If you are looking for an accessibility consultant for an organisation based in Scotland, a few things are worth knowing — particularly around which regulations apply to Scottish public sector organisations, and what to expect from a remote engagement.
Scotland and the public sector accessibility regulations
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 apply to public sector bodies across the UK, including Scottish public bodies. The monitoring and enforcement body in Scotland is the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC), working alongside the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Scottish public sector organisations are required to:
- Meet WCAG 2.1 AA for their public-facing websites and mobile apps
- Publish an accessibility statement that is accurate and current
- Respond to accessibility feedback from users
- Update their accessibility statement at least annually
This includes Scottish local authorities, NHS Scotland bodies, Scottish Government departments, colleges and universities, and arm’s length external organisations (ALEOs).
Scottish organisations and the European Accessibility Act
Scottish businesses that sell products or services to customers in the EU are within scope for the European Accessibility Act, which applies from June 2025. Brexit does not exempt UK organisations from EAA obligations if they have EU customers.
This is particularly relevant for Scottish tech companies, tourism platforms, e-commerce businesses, and financial services firms with EU customer bases.
Common accessibility gaps in Scottish public sector digital services
Based on SHRC and central government monitoring data, common gaps in Scottish public sector accessibility include:
- Accessibility statements that are out of date or do not accurately reflect the current compliance position
- PDF document libraries that have not been audited or remediated
- Legacy intranet and back-office systems that are not covered by the statement or action plan
- Training gaps in development and content teams that result in ongoing publication of inaccessible content
Working with Scottish clients
I work remotely with Scottish organisations on WCAG audits, accessibility statement drafting, EAA readiness assessments, PDF accessibility remediation, and training for developers, designers, and content teams. Most of this work happens entirely over video and async communication.
For in-person workshops, I can travel to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, or Dundee when that format suits the engagement better.