Accessibility
Accessible design isn't a compliance checkbox — it's a better experience for every visitor, and an increasingly real legal expectation.
Accessibility as a design discipline, not an afterthought
Around one in five people has some form of disability that can affect how they use a website — visual, motor, auditory or cognitive. Building accessibly means sufficient colour contrast, full keyboard navigability, proper semantic structure for screen readers, clear focus states, and respecting reduced-motion preferences for users sensitive to animation.
We build to WCAG 2.2 AA — the widely recognised standard — as a default across every project, not as an optional add-on requested separately, because retrofitting accessibility onto a finished site is far more expensive and less effective than building it in from the start.
Where it's a legal requirement, not just good practice
For public sector bodies, schools and certain regulated organisations, accessibility compliance is a legal requirement under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, and increasingly a genuine legal exposure for private businesses too under equality legislation. Even where it isn't strictly mandated, an inaccessible site is simply excluding real customers.
What we actually test
Automated tools catch a portion of accessibility issues — contrast ratios, missing alt text, invalid ARIA — but genuine accessibility testing requires manual keyboard navigation, screen reader testing, and checking that interactive components (menus, forms, modals) are genuinely usable without a mouse, not just technically passing an automated scan.
Frequently asked questions
What is WCAG 2.2 AA?
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is the internationally recognised standard for web accessibility, published by the W3C. Level AA is the standard most commonly required by law and best practice — covering colour contrast, keyboard operability, text alternatives for non-text content, and clear, consistent navigation, among other criteria.
Is website accessibility a legal requirement?
For UK public sector bodies, yes, under the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018. For private businesses, accessibility isn't governed by a single dedicated web law, but inaccessible sites can create genuine exposure under the Equality Act 2010 — and regardless of legal risk, an inaccessible site excludes real customers.
Does accessible design have to look less polished?
No — good accessible design and good visual design aren't in tension. Sufficient contrast, clear focus states and sensible motion don't require sacrificing a modern, confident aesthetic; they require designing with those constraints from the start rather than retrofitting them afterward.