Although companies who only trade in the UK do not have to abide by the European Accessibility Act coming into force in a few months, they should.
Those are the words of the Head of VoiceBox, Sophie Muller.
Six years come around quickly. The Act was passed in 2019. Now, businesses have to ensure all the accessibility measures are in place by 28 June 2025.
The directive applies to businesses that trade in the EU and businesses with 10 or more staff and a turnover of more than €2 million. It concerns both public and private sector businesses.
So, why should businesses in the UK get ahead if it doesn’t exactly apply to them, as the UK is not in the European Union (EU) anymore?
Sophie said: “I think what people and businesses are failing to realise is that if they trade in the EU or with other European clients or business to business, they have to be compliant according to the EAA guidelines.
“Generally, when it comes to the European Union rulings, even post Brexit, Britain will follow the best practices that cover things like maternity and paternity leave, human rights, slavery and legislation around working practices.
“I think Britain will adopt it because who doesn’t want to be accessible, so there’s that aspect.”
The EAA may well be something that comes into effect in the UK too in time. In the meantime, it presents an opportunity. A means of showing that your business is forward-thinking and accessible to get ahead of the curve.
“I feel that from an ethical point of view, they should already be accessible,” added Sophie.
“It shouldn’t take legislation to encourage that.
“So, a big part of it is why wouldn’t you want to adopt it? It’s not trying to convince companies ‘yes, you should adopt it’.
“The bigger question really is in 2025 why have you not got these practices in place already? So, it’s not really a case of why you should need it. The bigger question is why don’t you?”
With a new directive comes financial opportunity too. Data shows that in 2023, more than one in four (27%) people inside the EU aged over 16 had a form of disability.
“Every company is in the game to make money, and that’s very black and white,” continued Sophie.
“In particular, companies who have a product or service to sell, why would you cut off 27% of your prospective client base, whether they’re blind, deaf, hard of hearing, neurodivergent or physically disabled?
“You see supermarkets now provide lower ATM machines, ramps and space for wheelchairs, because why wouldn’t you? People in wheelchairs spend money.
“It’s not just a case of people in wheelchairs needing to go shopping and shops think, ‘oh, that’s a really good idea’. We should really be catering for these people. They see it as there are an estimated 1.2 million people in the UK using wheelchairs who wouldn’t spend their money with us otherwise.”
The same thought process can be used to make digital media and other equipment accessible. The EAA spans online shopping websites, TV equipment, smartphones, laptops and tablets, ticketing machines, banking services, ATMs, ticket machines, E-books and transport services.
For example, research in 2023 shows that 73% of disabled customers that may purchase something experience barriers on more than 25% of the websites they visit.
And that puts potential customers off. Using an average per head, the online spending power of disabled people is said to be estimated at more than £16 billion.
Sophie added: “In December 2024, Monzo launched the BSL interpretation to speak with the customer support team because blind and deaf and neurodivergent people also bank.
“Businesses will want money from as much of the population as you can possibly get. You need to be really laying out your apps, your services, your products, your advertising and your marketing into languages that these people speak, whether that’s audio description, sign language or braille.
“There are opportunities to effectively get more money. If you want to up your profits by 20%, cater to everyone who spends money, not just those who can see, hear and can be in busy, noisy places with flashing lights.”
Explore a free accessibility consultation with VoiceBox today.