Accessibility Statement

Our commitment

Genesis Utilities is committed to providing a website that can be used by as many people as reasonably possible, including disabled users and people who use assistive technologies.

Genesis Utilities is a trading name of Genesis UK (North West) Ltd.

We recognise our duties as a service provider under the Equality Act 2010, including the duty to consider reasonable adjustments for disabled customers and potential customers.

Accessibility approach

We aim to design and maintain the website with recognised accessibility principles in mind.

Our development objective is to work towards and maintain appropriate conformance with WCAG 2.2 Level AA where reasonably practicable.

This is a design objective and should not be interpreted as a claim that the website has been independently certified as fully WCAG 2.2 AA compliant unless such an audit has actually taken place.

What you should be able to do

We aim for users to be able to:

• navigate using a keyboard;
• use the site without requiring a mouse;
• zoom text and content;
• understand page headings and structure;
• identify interactive controls;
• use forms with clear labels;
• see visible keyboard focus;
• use common screen-reader software;
• understand images through appropriate alternative text where required;
• access links with meaningful descriptions;
• use the site on mobile and desktop devices; and
• access core information without accepting non-essential cookies.

Forms

Our enquiry form is designed to include:

• visible labels;
• programmatic associations between labels and fields;
• required-field indications;
• appropriate input types;
• browser autocomplete information;
• keyboard accessibility;
• accessible error messaging; and
• a clear confirmation following successful submission.

If you experience difficulty completing the form, you can contact us by telephone.

Documents

Customers may upload drawings and project documentation through the website.

Documents supplied by third parties may not always meet the same accessibility standards as the website itself.

Where Genesis publishes downloadable documents for public use, we aim to consider accessibility when creating or updating those materials.

If you require information in another reasonably accessible format, please contact us.

Images

The website uses project photographs and other imagery.

Where an image provides meaningful information, we aim to provide suitable alternative text.

Purely decorative imagery may be hidden from assistive technologies where appropriate.

Colour and contrast

The site uses a defined Genesis Utilities colour system.

We aim to maintain suitable contrast between:

• body text and backgrounds;
• buttons and backgrounds;
• links and backgrounds; and
• interactive controls and surrounding content.

Gas, Water and Electric coloured symbols are supplementary visual branding and should not be the sole method of conveying essential information.

Navigation

The website provides:

• visible desktop navigation;
• responsive mobile navigation;
• service navigation;
• keyboard-focus states; and
• consistent page structures.

Navigation should not depend solely on hover.

Cookie controls

Our cookie-preference controls are designed to provide:

• Reject non-essential;
• Manage preferences; and
• Accept all.

Core website access should remain available if non-essential Analytics or Advertising technologies are rejected.

Known limitations

Although we aim for a high level of accessibility, some limitations may exist.

These may include:

• third-party technology outside our direct control;
• older downloadable documents;
• technical project drawings not originally produced as accessible documents;
• externally hosted content;
• very complex utility plans or diagrams; and
• temporary defects introduced by software updates.

We review and address material issues where reasonably practicable.

Feedback and accessibility requests

If you have difficulty using this website or need information in a different format, please contact us.

Telephone: 0161 821 0070
Email: info@genesisutilities.co.uk

When contacting us, it is helpful if you tell us:

• which page or service you were trying to use;
• the problem you experienced;
• the browser/device or assistive technology you were using, if relevant; and
• the format or adjustment that would help.

We will consider reasonable accessibility requests and respond as soon as reasonably practicable.

Equality and reasonable adjustments

The Equality Act 2010 places duties on service providers in relation to disabled people, including taking reasonable steps to avoid substantial disadvantage. Government guidance emphasises that service providers should anticipate barriers rather than wait for a disabled person to encounter them.

Genesis Utilities will consider reasonable adjustments in relation to its services where required and reasonably practicable.