Digital accessibility is not a priority for many UK firms, but this can be a costly mistake, and a potentially lucrative missed opportunity.
As European regulations shift, UK producers will be forced to accept the value of inclusive digital solutions, especially those exporting to the EU.
Targeting the European market
On June 28 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect. This places significant legal requirements on goods and services sold within the EU, mandating minimum levels of accessibility for several key sectors.
Of course, for UK-based companies, this may seem irrelevant. However, the EAA applies to all goods and services sold within the EU, regardless of where they were produced. This means that for UK exporters, the EAA is a vital piece of legislation, and accessibility is now a high priority. Also worth noting is that even accessible goods must be sold in accessible ways. This means that your website, packaging, and booking system all need to be compliant with WCAG standards in order to sell in the EU.
This will affect a large chunk of the UK economy. In 2024, 41% of UK exports went to the EU, and given that exports make up over 30% of the UK’s GDP, this equates to over 12.5% of British economic output. Even post-Brexit, UK producers should be paying close attention to EU legislation, and will be seeking accessible solutions wherever possible.
Domestic benefits of accessibility
Whilst the EU is certainly stricter than the UK on accessibility legislation, there are still crucial considerations for British companies within their domestic market. In practice, UK organisations still need to meet established accessibility expectations through the Equality Act 2010, which requires reasonable adjustments for disabled people and can apply to digital services, as well as the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, which mandate WCAG based standards for public sector websites and apps.
Fortunately, because of the unanimous use of WCAG standards in both environments, compliance with one set of regulations should extend across the board, as well as to the North American market and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
More inclusion, more users, more revenue
Finally, digital inclusion offers far more than legal compliance. As we’ve always argued at AccessPoint, accessible solutions often align with best practices in UX design, and can help businesses reach otherwise neglected audiences. Roughly a quarter of the UK population has some form of disability, and accessible platforms are far easier for these users to navigate and use.
Just as there are many good, principles, reasons to create inclusive solutions, there are also a range of “inclusion dividends” that reward firms who make accessibility a priority. See our recent blog on AI visibility for one example.
To see how accessibility can benefit your brand, just get in touch today for a free consultation from our team.