UK businesses must make their websites accessible to disabled users under the Equality Act 2010, and legal action is resulting in costly compensation orders and mandatory changes. With recent court settlements ranging from £3,000 to £7,000, accessibility isn't optional—it's a legal requirement that's being actively enforced.
Over 16 million people in the UK live with some form of disability, representing £274 billion in annual spending power. Yet four million disabled users clicked away from inaccessible websites, costing UK businesses £17.1 billion in lost revenue.
What is website accessibility under UK law?
The Equality Act 2010 requires all service providers to ensure their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities. The core duty is making reasonable adjustments to remove barriers that prevent disabled users from accessing or using your website.
While the Equality Act doesn't name WCAG, regulators and courts use WCAG 2.2 AA to assess compliance. Public sector organisations must meet WCAG 2.2 AA, which is recognised as best practice for compliance.
Over 14 million people in the UK are disabled—well over 20% of the population. An inaccessible website excludes this significant demographic from your services.
How is website accessibility enforced in the UK?
A disabled user can bring a claim in the County Court if your website is inaccessible, and courts can award damages including compensation for distress.
The Equality Act is enforced through government monitoring and legal action by the Government Digital Service (GDS) and Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) for public sector organisations.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has authority to impose enforcement measures including investigations, unlawful act notices, and legal proceedings.
Recent legal cases and settlements
In 2023, the High Court ruled against the DWP in an accessibility case, resulting in a £7,000 settlement plus legal costs, with other cases settling for £3,000 to £5,000.
A blind student, Holly Scott-Gardner, took legal action against the Student Loans Company after being unable to complete an inaccessible online form, resulting in a £5,000 settlement.
In 2023, Stephen Campbell received £3,000 settlement after being unable to use his screen reader to access the Health and Social Care Northern Ireland website.
What WCAG standard should UK businesses follow?
You should aim for WCAG 2.2 AA as the standard regulators and courts use to assess compliance. For public sector, the government mandates WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.
WCAG 2.2 added new requirements including focus appearance standards—when someone tabs through your site, the focused element needs clear visual indication, and a thin blue outline often isn't enough.
Key WCAG 2.2 requirements affecting most websites
Focus Appearance (AA): Focus indicators must meet minimum size and contrast requirements, with many custom-styled focus rings failing this standard.
Dragging Movements (AA): Any functionality using dragging gestures must also be achievable with single pointer action, affecting sliders, carousels, and sortable lists.
Target Size (AA): Interactive elements like buttons and links must have minimum target size of 24×24 CSS pixels, with small tap targets on mobile frequently failing.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) doesn't directly apply to UK businesses unless they serve EU customers. For UK businesses operating purely domestically, the EAA doesn't apply directly, but the Equality Act 2010 requires reasonable adjustments for disabled users.
How much could non-compliance cost your business?
Failing to comply can lead to significant legal and financial consequences, with individuals able to initiate legal actions potentially resulting in costly compensation orders.
While the Equality Act doesn't detail specific fines, the cost of legal fees, compensation, and corrective measures can be substantial, often running into tens of thousands of pounds.
Beyond legal costs, you're missing substantial business opportunities:
- Businesses globally lose around £2 billion monthly by ignoring disabled users' needs
- 73% of disabled customers experience barriers on over 25% of websites they visit
- Online spending power of disabled customers is nearly £20 billion
Does your business need an accessibility statement?
Private businesses aren't legally required to publish accessibility statements, but it's recommended as it shows effort, documents fixes, and provides a way for users to request help.
Public sector organisations must publish accessibility statements under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, requiring WCAG 2.2 AA conformance.
Practical steps to make your website accessible
Conduct an accessibility audit
Before making reasonable adjustments, identify what barriers exist through an audit that identifies gaps between your current website and WCAG 2.2 AA standard.
Focus on high-impact fixes first
For most common website issues like adding alt text, fixing contrast, or enabling keyboard navigation, the cost is low and benefit is high, meaning these fixes are almost always required.
Address WCAG 2.2 requirements
Update focus appearance indicators, provide alternatives to drag-and-drop features, ensure clickable elements are large enough, and implement consistent page navigation.
Test with real users
Regularly test your website for compliance, especially after updates, and incorporate feedback from individuals who rely on assistive technologies.
Accessibility usually makes websites better for everyone—clear headings help all users scan content, good colour contrast is easier on everyone's eyes, keyboard navigation helps power users, and accessible sites often perform better in search engines.
Which businesses are exempt from accessibility requirements?
Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million annual turnover are exempt from some EAA requirements if they have no EU customers.
However, if your business fits this description but has no EU customers, legal pressure is lower but the accessibility case on ethical and commercial grounds remains.
Even for smaller organisations, if accessibility changes are expensive or technically difficult, your organisation's size and resources are considered, but this doesn't remove the duty—it may mean prioritising fixes or providing alternatives.
What about EU customers and the European Accessibility Act?
Any private sector organisation selling products and services within the EU needs to comply with the EAA. For UK organisations, the key consideration is whether their digital content or services are offered to users in the EU.
EAA fines vary by country and can reach up to €1 million, with businesses also risking product withdrawal from the market and service blackouts.
Timeline and next steps
The European Accessibility Act came into force in June 2025, with UK implementation expected by 2026, marking web accessibility's move from optional to mandatory for many businesses.
We don't have exact dates for UK rules yet, but waiting until the last minute is risky as accessibility improvements take time to implement properly.
None of this is beyond a small business, but it requires someone actively watching for regressions as your site evolves—a plugin update or new page built without accessibility in mind can undo careful work quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my business be sued for having an inaccessible website?
Yes. A disabled user can bring a claim in County Court if your website is inaccessible, and courts can award damages including compensation for distress.
What's the spending power of disabled customers in the UK?
The collective spending power of people with disabilities is £274 billion annually, representing a significant market opportunity.
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to UK businesses?
The European Accessibility Act doesn't apply directly to the UK unless your business serves customers in the European Union.
Website accessibility is no longer optional for UK businesses. With the Equality Act 2010 being actively enforced through court cases and the substantial purple pound market at stake, making your website accessible isn't just about compliance—it's about capturing a £274 billion opportunity while avoiding potentially costly legal action. Start with an accessibility audit today and prioritise the highest-impact fixes first.