Only 1 in 3 UK Small Businesses Have an Accessible Website: Why That Needs to Change
When you think about your website, you probably focus on how it looks, how fast it loads, or how well it ranks on Google. But there is one critical factor that is still being overlooked by most small businesses in the UK: accessibility.
Recent research shows that only one in three small business websites are accessible to people with disabilities. That means a staggering two-thirds of UK businesses are unintentionally creating barriers for millions of potential customers.
This is more than just a missed opportunity. It is a fundamental issue that affects customer experience, brand reputation, legal compliance, and ultimately, your bottom line.
What is Website Accessibility?
Website accessibility means designing and building websites so that everyone can use them, including people with disabilities. This includes users who are blind or have low vision, deaf or hard of hearing, those with mobility challenges, and those with cognitive differences.
Accessibility is not just about making small tweaks for a few users. It is about ensuring that your website can be understood, navigated, and interacted with by as many people as possible, regardless of ability or the tools they use to browse the web.
This might involve:
-
Ensuring screen readers can interpret your content accurately
-
Adding meaningful alternative text (alt text) for images
-
Providing sufficient colour contrast between text and background
-
Allowing navigation via keyboard for users who cannot use a mouse
-
Making sure videos are captioned and audio content has transcripts
-
Using clear and simple language for readability
Why Accessibility is Business-Critical
1. You Are Losing Customers
There are over 14 million people in the UK living with some form of disability. That is roughly one in five people. If your website is not accessible, a significant number of your potential customers might not be able to engage with your business online.
Think about it. If someone cannot read the text on your site, navigate your menus, or understand your videos, they will leave. And they will likely not come back.
On the other hand, when your website is accessible, it becomes open to everyone, increasing your reach, your leads, and your revenue.
2. It Affects Your Brand Reputation
Inclusivity is not just a buzzword. It is something customers care about deeply. Businesses that are seen to take accessibility seriously are more likely to earn trust and loyalty from their audience.
On the flip side, when a website is difficult or impossible to use for people with disabilities, it sends a message that their experience was not considered.
Today’s consumers are paying attention to more than just products and prices. They want to support businesses that reflect their values. Accessibility can be a competitive advantage.
3. It Has Legal Implications
Under the Equality Act 2010, UK businesses are legally required to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access their services. This includes online services such as websites.
While the law does not currently provide specific technical standards for websites, there have already been cases where organisations have faced legal challenges due to inaccessible digital content.
This risk will only grow as digital accessibility becomes a higher priority for regulators and the public alike.
4. It Helps with SEO
Search engines love accessible websites.
When you make your content more readable, structure your headings properly, add image alt text, and create faster-loading, user-friendly pages, you are also optimising your website for search engines.
Accessible websites tend to have cleaner code, better performance, and better usability. These are all factors that Google takes into account when ranking your site.
In other words, improving accessibility can help you appear higher in search results and attract more organic traffic.
5. It Futureproofs Your Website
Technology is constantly evolving. New devices, screen sizes, and browsing methods appear every year. An accessible website is typically more flexible and adaptable to these changes.
By following accessibility best practices, you are not just meeting today’s standards. You are building a foundation that can adapt more easily to tomorrow’s challenges.
What Common Accessibility Issues Do Small Businesses Overlook?
Some of the most common issues we see on small business websites include:
-
Missing alt text on images
-
Poor colour contrast that makes text hard to read
-
No focus indicators for keyboard users
-
Menus that cannot be accessed with a keyboard
-
Inaccessible forms with missing labels
-
Videos without captions
-
Small font sizes or low line spacing
-
Confusing navigation or unclear links
Many of these are easy to fix but require attention to detail and a basic understanding of inclusive design principles.
How to Start Making Your Website Accessible
You do not need to overhaul your entire site overnight. Here are some simple steps you can take today:
-
Audit Your Website
Use free tools like WAVE (by WebAIM), axe DevTools, or Google Lighthouse to scan your site for accessibility issues. -
Add Alt Text to Images
Describe what the image shows so screen reader users get the same information. -
Check Colour Contrast
Use a contrast checker to ensure text is readable against background colours. -
Test Keyboard Navigation
Try navigating your site using only the Tab key. Can you reach every menu, link, and form field? -
Caption Your Videos
Add captions to all video content. This helps not just deaf users but also those watching with sound off. -
Use Clear Language
Avoid jargon. Use plain English to make your content easier to understand for everyone. -
Fix Form Fields
Ensure each input field has a visible label and provides clear instructions.
Accessibility is Not a Trend. It is a Responsibility.
Inclusive design is not just for government websites or big corporations. It is for every business that wants to serve their customers with dignity, fairness, and care.
An accessible website shows that you value every visitor. It shows that you are forward-thinking, legally compliant, and ready to serve the entire community.
Most importantly, it shows that your business is built not just for the majority, but for everyone.
If your website is not accessible yet, you are not alone. But that does not mean you should wait.
We Can Help
At Silk Media, we help UK small businesses create websites that are not only beautiful and high-performing, but also accessible and inclusive.
Whether you need an accessibility audit, improvements to your current site, or a full rebuild with WCAG 2.1 guidelines in mind, we are here to help.
Let’s make your website work for everyone.
