Accessibility Statement

LOPEX UNICONS LTD (trading as "UNICONS") is committed to making its website at www.unicons.co.uk and its online Platform (the "UNICONS Platform") accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. We believe that access to education is a universal right, and that digital accessibility is an essential component of inclusive service delivery.

We aim to ensure that our Website and Platform are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users, in accordance with the four core principles of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). We are working to meet and maintain the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard, which represents current best practice for digital accessibility.

Our commitment to accessibility is informed by and consistent with:

• The Equality Act 2010, which requires us as a service provider to make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled persons are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled persons;
• The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (SI 2018/952), which implement the EU Web Accessibility Directive — although UNICONS is not a public sector body, we adopt these standards as best practice;
• WCAG 2.1 Level AA — the internationally recognised standard for web content accessibility published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

We view accessibility as an ongoing commitment, not a one-time exercise. We continually review and improve our Website and Platform to remove barriers and enhance the user experience for all.

Target Standard: WCAG 2.1 Level AA

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 define how to make web content more accessible to people with disabilities. The guidelines address accessibility across four core principles:

Current Status

We are working towards full conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Our Website and Platform are partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, meaning that some parts do not yet fully conform to the standard. Known issues and limitations are described in Section 3 of this Statement.

We are committed to achieving and maintaining full Level AA conformance across all parts of the Website and Platform and have a programme of ongoing improvement in place as described in Section 4.

We are committed to transparency about the current accessibility status of our Website and Platform. The following are known issues that we are actively working to resolve. Where a known issue exists, we describe the impact and the accessibility requirement it relates to under WCAG 2.1.

3.1 Document Uploads and PDFs

Some PDF documents and other downloadable files linked from the Platform (for example, university factsheets and application guides produced by partner institutions) may not be fully accessible to screen reader users. These documents are provided by third-party partner institutions and may not always meet the accessibility standards we set for our own content.

• Impact: Users relying on screen readers or assistive technologies may have difficulty accessing the full content of some downloadable documents.
• WCAG Criterion: 1.1.1 (Non-text Content), 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value)
• Current Mitigation: We provide an accessible format request service — see Section 5.
• Target Remediation: We are working with partner institutions to request accessible versions of all documents and will provide these upon request. We aim to have accessible alternatives for all core documents by 31 March 2026.

3.2 Complex Data Tables

Certain pages within the Platform (for example, application comparison and course listing pages) use complex data tables that may not be fully navigable by keyboard or by screen readers using table navigation commands. Table header associations and ARIA roles are not fully implemented in all instances.

• Impact: Screen reader and keyboard-only users may find it difficult to navigate and understand the relationships within complex tables.
• WCAG Criterion: 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships), 4.1.3 (Status Messages)
• Target Remediation: We are redesigning data tables with full ARIA table roles, captions, and header associations. We expect to complete this work by 30 June 2026.

3.3 Colour Contrast — Secondary UI Elements

Some secondary user interface elements (including certain status badge labels, placeholder text, and disabled button states) may not meet the minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 required for normal text under WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

• Impact: Users with low vision or colour vision deficiency may find these elements difficult to read.
• WCAG Criterion: 1.4.3 (Contrast — Minimum)
• Target Remediation: A full colour contrast audit is underway. Remediation is planned for completion by 31 December 2025.

3.4 Third-Party Embedded Content

The Platform includes embedded content from third parties (for example, interactive maps and video content from partner universities). We do not have full control over the accessibility of this third-party content.

• Impact: Some embedded third-party content may not meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements.
• WCAG Criterion: Multiple criteria may apply depending on the content type.
• Current Mitigation: Where possible, we provide alternative means of accessing the same information (such as text descriptions or alternative links).

3.5 Live Chat Widget

Our live chat support widget (where enabled) may present challenges for keyboard-only users and screen reader users, particularly in relation to focus management and ARIA live region announcements.

• Impact: Some keyboard-only and screen reader users may experience difficulty initiating or maintaining a live chat session.
• WCAG Criterion: 2.1.1 (Keyboard), 4.1.3 (Status Messages)
• Current Mitigation: All support queries can also be submitted via email to enquiry@unicons.co.uk.
• Target Remediation: We are engaging with our live chat provider to implement accessibility improvements.

3.6 Mobile Navigation

On certain mobile screen sizes, the navigation menu may present focus management issues, with focus not being trapped within the open navigation drawer when activated, causing keyboard users to navigate through content behind the open menu.

• Impact: Keyboard-only mobile users may experience difficulty using the primary navigation.
• WCAG Criterion: 2.1.2 (No Keyboard Trap), 2.4.3 (Focus Order)
• Target Remediation: We are implementing a focus management fix for the mobile navigation component. We expect to resolve this by 31 January 2026.

We are committed to continuous improvement of the accessibility of our Website and Platform. Our improvement programme includes the following activities:

4.1 Ongoing Accessibility Auditing

We conduct regular accessibility audits of the Website and Platform, including:

• Automated testing using industry-standard tools (including Axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse) as part of our software development workflow, run on every significant code change;
• Manual testing against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria, carried out by members of our development team trained in accessibility testing;
• User testing with assistive technologies, including testing with:
• - Screen readers (NVDA and JAWS on Windows; VoiceOver on macOS and iOS; TalkBack on Android);
• - Keyboard-only navigation;
• - Voice control software (Dragon NaturallySpeaking);
• - High-contrast mode and Windows Magnifier.

We aim to conduct a comprehensive accessibility audit of the full Platform at least twice per year, supplemented by component-level testing as part of our regular development cycle.

4.2 Staff Training

All members of our development, product, and content teams receive training in digital accessibility as part of their induction. This training covers:

• The legal and ethical obligations regarding web accessibility under the Equality Act 2010;
• The practical application of WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines to web design and development;
• How to write accessible content, including the use of plain language, descriptive alt text, and accessible document formats;
• How to test for and identify accessibility barriers.

We provide refresher training annually and update our training materials to reflect changes in accessibility standards and best practice.

4.3 Accessibility in Design and Development

We have adopted an accessibility-first approach to the design and development of new features and content on the Platform:

• All new user interface components are designed and developed against WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria before release;
• Accessibility requirements are included in the acceptance criteria for all new development tasks;
• We use a component library that has been designed and tested for accessibility, to ensure that accessibility is consistent across the Platform.

4.4 Partner Institution Engagement

We are actively engaging with our partner universities and colleges to encourage them to provide accessible versions of all documents and content published through the UNICONS Platform. We have included accessibility requirements in our standard partner institution agreements.

4.5 Remediation Roadmap

We maintain an internal accessibility remediation roadmap that tracks all known accessibility issues, assigns responsibility for remediation, and sets target completion dates. Progress against this roadmap is reviewed monthly by our senior management team. Key remediation targets are summarised in Section 3 above.

If you need any content available on the UNICONS Website or Platform in a different or more accessible format, please contact us. We will endeavour to provide the information in a format that meets your needs within a reasonable timeframe.

Examples of accessible format requests we can accommodate include:

• A plain text version of a PDF document;
• A document reformatted for compatibility with screen readers;
• Larger print versions of on-screen content;
• A summary or simplified version of a complex document.

How to Request an Accessible Format

Please contact us using one of the following methods:

• Email: enquiry@unicons.co.uk (please include "ACCESSIBLE FORMAT REQUEST" in the subject line and describe the content you need and the format you require)
• Post: LOPEX UNICONS LTD, 214 High Street, Second Floor, Hounslow, TW3 1HB, London, United Kingdom

We aim to respond to all accessible format requests within 10 working days and to provide the requested format within 20 working days, or sooner where possible. Where a particular format is not technically feasible, we will explain why and offer an alternative where available.

There is no charge for requesting content in an accessible format.

We welcome feedback from users about the accessibility of the UNICONS Website and Platform. If you encounter an accessibility barrier, experience difficulty using any part of our Website or Platform, or wish to report a specific issue, please let us know.

Your feedback helps us to identify and prioritise accessibility improvements, and we are grateful for any reports we receive.

How to Report an Accessibility Problem

Please contact us using one of the following methods:

• Email: enquiry@unicons.co.uk (please include "ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE" in the subject line)
• Post: LOPEX UNICONS LTD, 214 High Street, Second Floor, Hounslow, TW3 1HB, London, United Kingdom
• Website: www.unicons.co.uk (via the "Contact Us" page)

What to Include in Your Report

To help us investigate and resolve the issue as quickly as possible, please provide:

• A description of the accessibility barrier or problem you encountered;
• The specific page or section of the Website or Platform where the issue occurs (including the URL if possible);
• The assistive technology or browser you were using (for example, NVDA screen reader, VoiceOver, keyboard-only navigation);
• A description of what you expected to happen and what actually happened.

Our Response

We aim to acknowledge all accessibility reports within 5 working days and to provide a substantive response — including details of any action we are taking — within 20 working days. Where an issue is complex or requires involvement of third parties, we will keep you updated on our progress.

If you have reported an accessibility issue to us and are not satisfied with our response, or if you believe we are failing in our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the relevant enforcement body.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Equality Act 2010. If you contact the EHRC, they may investigate your complaint and, where appropriate, take enforcement action on your behalf.

Contact Details:

Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) The EHRC's helpline for individuals:

• Telephone: 0808 800 0082
• Textphone: 0808 800 0084
• Website: equalityadvisoryservice.com
• Post: FREEPOST EASS HELPLINE, FPN 6521

Northern Ireland

If you are based in Northern Ireland and wish to complain about the accessibility of a public sector body's website, you should contact the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland:

• Website: equalityni.org
• Telephone: 028 90 500 600

Right to Legal Action

Nothing in this Statement limits your right to bring a legal claim in the courts of England and Wales under the Equality Act 2010 if you believe you have suffered discrimination as a result of an accessibility barrier on our Website or Platform.

8.1 Technologies Relied Upon

The UNICONS Website and Platform rely on the following technologies for conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript (ECMAScript 2020 and later)
• WAI-ARIA 1.1 (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
• SVG (for icons and graphics)

8.2 Browser and Assistive Technology Compatibility

We aim to ensure that the Website and Platform are compatible with the following combinations of browsers and assistive technologies:

8.3 Testing Methodology

Our accessibility testing methodology includes:

• Automated testing using Axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse;
• Manual keyboard navigation testing;
• Manual screen reader testing using the browser/AT combinations listed above;
• Review against WCAG 2.1 Level AA success criteria using the W3C's accessibility evaluation methodology (WCAG-EM).

Preparation Date: This Accessibility Statement was first prepared on 1 September 2025.

Last Review Date: This Accessibility Statement was last reviewed on 1 September 2025.

Next Scheduled Review: This Accessibility Statement will next be reviewed on 1 September 2026, or sooner following any significant changes to the Website or Platform, or changes in applicable legislation or WCAG standards.

Review Process

This Statement is reviewed by a member of our senior management team in conjunction with the lead developer responsible for accessibility. The review considers:

• Progress against the remediation roadmap described in Section 4;
• Any new accessibility issues identified through user feedback, audits, or assistive technology testing since the last review;
• Any changes to WCAG standards, legal requirements, or ICO/EHRC guidance;
• An assessment of the completeness and accuracy of all sections of this Statement.

LOPEX UNICONS LTD — enquiry@unicons.co.uk — www.unicons.co.uk