In partnership with the Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDS), the 'Boost Accessibility' programme supported businesses to become more welcoming for new customers with accessibility challenges - allowing them to access a market worth an estimated £16 billion and reflecting the status of Buckinghamshire as the Birthplace of the Paralympics.

Lucy Dowson, Tourism Development Manager at Visit Buckinghamshire, said: “The aim of our accessibility programme was to help businesses in our sector to improve their accessibility with 1-2-1 support and advice from a business access adviser. In addition, they were kept up to date with our online library of resources, discovered hints and tips sharing best practices, and accessed free training for their teams to help make customers with access needs feel welcome and comfortable when visiting their business.”

Businesses accessed a range of support, including 1-2-1 advice from a team of experienced advisers, digital training programmes, carbon and accessibility audits, action planning, in-depth workshops, and inspirational events. In addition, £250 vouchers were also available to support the implementation of new initiatives and training.

Getting the accessibility message out across the airwaves

Visit Buckinghamshire is pleased to have the support of Vicky Hope-Walker, CEO of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, whose recent podcast interview with Philippa Batting, Managing Director of Buckinghamshire Business First, highlighted the importance of accessibility for all.

The two spoke about Buckinghamshire’s place in history as the Birthplace of the Paralympics, how the trust ensures its services are accessible, the value to businesses of being welcoming to all, the places in Bucks that are already getting it right, and some practical ideas for businesses to implement. You can listen to the interview here.

Philippa also wrote about accessibility in her regular column in Vale Life Magazine recently, pointing out that as millions of people face digital, physical or sensory barriers when trying to use products or services, businesses cannot afford to close their doors – literally or figuratively – to potential customers. Read an online version of her column here.

Get support for your business

There is support available for businesses wishing to become more accessible to all customers. Visit Buckinghamshire has compiled accessibility guides and resources to help businesses do this.

Visit Buckinghamshire and The Chilterns is the official Destination Management Organisation (Tourist Board) for Buckinghamshire. Hosted and managed by Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF), its website - www.visitbuckinghamshire.org - is the most visited tourism website in the county (over 20,000 visitors each month), providing ideas and inspiration on the best things to do and places to visit, stay, eat and drink.  

* Deaf Awareness Week is all about promoting the positive aspects of living with deafness. This events aims to raise awareness of the isolation that deaf people can occasionally experience, and promote the importance of social inclusion around the deaf community. The event also raises awareness of British Sign Language (BSL), which is a language used by many people in the UK who are born deaf.