Navigating the European Accessibility Act: A Guide for UK Digital Services
From 28th June 2025, new rules under the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will be in force. Even if your business is based here in the UK, the law could still affect you if you have users, customers or website visitors from the EU.
What’s the EAA and Why Does It Matter?
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) is EU legislation aimed at improving access to digital products and services for people with disabilities. It’s about levelling the playing field and making sure everyone, regardless of ability, can use digital tools like websites, apps, e-commerce platforms, and more.
This law isn’t just for public bodies or government sites, it now covers many private sector businesses too.
EAA Compliance: Does Your UK Business Need to Act?
If your business:
- Has more than 10 employees or
- Brings in over €2 million in revenue,
and
- Offers digital services to EU customers,
then the EAA may apply to you,, even if your company is based in the UK.
What Types of Services Are Covered?
The law applies to a broad range of digital tools and services, including:
- Websites and online shops
- Websites & e-commerce platforms
- Online banking and payment systems
- Transport and travel booking sites
- Digital TV & telecommunications
- E-books, apps, and software
The core requirement is that digital content must be accessible to everyone, including people using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation or captions for video. The goal is for websites to be:
- Perceivable
- Operable
- Understandable
- Robust
In practical terms, that means following accessibility best practices – and for most websites, that’s WCAG 2.1 Level AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
What If You Don’t Comply?
The penalties vary between EU countries, but they’re far from symbolic.
Fines can reach €1 million, and there’s potential for:
- Mandatory service shutdowns
- Forced product withdrawal from the EU market
- Reputational damage if your site is called out for being inaccessible
Beyond Regulation: How Accessibility Drives Business Growth and Innovation
Accessibility isn’t just a box to tick or a regulation to follow. Done properly, it’s a business opportunity:
- 66% of businesses report better organic traffic after making accessibility improvements
- 82% of disabled customers say they stick with brands that make their websites usable
- Inaccessible websites are missing out on an estimated €6.3 billion a year in revenue
Whether it’s SEO, customer loyalty or conversions, accessibility makes good business sense.
What You Can Do Next
At LCN.com, we believe websites should be easy for everyone to use and we’re here to help you get there.
To support customers in getting ready for the EAA, we’ve partnered with AccessiWay – an accessibility platform designed to simplify compliance.
AccessiWay offers:
- Automated accessibility adjustments
- AI-powered compatibility with assistive tech
- Compliance with WCAG 2.1 AA
- Ongoing monitoring and legal support
It’s a simple, scalable way to make your site compliant and more inclusive.
Final Checklist
🗓️ Make sure you’re ready by 28 June 2025
📊 Turn accessibility into a competitive advantage
🌐 Reach more users, on more devices, with fewer barriers
👉 Want to check if your website is compliant?
Visit accessiway.com to get started.