Welcome to another QA Financial Forum-themed podcast – the leading series exploring innovation, regulation and real-world impact across software quality assurance in financial services, healthcare and insurance.
In the build-up to the first-ever QA Financial Healthcare & Insurance Forum London 2025, taking place on 26 November, we speak with Alex Jacobs, Head of Test Practice at Gallagher, ahead of his session on one of the most urgent and fast-evolving areas in QA: accessibility testing.
This year marked a major turning point, with the European Accessibility Act coming into force in June, and new FCA guidelines on accessibility expected in the UK.
As companies have learned from the US market, failing to meet accessibility standards doesn’t just create customer friction, it can trigger costly litigation.
Yet, as Jacobs argues, compliance is only half the story. With around 24% of customers living with some form of disability, accessibility is also a compelling business opportunity, reshaping how firms design, test and validate digital experiences.
Jacobs will be joined by Peter Bricknell, Chief Product Officer at Hassell Inclusion, to explore the real-world challenges and breakthroughs in accessibility testing—from automation and AI-driven evaluation of websites and mobile apps, to the essential role of manual testing and “the human in the loop”.
As AI agents begin to promise rapid, scalable assessment, this discussion asks a critical question: can technology alone meet the standard, or does human experience remain the defining factor in truly inclusive design? Let’s dive in!
Register for the QA Healthcare & Insurance Forum London below
Alex Jacobs will be speaking at the QA Financial Healthcare & Insurance Forum London 2025, on 26 November at 9:00am.
More information can be found HERE.
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REGULATION & COMPLIANCE
Looking for more news on regulations and compliance requirements driving developments in software quality engineering at financial firms? Visit our dedicated Regulation & Compliance page here.
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- AI in QA: how flexible testing is redefining assurance for financial firms
- Explainer: Why site reliability engineering is gaining momentum in banking
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