In June 2025 the European Accessibility Act came into effect, requiring that all businesses that operate within European Union countries ensure that their website meets a sufficient level of accessibility.
Similar legislation in the UK, such as the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulation 2018, and the ADA in the US mean it’s more important than ever to check that your website is compliant.
These aren’t empty threats either, with investigations and fines for websites that aren’t hitting a sufficient level of accessibility. But the threat of losing money shouldn’t be the only reason to start taking accessibility and usability seriously - it’s just good business sense.
The business case for making your website accessible
Inclusivity
It’s the right thing to do for your potential audience. An accessible website that can be easily used by all users promotes digital equality.
Legal compliance
UK websites in the public sector must meet AA-level WCAG accessibility compliance or face investigation and fines. Similarly, websites operating in the EU must comply with the European Accessibility Act or face fines.
Improved usability
Accessibility improvements enhance the overall experience for users of all abilities. This includes users with temporary impairments, users on slower internet connections and older adults.
Audience reach
There are more than 1 billion people with disabilities in the world, with spending power of more than $6 trillion dollars. An inaccessible website is like leaving money on the table.
Improved brand reputation
Build trust and show you’re being socially responsible. Positive word-of-mouth from users who have successful interactions with your site will help strengthen your brand.
Improved SEO
An accessible website that follows best practices, such as meaningful alt text and semantic HTML, will rank better with search engines.
What are WCAG guidelines?
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are the industry standard for accessibility testing and compliance, aimed at making web content usable for the widest possible audience.
The criteria focuses on four key areas: perceivability, operability, understandability and robustness.
In practical terms, the criteria comprise a large set of criteria which a website must successfully meet to call itself compliant.
AA-level compliance is the most common standard, with some public sector websites required to meet the more stringent AAA-level compliance level.
A helping hand
At Enjoy we work with brands of all shapes and sizes to make their websites accessible to wider audiences. We can audit your website against the latest WCAG guidelines to ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, supported by detailed reports breaking down any issues or fixes that may be needed.
Concerned about accessibility legislation?
Could your website be more user-friendly? Get in touch today to learn more about our digital accessibility programme.
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