Greater accessibility and inclusion in transport has the power to be transformative for marginalised groups and communities across the UK. For innovators and companies, inclusive change leads to more sustainable, innovative and profitable business.
With more than 1 in 5 consumers having a disability, 75% of which have decided against using a UK business because of poor accessibility, transport businesses lose £42 million per month by ignoring the needs of disabled people (Scope).
This report from Innovate UK KTN, which focuses on inclusion with regards to disability, identifies gaps in provision of accessible transport where Innovate UK KTN and our transport industry partners can have the greatest impact through innovation. This aligns closely with the Innovate UK KTN Transport team’s aims to support Accessible and Inclusive Transport, as well as enabling greater equality, diversity and inclusion. It also supports the UK Transport Vision 2050, published by Innovate UK, which aims to ensure that “the 2050 traveller will experience a connected, cost-effective, accessible and reliable transport system” and that “transport will be accessible to people of all ages, locations and abilities.”
Innovate UK KTN will now focus on enabling innovation across the transport sector, supporting a wide range of marginalised groups communities to ensure that inclusive innovators are able to thrive in the UK and beyond.