{"id":121274,"date":"2023-02-20T09:43:01","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T09:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=121274"},"modified":"2023-04-03T19:42:31","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T18:42:31","slug":"opening-up-accessibility-in-the-built-environment","status":"publish","type":"ebook","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/ebook\/opening-up-accessibility-in-the-built-environment\/121274\/","title":{"rendered":"Opening up accessibility in the built environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this eBook, Jane Gratton, Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, explores why diversity and inclusion is important for accessibility in the built environment<\/h2>\n

In today\u2019s environment, people want to work with businesses that are truly committed to accessibility and inclusivity. That\u2019s why diversity across your business and workforce isn\u2019t just desirable; it\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n

This commitment is something we at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) recognise with our annual Chamber Business Awards, not just because it\u2019s the right thing to do
\nbut also because it makes good business sense.<\/p>\n

Diversity and inclusion are the key to tackling major business challenges<\/h3>\n

Diversity and inclusion are key to tackling some of the major challenges faced by businesses. This is exempli\ufb01ed by the winners of the BCC\u2019s Equality Trailblazer award.
\nLaunched in 2021, the \ufb01rst award went to Manchester-based law \ufb01rm Freeth\u2019s for embedding diversity and inclusion into almost every facet of their business.<\/p>\n

This included the creation of a Black Lawyers Network, a mentoring programme to support
\nwomen to progress to senior roles, a focus on the ethnicity pay gap and removing barriers facing those from lower socio-economic backgrounds looking to enter the legal \ufb01eld.<\/p>\n

This year, our prestigious award went to Herts Inclusive Theatre. This company works hard to improve the wellbeing of disadvantaged and disabled people, using the arts to build con\ufb01dence and develop skills in an inclusive space.<\/p>\n

Unless you can welcome and cater to the needs of all customers, you risk losing out to your competitors who can. Figures from the Purple Tuesday movement show that the Purple Pound \u2013 the combined spending power of disabled people and their households \u2013 is estimated to be worth \u00a3274bn every year.<\/p>\n

The organisation also reports that 54% of disabled people will not revisit a venue that has inaccessible toilets,<\/a> while 48% will avoid places with inaccessible entrances and store navigation.<\/p>\n

Businesses need to invest in more training for existing employees<\/h3>\n

When it comes to staffing, British businesses are currently facing a very tight labour market. More than three-quarters of \ufb01rms attempting to hire staff are reporting recruitment difficulties. The BCC is calling for businesses and government to work together to tackle this challenge by investing in more training for existing employees and supporting young people to get the skills and experience they need to join the workforce.<\/p>\n

At the same time, there is a huge pool of talent in our communities who are struggling to access work. By creating more \ufb02exible working practices and workplaces, you can boost recruitment and retention and become an employer of choice.<\/p>\n

Harnessing the skills of older workers, people with health conditions and disabilities, parents and carers, ex-offenders and many other talent pools will bring people with the enthusiasm and commitment to boost your business productivity.<\/p>\n

Adding more accessible features to your business are simple steps to take<\/h3>\n

Removing obstacles to working in your business<\/a> makes good sense. And there are some simple steps you can take. Accessible parking spaces, ramps and automatic doors are obvious adjustments that support staff and visitors. Changes to the style of d\u00e9cor and the location of furniture and \ufb01ttings can also make a massive difference to people who are neurodivergent or visually impaired.<\/p>\n

Figures released by the government show that the number of disabled people in employment between 2017 and 2022 increased by 1.3m. Yet we still have over 1.2m job vacancies in the UK economy that employers are struggling to \ufb01ll. There are many more people who want to work and achieve their full potential, but who need employers to provide a more \ufb02exible and accessible workplace.<\/p>\n

Many businesses are already leading the way for others to follow in embedding diversity, inclusion and accessibility into the very core of their organisations. While businesses are leading this charge, government must wholly support them in their endeavours, so we see equal, diverse and successful businesses and workplaces right across the UK.<\/p>\n

I am immensely grateful to Jane Gratton and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for providing the foreword to our latest e-book.<\/p>\n

An essential part of our work is to raise awareness within the business community of the issues around poor accessibility, and the opportunities for all which arise from getting it right.<\/p>\n

The BCC represents thousands of companies and organisations across the UK and overseas
\nIt is reassuring, therefore, to have that message reinforced by such a respected organisation as the BCC, which represents thousands of companies and other organisations in the UK and overseas, and is recognised as one of the most signi\ufb01cant voices for British business.<\/p>\n

But sadly, there are still some working in property and related sectors who cling to such outdated terminology as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which, except in Northern Ireland was replaced by the provisions of the Equality Act 2010.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re unlikely to be able to meet the requirements of a piece of legislation if you don\u2019t even know it exists, so every time we hear someone talk about the DDA we redouble our efforts to enlighten people and the organisations they work for.<\/p>\n

This e-book is part of that process. It will give you an idea of the sectors and territories in which we operate, the sources we research as we endeavour to identify and share best practice, and the approach we take towards removing barriers and making the built environment more accessible.<\/p>\n

Making premises accessible<\/a> is the right thing to do. If that\u2019s not a priority for you then consider the potentially heavy penalties for breaching the Equality Act 2010. If you\u2019re still not convinced, think about the boost for your business from being able to welcome more customers and better staff. And if you don\u2019t want to take my word for it, take Jane Gratton\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Case study: Look to the future<\/h3>\n

From our daily dealings with minimum widths for doorways, maximum gradients for ramps and many other benchmarks, one of the main pieces of advice we offer is when working to design an inclusive environment don\u2019t be afraid to go beyond the guidance.<\/p>\n

Whether you draw it from Approved Document M of the Building Regulations, from BS 8300 or other official sources, try to remember it only sets a minimum requirement and it gives you the freedom to be better than the lowest level if you can \u2013 and if you want to.<\/p>\n

We come across examples far too often of designers adhering to the guidance but not taking basic additional steps which could make a big difference.<\/p>\n

Real-life examples include people encountering obstacles when trying to move to a different part of their workplace to get to food and drink facilities. We have also seen instances where the loos are on a different \ufb02oor as well. However accessible the actual facilities are, obstacles can make the route inaccessible.<\/p>\n

One case we looked at involved a company moving into a new building which was much more accessible. But its location was not on a public transport route and didn\u2019t have any parking. These aspects hadn\u2019t been taken into consideration and that created a signi\ufb01cant problem.<\/p>\n

In every example, the designers and architects had stuck to guidance but failed to anticipate what the future might look like.<\/p>\n

Similarly, some employers overlook the fact that however many disabled colleagues you have in or around your organisation, that number could increase because people might acquire impairments through accidents, medical conditions
\nand age.<\/p>\n

If that happens, should they be forced to leave the job they need and love, or can adjustments be made to keep them and their valuable experience on your team?<\/p>\n

What would you do as a boss if you acquired an impairment? Maybe your circumstances and savings would be such that you\u2019d relish the chance to wheel off into the sunset and enjoy retirement? But surely, you\u2019d at least want the option to stay rather than be pushed to leave because of accessibility issues?<\/p>\n

A partnership approach to accessibility<\/h3>\n

An effective approach to accessibility is all about partnership. We work closely with disabled people and their representative organisations to \ufb01nd out what they need to create an inclusive environment. We then liaise with other professionals such as designers, developers and the owners and operators of buildings to meet those needs.<\/p>\n

Our services include conducting audits of buildings or services to identify any barriers to access, and consulting on new build or renovation projects to ensure they are accessible for all.<\/p>\n

We also encourage organisations to engage with an access consultant<\/a> at the earliest opportunity, because it costs much more to remedy faults than to get things right in the \ufb01rst place. Our strategic planning service will help clients look at the big picture and develop a plan for the future, and the best results come when project leaders have the foresight to make an access consultant part of their design team from the outset.<\/p>\n

If a design has been completed and it\u2019s not too late to make changes, we can provide an appraisal service, assessing the plans and highlighting any issues before the builders
\nmove in.<\/p>\n

We also provide access statements, which will set out any issues your premises might present. Such a document may be required in support of a planning application or a submission to Building Control. It can also be displayed on your website to help visitors make an informed decision on whether they can get in and use your building.<\/p>\n

We provide these services, and combinations of them, for clients across the UK and,
\nincreasingly, worldwide for clients who recognise the bene\ufb01ts of hitting the highest standards wherever they operate.<\/p>\n

Case study:\u00a0A problem shared<\/h3>\n

The advantages of a design appraisal can extend beyond identifying potential issues and obstacles to accessibility. Where you have shared premises, the question can arise about liability.<\/p>\n

In assisting a client prior to them taking \ufb01ve \ufb02oors in a 20-storey city centre office building, we made them aware of the different responsibilities held by them and their landlord in the various areas of the building. Until that point, the tenant had made the assumption that the landlord\u2019s building control people would have everything in hand.<\/p>\n

They key point is that in just the same way as a landlord and their tenant will liaise over such essentials as \ufb01re, gas and electrics, they should take a joint approach to access. Between them, and with the right advice from the right people, they should be able to ensure an accessible journey around the building.<\/p>\n

Design role enables early resolution<\/h3>\n

Proof of the importance of making an access consultant part of your design team from the start of a project was provided by one of our assignments involving the renovation of an historic building. The property has various sections protected to Grade I, II and II* and that, arguably, makes it even more important to ensure people can move around it safely.<\/p>\n

However, we found issues which included \u201caccessible\u201d loos not being the correct size and a main meeting area, which is of historic signi\ufb01cance, being inaccessible to start with yet not being remedied because it was considered to be outside the scope of the project. With an access consultant on board, a lot of these issues could have been resolved while the project was still on the drawing board.<\/p>\n

Connecting clients with customers and staff<\/h3>\n

Whatever your sector, there\u2019s a simple equation when it comes to making your premises accessible.<\/p>\n

Think about the negative impact of falling foul of the law. A court case, a big \ufb01nancial hit from \ufb01nes and costs, and the reputational damage as the matter attracts coverage in the press, with the added risk of it going viral on social media.<\/p>\n

Then think about the positives of opening up your business to disabled customers, estimated by the Purple Pound to have a spending power in the UK lane of \u00a3275bn a year. And at a time when staff recruitment and retention is so difficult, and the war for talent intensifying, making your shops and offices accessible to an army of workers who would bring skills, experience and commitment \u2013 if only they could get through the door.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a list below of the sort of professionals we work with and the wide range of sectors and premises which are becoming more accessible as a result of our input.<\/p>\n

The people draw on our guidance as they strive to give their clients an edge in an increasingly competitive property market.<\/p>\n