Accessibility statement for Business.gov.uk

The Department of Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

This accessibility statement applies to www.business.gov.uk.

DBT regularly tests its online services to ensure they meet accessibility requirements. Our internal development teams test constantly, and we had the whole website tested by external audit agencies.

We want our whole website to comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA as a minimum.

We want all businesses and individuals to be able to use this website. This means you should be able to:

• change colours, contrast levels and fonts
• zoom up to 500% without the text spilling off the screen
• navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
• navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
• listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)

The site will:

• respond to different screen sizes or zoom levels
• use words that are clear and simple to understand throughout the website
• ensure all images have accessible descriptions where necessary

AbilityNet has tips on how to make your device easier to use if you have a disability.

How accessible this website is

We are constantly improving the content and performance of our website to make sure it can best support UK and international businesses.

Recent testing showed that small parts of the website are not fully accessible. For example, the ‘Events’ section of our site has several inaccessible elements which may be difficult for people using a screen reader.

We are actively working to fix these issues during regular service updates.

Feedback and contact information

What to do if you cannot access parts of this website

If you need information on this website in a different format, email digital.accessibility@businessandtrade.gov.uk. If you have a problem accessing any of the events on Business.gov.uk you can contact us at eventsupport@businessandtrade.gov.uk. We’ll get back to you within 5 working days.

Reporting accessibility problems with this website

We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems that are not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting the requirements of the accessibility regulations, please tell us by using the reporting links at the bottom of each page.

Enforcement procedure

In England, Wales and Scotland, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’).

If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).

In Northern Ireland, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Technical information about this website’s accessibility

DBT is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Compliance status

This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and the exemptions listed below.

Non-accessible content

The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons:

Non-compliance with accessibility regulations

Exporting – Business.gov.uk

• Some of our videos do not meet accessibility standards because they do not have captions and audio transcriptions. Users of assistive technologies may not have access to information conveyed in videos. This fails WCAG 2.2 (2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum))

We are actively working on adding captions and audio transcriptions to existing and future content to meet accessibility standards.

• Some links and buttons use out of date styling, including focus states that fail colour contrast requirements for users, particularly people with low vision. This fails WCAG 2.2 (1.4.11 (Non-text Contrast) and 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum))

We are actively working to fix these issues.

• There are some instances of missing ARIA, hidden labels or insufficiently defined values which may prevent screen reader users from interacting with some elements correctly. This fails WCAG 2.2 (2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context) (Level A), (1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A), 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A), (2.4.6 Headings and Labels (Level AA), 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A), 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions (Level A))
• Some images and icons without any functional value may still be read out to screen reader users. This can add audible clutter to screen reader output. This fails WCAG 2.2 (1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A), 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A))

We are in the process of hiding these from assistive technologies.

• There are some instances where focus location is not taking users to their expected destination. This may cause difficulty in navigating pages using assistive technology. This fails WCAG 2.2 (2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A), (3.2.2 On Input (Level A))

We are actively working to fix these issues.

• There is an instance of incorrect header tag assignment to text. This may mean users cannot efficiently move through the page using a screen reader or keyboard. This fails WCAG 2.2 (1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A))

We are actively working to fix this issue.

• Some multi-step forms being formatted as single pages may be difficult for screen reader users. It may prevent the user from completing multi-step processes or responding to errors. This fails WCAG 2.2 (2.4.2 Page Titled (Level A), 2.4.3 Focus Order (Level A), 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA))

We are rebuilding our form structures to fix this issue.

• An instance of incorrectly formatted list elements may cause users to misinterpret how many links are within a container. This fails WCAG 2.2 (1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A) 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA))

We are actively working to fix this issue.

• Some pages dynamically update, asking users for further information. This request may be missed by screen reader users. This fails WCAG 2.2 (1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A), 2.5.3 Label in Name (Level A), 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A), 4.1.3 Status Messages (Level AA))

We are actively working to fix these issues.

Error suggestions

• Some error message descriptions are incorrect. This may make it difficult for users to resolve their issues. This fails WCAG 2.2 (3.3.3 Error Suggestion (Level AA))

We are updating content across all error messages to fix these issues.

Magnification

• Some page structures and text formatting do not work when using in-browser site magnification tools
• There is an instance where the notification banner does not display correctly when viewed at 400% magnification. This fails WCAG 2.2 ([CT50] [CT51] 1.4.10 Reflow (Level AA))

We are actively working to fix these issues.

• Instances where the skip function does not work correctly may make navigation more difficult for keyboard and screen reader users
• There is an issue where a 'skip to results' command removes content from the page
• An issue with skip to command means that users may not be sent to the main content area of the page. This means they may need to skip past more content than usual
• In the Markets Selection page, a filter skip command overlaps content. This may make it difficult to navigate

These fail WCAG 2.2 (2.4.1 Bypass Blocks (Level A)).

We are actively working to fix these issues.

UK Export Academy

We are working with our UK Export Academy delivery team to ensure that all accessibility guidelines are followed wherever Microsoft Teams is used to facilitate a webinar event.

Microsoft has produced a detailed guide on how to get the best experience of using Microsoft Teams accessibility features.

We also maintain an active backlog of any issues that are reported to us and strive to continuously make accessibility improvements to the website.

Events service – events.business.gov.uk

Our events service at events.business.gov.uk is built and hosted through a third-party provider.

There are a number of issues with the events service including the following:

• No indication for blind users, or users that rely on audio feedback, that results are populating on the page when typing into the ‘Keyword’ form element WCAG 2.2 (3.2.2 On Input)
• The structure of the headings on the page is illogical WCAG 2.2 (2.4.2 Page Titled)
• The menu button on mobile is unlabelled so it is unclear what the button relates to WCAG 2.2(2.4.6 Headings and Labels)
• No ‘skip to content’ link present on some of the pages WCAG 2.2 (2.4.1 Bypass Blocks)
• The language attribute used has an invalid value - ‘eng’ is not a recognised language, and may cause assistive technology to render the content incorrectly WCAG 2.2 (3.1.1 Language of page)
• A technical issue with some lists may cause content to not render correctly on versions of screen reader software WCAG 2.2 (2.4.3 Focus Order)
• Some of our events pages contain non-descriptive ambiguous links such as ‘find out more’ WCAG 2.2 (2.4.4 Link Purpose (In Context))
• Images lacking alt text WCAG 2.2 (1.1.1 Non Text Content)
• The tab index on some of our events pages is used incorrectly causing some screen reader users to briefly lose focus when tabbing through interactive elements WCAG 2.2 (2.4.3 Focus Order)

We are working with our supplier to create new accessible templates for our events service.

If you have a problem with accessing any of the events on Business.gov.uk you can contact us at eventsupport@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

New service: Business Support Service webchat

Our Business Support Service webchat at https://www.business.gov.uk/support/pre-start-guide/ and https://www.business.gov.uk/support/start-up-guide/ is built and hosted through a third-party provider.

There are a number of issues with the service including the following:

• The ‘Write here, press 'Enter' to send’ input field in the chat box has no persistent visible label WCAG 2.2 (3.3.2 Labels or Instructions)
• The focus order is illogical WCAG 2.2 (2.4.3 Focus Order)
• The expandable content is not announced to screen reader users WCAG 2.2 (4.1.2 Name, Role, Value)
• When users navigating by keyboard open the menu and tab to one of the menu items, this causes the menu to close WCAG 2.2 (3.2.2 On Input)
• Non-text elements fail to meet the required threshold for non-text contrast WCAG 2.2 (1.4.11 Non-text Contrast)
• Screen reader users are not informed when there is a change in status in the chat window WCAG 2.2 (4.1.3 Status Messages)
• When users commit errors, the error messages do not describe the error or what is required from the user to rectify the errors effectively WCAG 2.2 (3.3.3 Error Suggestion)
• Labels for interactive elements are non-descriptive WCAG 2.2 (2.4.6 Headings and Labels)
• The chat window may obscure the focus state. This may cause difficulties for users navigating by keyboard. This fails WCAG 2.2 (2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured).

We are working with our supplier to fix these issues with the BSS webchat by the end of November 2025.

If you have a problem with accessing the Business Support Service webchat on https://www.business.gov.uk, you can contact the Business Support Service:

Phone: 0800 998 1098

Email: enquiries@businesssupportservice.co.uk

What we’re doing to improve accessibility

We are actively working to fix content which fails to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared on 27 May 2021. It was last reviewed on 2 May 2025.

Business.gov.uk was previously called business.gov.uk. An external audit of business.gov.uk was completed by the Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) on 22 October 2024. A further audit of business.gov.uk was completed by Digital Accessibility Centre (DAC) on 19 December 2024. The findings of these reports are being addressed to ensure that the Business.gov.uk website complies with WCAG 2.2 AA.

This statement will be updated as the reported issues are resolved.