Why is this research important to Business Disability Forum?
“Business Disability Forum (BDF) is pleased to support our long-term Associate Rick Williams and Partner organisation, Enterprise Rent-A-Car in carrying out this valuable body of research.
BDF has spent the past 20 years helping to build disability confidence with large business and public sector organisations that account for close to 20% of the UK workforce.
Working in partnership with the Extra Costs Commission (ECC), BDF published the Walk Away Pound report in June 2015, which analysed the consumer preferences of disabled people. The report found that 75% of disabled people and their families have walked away from a service provider because of poor disability awareness at a cost of £1.8bn to UK businesses every month.
The Click Away Pound represents the next step in this vital body of research, which should undoubtedly act as a wake up call to businesses that fail to make their websites and online services accessible to disabled customers.
As we move further and further into the digital age, the internet has become a fundamental part of peoples' lives and integral to the way in which society operates. It is imperative therefore that organisations consider the needs and requirements of disabled people when designing their websites and online products and services.
The Click Away Pound will encourage businesses to build into mainstream service design, empathy for the disabled and older customer as well as the capacity to personalise services for customers with all types of disabilities.
Moreover, with the ‘Purple Pound’ valued at £212 billion in the UK alone, the scale of opportunity for those service providers that get it right on disability and use inclusive principles when designing their websites is growing.
BDF looks forward to seeing the results of the research and urges as many people as possible to take part in the survey to make sure their voice is heard.”
