As we celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day today, 15 May, a report published by Skillcast has revealed a concerning trend in the UK鈥檚 financial sector – that is, a widespread failure to meet digital accessibility standards, risking the exclusion of millions of users.
The “Accessibility in Financial Services Report” by compliance training provider Skillcast assessed more than 270 UK financial companies across nine sub-sectors. In doing so, it found that only 30% passed key accessibility tests. On average, firms had 48 accessibility errors on their websites – a number that is considered far from acceptable in an era of digital-first service delivery.
Banking, however, stood out as a positive example, achieving an average Google PageSpeed score of 92.7 and recording the fewest WAVE accessibility alerts. In contrast, fintech firms and capital markets and trading companies lagged behind, with some sub-sectors seeing as few as four out of 30 firms meeting core benchmarks.
Regulations Dictating Accessibility and Digital Inclusion in the UK
The findings come ahead of the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which takes effect in June 2025. The EAA will require all companies operating within the EU, regardless of where they’re based, to ensure equal digital access to products and services.
Indeed, for UK firms doing business in the EU, non-compliance could lead to serious regulatory consequences.
Skillcast CEO Vivek Dodd stressed the importance of urgent action being taken:鈥淒espite banking鈥檚 leadership in best practices, the report reveals a significant number of errors across other sub-sectors… Accessibility and inclusion must become critical priorities.鈥�
While accessibility has climbed the agenda in recent years, progress is still slow. Globally, just 12% of websites meet the recognised accessibility standards, and previous research found homepage errors on all 20 of the UK鈥檚 leading financial institutions.
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More Than Just Compliance: Building a Better Financial Future
Global Accessibility Awareness Day was created to shine a light on these issues and make sure they don’t fall by the wayside, thus encouraging organisations to design digital spaces that are usable by all. Now, in its 13th year, the event serves as a timely reminder that accessibility isn鈥檛 merely a box to tick – it鈥檚 a pathway to inclusion, customer trust and long-term business success, and it’s absolutely essential for future growth.
The digital shift in financial services shows no signs of slowing down. But, unless the sector raises its accessibility game significantly – and quickly – innovation will continue to outpace inclusion.
Ultimately, the end game is that firms that invest in compliance training, inclusive design and digital optimisation now will gain more than just a little competitive edge – it’ll be a big competitive edge, and they鈥檒l help shape a fairer, more accessible financial landscape for everyone.
