Released: 15th November 2007
Direct Enquiries helps O2 Make Stores Accessible
directenquiries.com, the Nationwide Access Register today announces it has completed an accessibility audit of O2’s stores. On behalf of O2, Direct Enquiries has conducted over four hundred and fifty telephone assessments to establish the range of services available for people with impairments, disabilities and parents with push chairs at each store.
The audit will be used by O2 to assess which stores require investment to improve their accessibility and the data has been published on directenquiries.com. The public can now search the directenquiries.com for their local O2 store and clearly see what facilities are provided, download a map and contact details as well as access additional information about O2. directenquiries.com even enables users to pre-filter searches to prioritise the closest store that best meets their access requirements.
In addition to traditional accessibility information, directenquiries.com publishes the languages spoken at each store. This facility expands on an internal O2 initiative to capture and utilise the cultural diversity of their organisation to better serve its customers.
Working with directenquiries.com is a natural step for O2 which seeks to make provision for those with special needs. For instance this includes invoicing in Braille, using larger text size, audio options and a fully accessible website, O2 Access, for people with visual impairments.
Nicola Webster, Business Planning Manager, O2 Retail, commented on the project; “There’s no doubt that improving store access makes good business sense, but it also underlines our core values. The assessments completed by Direct Enquiries provide us with a base line from which to improve.”
Grant Kennedy, Chief Executive, Direct Enquiries, said “Mobile phones are such an important part of everyday life and competition between providers is so high that being able to access your local store is a very important part of the purchasing decision. Inclusion is very important to O2 and is actively encouraged across the organisation from recruitment to store design.”
Notes to Editors:
directenquiries.com, was developed as the Nationwide Disabled Access Register in 2002 in partnership with RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation) and The Employers' Forum on Disability. During the past 18 months the information available has grown to include access for parents with pushchairs as well as the general public. This allowed directenquiries.com to rebrand as The Nationwide Access Register in January 2006.
For users; directenquiries.com provides a full directory service for UK companies detailing the access and facilities available at those sites registered with directenquiries.com. The register currently includes disabled access information on leading high street names such as Argos, Asda, Boots, Costa Coffee, Gap, John Lewis, LloydsTSB, PC World, Pizza Express, Sainsbury’s and Waterstone’s as well as thousands of small and independent businesses. The disabled access information encompasses everything from parking, entrances, lifts, toilets, counter heights, wheelchair and pushchair access to staff assistance and auxiliary aids such as Braille, large print and induction loops.
For business; directenquiries.com is the only Nationwide Access Register specifically designed for companies to showcase their disabled access and other facilities. On average, directenquiries.com receives over 6 million hits each month from people looking for businesses, organisations and services with the disabled access they require. Registration is only £35 per year, per location, for which companies receive the following:
• Nationwide registration on directenquiries.com detailing company name, address and other contact details, including links to their website, should they have one,
• Exclusive access to an interactive Action Plan as required under the Disability Discrimination Act,
• A “More Information” section, equivalent to five pages of A4, updateable on a daily basis. This allows businesses to include information on forthcoming additions or changes to their disabled access as well as useful information about their business in general,
• Feedback facility providing customer comments and opinion.
For further information, images and interviews please contact us on
01344 360101 or e-mail press@directenquiries.com
www.directenquiries.com