News & Info Accessibility and Usability
Built for everyone.
Whether you use a mouse, a keyboard, touch, your voice, a screen reader or a magnifier, you should be able to find what you need here, understand it and act on it. This page explains how we work towards that, where we still fall short, and how to tell us when something gets in your way.
01 Statement
Accessibility statement
The formal part, in plain words: what we aim for, how close we are, and what we are still working on.
Our commitment
Watford Construction™ wants everyone to be able to use this website, including people who are blind or partially sighted, D/deaf or hard of hearing, or who have physical, cognitive or learning disabilities. We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA, the internationally recognised standard for accessible websites, and to go further where we can.
Accessibility and usability go hand in hand. A page that works well with a screen reader or a keyboard is usually clearer and quicker for everyone.
How accessible this website is
We are rebuilding the website page by page. New pages, like this one, are designed to the target above, and we check them on phones and computers, with a keyboard and with motion reduced. Some older pages, and some services provided by other companies, do not meet the target yet, so we describe the website as partially conformant.
Known limitations
These are the areas we know about. We are reviewing each of them, and we can help you another way in the meantime.
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Older pages
Some pages were built before our current approach. They may have headings out of order, text with too little contrast, or images without useful descriptions.
Reviewing page by page
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Site header, menus and footer
These are shared by every page. We are reviewing their contrast, the order in which keyboard focus moves through them, and the names screen readers announce for their icons.
Reviewing
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3D scenes and the configurator
Some product pages draw scenes live in your browser, and the garage configurator lets you design visually. These may be hard to use with a keyboard or a screen reader. Our team can talk you through the same choices by phone or email.
Reviewing alternatives
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Region and language chooser
On a first visit, a window may ask you to choose your region and language. We are checking how it handles keyboard focus and screen readers.
Reviewing
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Shop, basket and account
Some product images in the shop may lack useful descriptions, and some steps in the basket, checkout and My account may not work as well as they should with assistive technology.
Reviewing
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Product documents
Manuals and product declarations come from our manufacturing partners and are not always in accessible formats. Ask us, and we will look for another format.
Other formats on request
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Services from other companies
Payments, live chat, messaging and maps are provided by other companies, so we cannot change their design ourselves. We will pass on any barrier you report and help you another way, for example by phone.
We pass reports on
Feedback and contact
If you find a barrier, or need information in another format, please tell us. You can report a barrier below, email enquiries@watford-construction.com, or call Customer Care on +44 (0) 330 818 0713, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 8 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm (UK time).
About this statement
This statement was prepared in October 2026. We will update it as our review of the areas above moves forward, and whenever we make significant changes to the website.
Standards and law
WCAG 2.2 was published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in October 2023. Meeting level AA means meeting every level A and level AA success criterion.
EN 301 549 is the European standard for accessible information and communication technology. Its requirements for websites are based on WCAG.
In the United Kingdom, the Equality Act 2010 requires service providers, including those offering services online, to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. In the European Union, the European Accessibility Act has applied to many products and services, including online shops, since 28 June 2025.
02 Approach
What we design for
Nine things we aim for on every new page. The numbers are the WCAG success criteria behind each one.
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A clear structure
One main heading, sections in order and named landmarks, so a page can be skimmed by ear as quickly as by eye.
WCAG success criteria 1.3.1 2.4.6 4.1.2
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Everything by keyboard
Every link, button, menu and form usable with a keyboard alone, in a sensible order, without focus getting trapped.
WCAG success criteria 2.1.1 2.1.2 2.4.3
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Focus you can see
A thick outline that shows where you are, never hidden behind a sticky bar.
WCAG success criteria 2.4.7 2.4.11 2.4.13
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Text that stands out
At least 4.5:1 contrast between text and its background, and 7:1 wherever we can.
Body text on this page, measured now
17.4:1
WCAG success criteria 1.4.3 1.4.6 1.4.11
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Words for images
A text alternative for every image that carries meaning. Purely decorative images stay hidden from screen readers.
WCAG success criterion 1.1.1
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Zoom without losing your place
Text that enlarges to 200%, and pages that reflow at 400% zoom without sideways scrolling.
WCAG success criteria 1.4.4 1.4.10 1.4.12
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Motion you control
Calm movement that follows your device’s reduce motion setting, and nothing that flashes.
WCAG success criteria 2.2.2 2.3.1 2.3.3
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Targets you can hit
Buttons and controls at least 44 by 44 pixels wherever we can, so they are easy to tap, even on the move.
WCAG success criteria 2.5.5 2.5.8
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Forms that explain themselves
A visible label on every field, errors that say what went wrong and how to put it right, and results announced without moving your focus.
WCAG success criteria 3.3.1 3.3.2 3.3.3 4.1.3
What the numbers mean
| Criterion | Name | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.1 | Non-text Content | A |
| 1.3.1 | Info and Relationships | A |
| 1.4.3 | Contrast (Minimum) | AA |
| 1.4.4 | Resize Text | AA |
| 1.4.6 | Contrast (Enhanced) | AAA |
| 1.4.10 | Reflow | AA |
| 1.4.11 | Non-text Contrast | AA |
| 1.4.12 | Text Spacing | AA |
| 2.1.1 | Keyboard | A |
| 2.1.2 | No Keyboard Trap | A |
| 2.2.2 | Pause, Stop, Hide | A |
| 2.3.1 | Three Flashes or Below Threshold | A |
| 2.3.3 | Animation from Interactions | AAA |
| 2.4.3 | Focus Order | A |
| 2.4.6 | Headings and Labels | AA |
| 2.4.7 | Focus Visible | AA |
| 2.4.11 | Focus Not Obscured (Minimum), new in 2.2 | AA |
| 2.4.13 | Focus Appearance, new in 2.2 | AAA |
| 2.5.5 | Target Size (Enhanced) | AAA |
| 2.5.8 | Target Size (Minimum), new in 2.2 | AA |
| 3.3.1 | Error Identification | A |
| 3.3.2 | Labels or Instructions | A |
| 3.3.3 | Error Suggestion | AA |
| 4.1.2 | Name, Role, Value | A |
| 4.1.3 | Status Messages | AA |
Level AAA criteria are listed where we use them as a design aim. Our target for the website as a whole is level AA.
People
There is no single way to use the web.
Some people read with their fingertips on a braille display. Some listen to a screen reader at speed. Some zoom in to 400%, never touch a mouse, or talk to their device. And most of us have moments, a sprained wrist, bright sunlight, a baby in one arm, when we need the same things for a while. Designing for all of it makes the website better for everyone.
Concept visualisation
03 Getting around
Getting around
We design every control on our new pages to work with a keyboard, a screen reader, voice control and switch access. If something does not, please tell us.
With a keyboard
Press Tab to move through a page. A thick outline shows where you are: it is the same outline you can see around ‘everyone.’ at the top of this page.
On every page of our website, the first press of Tab brings up a Skip to content link, so you can go straight past the menus.
Try it: the keys light up here as you press them.
- Tab
- Move to the next link, button or field.
- Shift+Tab
- Move back to the previous one.
- Enter
- Follow a link or press a button.
- Space
- Press a button or tick a box. Elsewhere, scroll down the page.
- Left arrowUp arrowDown arrowRight arrow
- Move between options in a group, such as tabs or radio buttons.
- Esc
- Close a menu, panel or dialog.
- HomeorEnd
- Jump to the first or last option in a group.
- Ctrl+F
- Find words on the page. On a Mac, use Cmd instead of Ctrl.
With a screen reader
Our new pages are built from headings and landmarks, so you can jump straight to the part you need instead of listening from the top. These are the commands most people use.
Commands can differ between versions and settings.
Windows · free to download
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Read from here | NVDA + Down arrow |
| Stop speaking | Ctrl |
| Next heading | H (Shift + H to go back) |
| Heading by level | 1 to 6 |
| Next landmark | D |
| Next form field | F |
| List headings, links and landmarks | NVDA + F7 |
The NVDA key is Insert, unless you have chosen Caps Lock.
Windows
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Read from here | Insert + Down arrow |
| Stop speaking | Ctrl |
| Next heading | H (Shift + H to go back) |
| Heading by level | 1 to 6 |
| Next landmark | R |
| Next form field | F |
| List headings | Insert + F6 |
| List links | Insert + F7 |
Built into Windows
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Turn Narrator on or off | Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter |
| Scan mode on or off | Narrator + Space |
| Stop speaking | Ctrl |
| Next heading, in scan mode | H (Shift + H to go back) |
| Next landmark, in scan mode | D |
The Narrator key is Caps Lock or Insert.
Built into macOS
| To do this | Press |
|---|---|
| Turn VoiceOver on or off | Cmd + F5 |
| Read from here | VO + A |
| Stop speaking | Control |
| Next heading | VO + Cmd + H |
| Open the rotor (headings, links, landmarks) | VO + U |
| Press a button or link | VO + Space |
VO means Control and Option held together.
Built into iOS and iPadOS
| To do this | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Turn VoiceOver on | Settings › Accessibility › VoiceOver, or ask Siri |
| Next or previous item | Swipe right or left with one finger |
| Activate the item | Double-tap |
| Jump by heading | Turn the rotor to Headings by twisting two fingers, then swipe down |
| Read the page from the top | Swipe up with two fingers |
| Stop speaking | Tap with two fingers |
Built into Android
| To do this | Gesture |
|---|---|
| Turn TalkBack on | Settings › Accessibility › TalkBack |
| Next or previous item | Swipe right or left with one finger |
| Activate the item | Double-tap |
| Jump by heading | Choose Headings in the reading controls, then swipe down |
| Pause speech | Tap with two fingers |
Menu names vary a little between phone makers.
With voice control or a switch
Voice Control on iPhone, iPad and Mac, Voice Access on Android and voice access on Windows can put a number on every control. Say Show numbers
, then say the number. You can also say Tap
or Click
followed by a button’s visible name, such as Click Report a barrier
.
Switch users move through a page in much the same order as keyboard users, which is one more reason we keep that order logical.
This page’s outline
This is how a screen reader sees this page, read live from the page itself. Select a heading to jump to it.
Adds a small H1, H2 or H3 tag before every heading.
04 Your settings
Make every website easier to use
The preferences at the top change this page only. The settings on your device and in your browser work everywhere, including the rest of our website. These are the ones people use most.
- Larger text
- Settings Accessibility Display & Text Size Larger Text
- Bolder text
- Settings Accessibility Display & Text Size Bold Text
- More contrast
- Settings Accessibility Display & Text Size Increase Contrast
- Less motion
- Settings Accessibility Motion Reduce Motion
- Magnify the screen
- Settings Accessibility Zoom
- Screen reader
- Settings Accessibility VoiceOver
- Reader view in Safari
- Page menu in the address bar Show Reader
- Larger text
- Settings Accessibility Display size and text Font size
- More contrast
- Settings Accessibility Display size and text High contrast text
- Less motion
- Settings Accessibility Color and motion Remove animations
- Magnify the screen
- Settings Accessibility Magnification
- Screen reader
- Settings Accessibility TalkBack
- Control by voice
- Settings Accessibility Voice Access
Names follow Google’s own phones and vary a little between makers. Search the Settings app if you cannot find one.
- Larger text
- Settings Accessibility Text size
- More contrast
- Settings Accessibility Contrast themes
- Less motion
- Settings Accessibility Visual effects Animation effects
- Magnify the screen
- Windows logo key + Plus starts Magnifier
- Screen reader
- Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter starts Narrator
- Control by voice
- Settings Accessibility Speech Voice access
These follow Windows 11.
- Larger text
- System Settings Accessibility Display Text size
- More contrast
- System Settings Accessibility Display Increase contrast
- Less motion
- System Settings Accessibility Display Reduce motion
- Magnify the screen
- System Settings Accessibility Zoom
- Screen reader
- Cmd + F5 starts VoiceOver
- Control by voice
- System Settings Accessibility Voice Control
These follow recent versions of macOS.
- Zoom in
- Ctrl + +, or Cmd + + on a Mac
- Zoom out
- Ctrl + −, or Cmd + − on a Mac
- Back to 100%
- Ctrl + 0, or Cmd + 0 on a Mac
- On a phone or tablet
- Pinch outwards with two fingers to zoom
- Find on the page
- Ctrl + F, or Cmd + F on a Mac
- A simpler view
- Reader in Safari, Reader View in Firefox, Immersive Reader in Edge, Reading mode in Chrome
05 Other formats
Ask for it another way
If something on this website does not work for you, we can usually find another way to give you the same information or service.
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In another format
Tell us what you need, for example large print, plain text or an accessible digital document, and which page or document it is about. We will look at how best to provide it.
Email a request -
By phone instead
Prefer to talk? Call Customer Care on +44 (0) 330 818 0713, Monday to Saturday 8 am to 8 pm, Sunday 10 am to 5 pm (UK time). If you use a textphone, dial 18001 first to reach us through Relay UK.
Call Customer Care -
At your home
If we are visiting to survey or install and you would like something done differently, such as more time, a particular way to contact you, or someone with you, let us know when you arrange the visit.
Contact Support
06 Report a barrier
Tell us what got in your way
We will lay your report out as an email to our team. You send it from your own email app, so nothing is sent from this page, and this page does not store what you type.
What happens next
Ready to send
Check your report
- To
- enquiries@watford-construction.com
- Subject
Message
If your email app does not open, or the message looks cut short, copy the email and paste it into a new message to enquiries@watford-construction.com.
Accessibility is never finished.
Every report helps us make the website easier for the next person. Thank you for taking the time to tell us.