With 88% of websites currently failing to meet accessibility standards, businesses across the UK and EU face an urgent wake-up call as new regulations take effect in 2025. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is becoming a business-critical requirement that could fundamentally change how you approach your digital presence.
For the 2.2 billion people globally with vision impairments and the 20% of website visitors who have disabilities, these changes represent long-overdue progress. For businesses, they represent both a compliance challenge and a competitive opportunity.
We’ve created a comprehensive e-book, “Web Accessibility Standards in the UK and EU: What Businesses Need to Know”, to help you navigate these web accessibility changes in 2025 with confidence.
Download the 2025 web accessibility e-book here
What you’ll discover in our free e-book
New requirements that affect your business
The EAA represents one of the most comprehensive accessibility initiatives globally, with requirements affecting both public and private organisations across all EU member states. Unlike previous regulations that primarily targeted public sector bodies, the EAA explicitly includes private businesses, particularly those providing services to the public.
Key regulatory changes include:
- WCAG 2.1 AA standards are becoming the recommended compliance level across EU member states
- Expanded coverage to private sector organisations, including e-commerce platforms
- Elimination of size exemptions – small and medium enterprises must also ensure digital accessibility
- Clear enforcement mechanisms with varying approaches from warnings to substantial financial penalties
Who must comply?
While larger enterprises may face more comprehensive requirements, SMEs must also ensure their digital properties meet accessibility standards. If you’re serving the public, regardless of your company size, compliance is likely required.
High-risk sectors include:
- E-commerce companies: 77% of US ADA website accessibility lawsuits in 2022 targeted e-commerce sites
- Financial services: Secure transaction processes must maintain both security and accessibility standards
- Healthcare and life sciences: Medical information must be accessible to users with various disabilities
- Technology companies: User interfaces and documentation present complex accessibility challenges
The cost of non-compliance
The consequences extend far beyond potential fines. Website accessibility lawsuits are growing, with legal precedent increasingly favouring users who encounter accessibility barriers.
Beyond legal risks, non-compliance creates:
- Brand reputation damage: In an era where inclusion matters to consumers, accessibility failures significantly impact brand image
- Lost revenue opportunities: People with disabilities represent 20% of website visitors with substantial purchasing power
- Competitive disadvantage: Search engines like Google incorporate accessibility factors into ranking algorithms
- Recruitment challenges: Top talent increasingly seeks employers who demonstrate a commitment to inclusion
Technical requirements made simple
Our e-book breaks down the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards into actionable requirements organised around four fundamental principles, known as POUR:
- Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways all users can perceive
- Operable: User interfaces must be operable by all users, including keyboard navigation
- Understandable: Information and interface operation must be clear and predictable
- Robust: Content must work reliably with assistive technologies
Mobile and multilingual accessibility challenges
As mobile usage continues growing, mobile accessibility becomes increasingly critical, and our e-book covers the mobile accessibility considerations organisations may want to take into account. For businesses operating internationally, we address the complex intersection of multilingual content and accessibility requirements.
How Sandberg bridges the language-accessibility gap
At Sandberg, we understand that accessibility and language access are interconnected challenges. Businesses operating in multiple countries must ensure content is accessible not just technically, but linguistically accessible to diverse user populations.
This includes understanding the cultural nuance of accessibility and inclusive language. Read more about this topic in our article about communicating inclusivity in the Nordic languages. Since you can’t realistically be an expert in all the languages your users speak, a provider like Sandberg can help you build a diverse, loyal audience.
Our solutions
- Transcription Services
- Video Subtitling
- Voiceovers
- Multilingual SEO
- PDF Remediation
Why the integrated approach matters
Organisations that recognise the connections between accessibility, internationalisation and user experience often find their accessibility investments provide multiple returns, including improved SEO performance, higher customer satisfaction and even greater growth in global markets.
Start today: Download your free guide
Don’t wait to start your accessibility journey. The businesses that begin now will have significant advantages: more time for thorough testing, user feedback integration, staff training and sustainable implementation that evolves with changing requirements.
Download your free copy of “Web Accessibility Standards in the UK and EU: What Businesses Need to Know” and discover:
- Step-by-step implementation strategies that work
- Cost-effective approaches to compliance
- Industry-specific considerations
- How to turn accessibility into a competitive advantage
- Resources for ongoing compliance monitoring
Get the 2025 web accessibility guide here
Ready to make your digital presence truly inclusive? Contact Sandberg today to discuss how our language solutions can help your business thrive in the new regulatory landscape.
