In Summary
Government Digital Service (GDS) monitoring found widespread accessibility issues across public sector sites and apps (2022–2024).
Accessibility gaps slow delivery and exclude citizens.
The GDS Aligned Power Pages Accelerator embeds GOV.UK standards and accessibility from day one.
Pre-built components reduce duplication, improve consistency, and speed up delivery.
It is designed to help teams deliver trusted, inclusive digital services, faster and with confidence.
Digital transformation in government is about more than technology; it’s about providing services that are fit for purpose. Every time someone uses a public service, whether to book an appointment, fill out a form, or access vital information, their experience matters. That’s why we’re introducing the GDS Aligned Power Pages Accelerator: a practical solution designed to help government teams deliver digital services that are not only faster and more efficient, but also truly accessible and user-friendly.
Why accessibility and alignment matter
Recent monitoring by the Government Digital Service (GDS) found that there were nearly 30,000 accessibility issues across 1,200+ public sector websites and 21 mobile apps between 2022 and 2024. The report highlighted that these problems were found on almost all of the tested sites and apps, along with recurring barriers such as low colour contrast, missing focus states, and weak keyboard navigation.
For citizens, these barriers aren’t just inconveniences; they can mean missed healthcare appointments, difficulty applying for benefits, or being unable to access essential information. These challenges can ultimately lead to the exclusion or frustration of citizens, creating pressure for delivery teams to move fast while meeting high standards.
For organisations, failing to align with GDS standards can lead to costly rework, delays, and reputational risk. By embedding accessibility and design standards from the start we can overcome this hurdle and create a foundation for success.
GDS Aligned Accelerator: designed for alignment, security, and scalability
Developed by Sopra Steria’s Cloud and Power Platform Specialists, the accelerator brings together GDS alignment, Microsoft integration, and governance expertise into one framework. It includes pre-configured GOV.UK templates, buttons, forms, and error patterns built to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) accessibility standards. Developed natively on Microsoft Power Pages and Dataverse, it enables secure, real-time integration with Dynamics 365, Power Automate, and Entra ID, ensuring consistent data handling and authentication across environments.
Governance and security are embedded throughout, with role-based access controls, audit trails, and Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) pipelines providing clear visibility and traceability from design through delivery. Its modular, configurable architecture means departments can adapt and reuse components without starting from scratch, creating a foundation that’s faster to implement, easier to maintain, and built for long-term resilience.
But what does this mean for both delivery teams and citizens?
For government teams this means:
- faster delivery,
- reduced complexity due to built in accessibility features,
- consistency and reduced duplication by using reusable components and ensuring services look and feel familiar,
- seamless integration with other applications.
- inclusive access,
- reliable user experiences by having a clear and consistent navigation system,
- transparency and trust.
What we've learned
Building the GDS Aligned Power Pages Accelerator reaffirmed what we’ve always believed: accessibility and alignment aren’t optional. They’re what make digital services genuinely effective, trusted, and inclusive. Accessibility can’t be bolted on. It must be designed, tested, and evidenced from the very start.
Through developing the accelerator, our teams have seen first-hand where delivery challenges typically arise, from interpreting GDS criteria too late in the process to struggling with evidence during assessment. These insights have shaped a more proactive approach: one that embeds accessibility and alignment at every stage, translating government guidance into practical, reusable design principles.
What has this taught us?
Assessment insight, not assumption
Our work supporting public sector teams in GDS-aligned service readiness has shown that assessors look for far more than visual compliance. They expect clear journeys, meaningful interactions, and proof of real user testing. Many projects stall not because of intent, but because common GOV.UK patterns or accessibility checks are missing. That experience directly shaped how we designed the accelerator.
Accessibility designed in
Rather than interpreting GDS criteria after build, we embedded them within it, from GOV.UK layouts, buttons, and forms to error-handling patterns that meet WCAG 2.2 standards. Each component is pre-tested through automated and manual accessibility checks, giving delivery teams confidence that accessibility is proven before assessment, not during it.
Evidence made easier
Service reviews move faster when evidence is built in from the start. By re-using pre-approved components and referencing our WCAG checklists and accessibility templates, teams can provide assessors with live examples that mirror GOV.UK standards and cut down the back-and-forth typical of Alpha and Beta reviews.
Common blockers eliminated
Because alignment is built in, recurring obstacles such as inconsistent UI, poor keyboard navigation, missing labels, non-semantic HTML, and inaccessible forms are removed upfront. This means that teams can spend less time overcoming these barriers and allocate more time to improved citizen experiences.
Together, these lessons have shaped an approach that blends accessibility assurance with delivery pace, proving that good design and good governance can advance side by side.
Looking ahead
The GDS Aligned Accelerator is designed to help delivery teams keep pace, ensuring inclusivity and compliance evolve hand-in-hand with innovation. By embedding alignment from the begining, it lays the groundwork for faster, fairer, and more resilient public services that meet rising expectations with confidence.
Together with delivery teams, we’ll validate what works, adapt where needed, and keep evolving it in step with GDS guidance to maximise its impact. If you’re exploring ways to strengthen accessibility, alignment, or delivery outcomes, our Cloud Practice team is ready to share our experience and help you achieve your goals.