BGF, one of the UK’s and Ireland’s leading growth capital investors, has integrated Recite Me assistive technology into its UK and Irish websites, to create a more inclusive digital environment. In 2023, BGF made a significant investment of £4.2 million in Recite Me, with a commitment to making the digital world accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.
According to Purple statistics, 73% of potential disabled customers experience barriers on more than a quarter of the websites they visit (Purple). To play its part in reducing this number, BGF is giving its website visitors access to a range of customisable tools, via the accessibility icon in the top right of its websites.
Commenting on the decision to adopt Recite Me on BGF’s websites, the company’s EDI & Talent Acquisition Lead, Darren Duporte, said:
“At BGF, we’re always seeking to create more inclusive and equitable environments, including online.
“In the UK, one in five people are living with a disability. By making our websites more accessible, we hope to increase our reach and ensure that everyone has equal access to our digital content and career opportunities.”
Recite Me removes online obstacles for those with disabilities, visual impairments, learning difficulties, the population of older age and those who speak English as a second language. To do this, we offer a range of tools, such as screen reading functionality, multiple reading aids, styling features and an on-demand translation tool that boasts over 100 languages.
At the time of BGF’s investment, John Healey, an investor in its Newcastle team, said, “Despite the fact there’s a growing population of people who would benefit from this technology and the increased focus on diversity and inclusion, 98% of the world’s websites currently have limited or no accessibility functionality.
“This North-East innovation is having a life-changing impact for web users across the world, as well as allowing brands to reach a wider audience and enhance their customer experience.”
In 2023, the Recite Me toolbar was launched over 6.2 million times, to make over 43 million web pages inclusive. There are currently more than 5,000 websites utilising Recite Me, alongside BGF, including the likes of Tesco, KFC, and British Gas.
For more information, make sure to contact a member of our team or schedule a live toolbar demonstration.
Kickstart your accessibility journey with Recite Me
Act today to ensure your website is accessible and compliant with the latest WCAG standards. Get started on your website accessibility strategy by working through the following action points:
- Contact our team for more advice about WCAG standards and Accessibility best practices.
- Find out more about the Recite Me Web Accessibility Checker.
- Schedule a free demonstration to learn how our technology can help you.
- Run a free scan of your website for WCAG 2.1 AA compliance.
- Try our assistive toolbar on your website.
