Chirk, North Wales. His Mencap profile describes his work as a baker and his wish to challenge assumptions about people with learning disabilities working for themselves. He is also a runner. This is an example from Wales, not information about Welsh support entitlements.
John Cronin: a business in the United States
John Cronin has Down syndrome. He co-founded John’s Crazy Socks with his father, Mark. The company describes his contribution to the products, orders and public face of the business. This is a US example. The linked biography is the business’s own account, and the website also sells products.
Working with other people
These stories show people working with support and other people. Running a business can involve making or choosing products, meeting customers, keeping records and deciding how money is used. People can share tasks while keeping the owner’s wishes central. There is no promise that a particular business idea will earn money.
Explore an idea before spending money
If you want to try working for yourself, start with what you enjoy and the help you would choose. Ask for accessible advice about the costs, responsibilities and how earning money could affect your situation. Clearer’s work, money and benefits guides are about England. You can explore an idea without buying stock or signing an agreement straight away.
About the people in this guide
These profiles use public accounts from the people themselves, their representatives or organisations that work with them. Learning disability is used in its English sense, also called intellectual disability. Dyslexia, ADHD or autism alone does not mean someone has a learning disability. People have different support needs and different ambitions.
Words you could use
“I would like to try … Please help me find an opportunity, understand the cost and arrange the support I choose.”
More useful links
- Michael Beynon: a baker and business owner Web page
Mencap profile of the owner of Coalpit Welsh Cakes in North Wales.
- John Cronin: starting a sock business Web page
The company’s own biography describes its co-founder. This is a commercial website.
- John’s Crazy Socks: the company’s story Web page
The business describes how John and his father started it. This is a US business, not an England support service.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 2 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- Michael Beynon: a baker and business owner Web page
Mencap profile of the owner of Coalpit Welsh Cakes in North Wales.
- John Cronin: starting a sock business Web page
The company’s own biography describes its co-founder. This is a commercial website.
- John’s Crazy Socks: the company’s story Web page
The business describes how John and his father started it. This is a US business, not an England support service.
- Mencap: learning disability and learning difficulty Web page
Easy Read explanation of the different terms.