This accessibility statement applies to information on the Business Wales website and associated specialist business support sections of the website.
Each specialist service has its own accessibility page. It outlines how accessible the service is, how to report problems and how to request information in an alternative format. You can access these pages from the footer inside the individual service’s web pages.
Using this website
This website is run by Business Wales. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 400% 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
- use most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- some pages and document attachments are not clearly written
- some hyperlinks won’t reflow above 300%
- some tables do not have row headers
- some heading elements are not consistent
- some page titles are not unique
- some form labels are not unique
- some images do not have good alternative text
- some link text does not describe the purpose of the link
- many documents are in PDF format and are not accessible
Business Wales specialist services
Each specialist service has its own accessibility page, with details of how accessible the service is, how to report problems and how to request information in an alternative format. You can access these pages from the footer inside the individual service’s web pages.
Request information in a different format
If you need information on this website in a different format like plain text, braille, BSL, large print, easy read or audio recording:
- email: businesssupport@gov.wales
- phone: 03000 6 03000
We'll need you to tell us:
- the web address (URL) of the information you need
- your email address and name
- the format you would like to receive - for example, plain text, braille, BSL, large print or audio CD
- which assistive technologies you use
You can request a PDF in an accessible format from its page. Select ‘Request an accessible format’ to contact the organisation that published the document.
We’ll review your request and get back to you in 7 working days.
Feedback and contact information
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, contact us on one of the ways below:
- email: businesssupport@gov.wales
- phone: 03000 6 03000
We'll need you to tell us:
- the web address (URL) of the page you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements
- why you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements
We’ll review your request and get back to you in 7 working days.
Enforcement procedure
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, please contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
Ofcom requires all landline and mobile telephone companies to provide a number of services for customers with disabilities. You can use the text relay service of your choice to contact Business Wales.
Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit, we will make every effort to arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter. Just contact us on one of the ways below:
- email: businesssupport@gov.wales
- phone: 03000 6 03000
We'll need you to tell us:
- who you are
- how we can help you
We’ll review your request and get back to you in 7 working days.
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Business Wales 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 listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons: Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations.
Some graphs are presented as PNG images rather than data visualisations. Although descriptions of the graphs' contents are provided, this is less effective than actual data visualisations for users who rely on screen readers. This fails success criteria WCAG 2.2 A 1.1.1 and AA 1.4.5. We plan to fix this by June 2025.
Some alt text contains placeholders like ‘picture’ or ‘spacer’. This does not convey the actual content or function of the image, making it less useful for users who rely on screen readers. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.1.1 and 1.2.1 F30. We resolved every know instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some figures and images in PDF documents have blank ALT text. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.1.1 F65. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some Word documents contain a graphic without Alt text. Alt text is required to convoy the information or purpose of the image to individuals using screen readers. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.1.1. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some image elements do not have an accessible name. Without an accessible name, screen reader users may encounter difficulties in comprehending the meaning or function of an image on a webpage. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.1.1 F65. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some PDF’S are not tagged, this prevents them from being accessible by screen readers. This fails success criterion WCAG 22 A 1.3.1. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some Word documents contain a non-inline graphic or object. Non-inline graphics or objects may not adapt well to different screen sizes or user preferences. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.3.2. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some documents titles are blank or missing. A title is essential for navigation and organization for those who have cognitive disabilities or rely on screen readers. This fails succession criterion WCAG 2.2 A 2.4.2 F25. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some links uses general text like ‘Click here’ with no surrounding text explain the link purpose. This may affect users using screen readers as they may announce unhelpful information such as “click here’”, which doesn’t convoy the purpose or destination of the link. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 2.4.4 F63. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
The technologies listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons: Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations.
Some pages contain text and background colours that do not have enough contrast. This effects people with visual impairments. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 AA 1.4.3. We resolved every know instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some pages require amending to ensure the user can identify row and column headers in data tables suing <th> elements, and mark layout tables with role=presentation. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.3.1 F91. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Some pages that contain data tables that have two or more logical levels of row or collum headers, do not use markup to associate data cells and header cells. This fails success criterion WCAG 2.2 A 1.3.1. We resolved every known instance of this issue in February 2024.
Interactive tools and transactions
There are no known non-accessible Interactive tools and transactions on Business Wales. If you believe some of our Interactive tools and transactions are non-accessible. Please contact us on one of the ways below:
- email: businesssupport@gov.wales
- phone: 03000 6 03000
We'll need you to tell us:
- the web address (URL) of the page you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements
- why you think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements
We’ll review your request and get back to you in 7 working days.
PDFs and other documents
New documents we publish to access our services should be fully accessible.
However, we know that some of our older documents (published before 23 September 2018) are not accessible. For example, some of them:
- are not marked up in a way that allows screen reader users to understand them
- are not tagged up properly, for example they do not contain proper headings
- are not written in plain English
Some of these are historic documents and are not essential to providing our services. These types of documents are exempt from the regulations. We do not currently have any plans to make them accessible.
If you need to access information in one of these document types, please contact us on one of the ways below and ask for an alternative format.
- email: businesssupport@gov.wales
- phone: 03000 6 03000
We'll need you to tell us:
- the web address (URL) of the information you need
- the format you would like to receive
- which assistive technologies you use
We’ll review your request and get back to you in 7 working days.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 8 January 2024 to replace the previous accessibility statement. The statement was last reviewed on 11 June 2024.
How we tested the website
This website was last tested on 15 December 2023. The test was carried out by S8080.
On the 15 December 2023 S8080 used SortSite Desktop to scan over 8700 of our pages for compliancy to level A and AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.2. The scan included a combination of core pages, commonly used templates and complex templates.
We tested our main website platform, available at https://businesswales.gov.wales/
As well as some of our specialist services managed by the Business Wales team including: