Accessibility Statement
Last updated: July 2026
Zinc is committed to making its web application accessible to as many people as possible, including people who use assistive technology such as screen readers, screen magnification, speech recognition software, or keyboard-only navigation.
We have adopted the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard as our accessibility target, alongside our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the accessibility provisions of the UK Digital Verification Services Trust Framework (section 10.2).
The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 — from which the structure of this statement is adapted — apply to public sector bodies. Zinc is a private sector organisation and is not directly bound by those Regulations. We have chosen to follow this format voluntarily because it is a recognised and widely-understood way to communicate our accessibility position to candidates, referees, recruiters and customers.
This accessibility statement applies to https://app.zincwork.com. It does not cover Zinc's public marketing website, or third-party services embedded within the platform (such as identity verification, live chat, analytics, and survey tools), which are operated separately by third parties and have not been assessed as part of this statement.
Compliance status
This web application is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible with WCAG 2.2 AA for the following reasons.
– There is no 'skip to main content' link, so keyboard and screen reader users must tab through repeated navigation on every page. (WCAG 2.4.1)
– Some small icon-only buttons (for example, clear-selection and carousel controls) are smaller than the recommended minimum size, which can make them harder to activate for people with limited dexterity. (WCAG 2.5.8)
– Pages do not currently declare their language in the underlying code, so screen readers may not always apply the correct pronunciation rules. (WCAG 3.1.1)
– Some personal-data fields (such as name and address) do not support browser autofill, so people who rely on autofill must type this information manually. (WCAG 1.3.5)
– Some logos and award images do not have descriptive text alternatives. (WCAG 1.1.1)
– We do not consistently use landmarks (for example, distinct main navigation or main content regions) or a standardised heading structure, which can make pages harder to navigate with a screen reader. (WCAG 1.3.1) However, our headings and labels are sufficiently descriptive. (WCAG 2.4.6)
– Error messages are not always clearly linked to the specific form field they relate to, and do not consistently suggest how to fix the problem. (WCAG 3.3.1, 3.3.3)
– Status messages, such as confirmations or loading indicators, are not always automatically announced to screen reader users. (WCAG 4.1.3)
We are aware of these issues and are working through them — see 'What we're doing to improve accessibility' below.
What we're doing to improve accessibility
We have completed an internal accessibility review of our design system and candidate-facing screens, and have a phased plan in place to address the issues found:
– Phase 1 (in progress): candidate and referee forms, recruiter sign-in and sign-up, global navigation and modals — focused on keyboard access, form labelling, visible focus, and colour contrast.
– Phase 2: recruiter dashboard, background-check request creation and management, scheduling, reports and candidate profiles.
– Phase 3: remaining screens, mobile testing, testing with assistive technologies (including NVDA and VoiceOver), and a review of this statement.
This work is tracked internally under Shortcut epic sc-7205.
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared in July 2026.
It is based on a self-assessment: an internal, code-level review of Zinc's design-system foundations (colour, typography and shared components) and of Zinc's candidate-facing frontend, completed in March 2026, together with supplementary source-code checks completed in July 2026. It has not yet been evaluated using automated testing tools, a full keyboard-only walkthrough, or assistive technology (such as NVDA, JAWS or VoiceOver), and has not been independently audited by a third party.
This statement will be reviewed and updated at least once a year, and following any substantial revision to the web application, or once the testing described above has been completed. It was last reviewed on 4 September 2026.
Feedback and contact information
If you find any problems not listed on this page, or think we are not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact contact@zincwork.com.
Complaints and further action
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) enforces the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which apply to public sector organisations. As a private sector organisation, Zinc is not subject to enforcement under those Regulations.
If you are not satisfied with how we have responded to your complaint, you may have rights under the Equality Act 2010, or other applicable law depending on your circumstances and location. The Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS) offers free, independent advice on Equality Act rights in England, Scotland and Wales, and can help explain your options. If you are in Northern Ireland, the relevant law is the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended). ECNI can advise on your rights in that context.
If you wish to raise a complaint regarding accessibility, please contact legal@zincwork.com.
