Festival Place has become the first shopping centre in the UK to launch an inclusivity partnership aimed at transforming the experience of disabled visitors.
The centre has teamed up with Purple Advantage, a disability training and consultancy specialist, to deliver a programme designed to empower staff, support retailers and create an environment where disabled visitors feel confident, welcomed and understood.
Kayleigh Roe, business performance administrator at Festival Place, said: “Festival Place has always been committed to creating a welcoming environment for everyone, and this partnership represents an important step forward.
“By working with Purple Advantage, we are giving our staff and retailers the confidence, knowledge and understanding to better support disabled visitors.
“Just as importantly, we are creating opportunities to listen, learn and continually improve. We are incredibly proud to be the first site in the UK to embark on this journey.”
The partnership will deliver bespoke training, ongoing support, and practical tools aimed at removing uncertainty around disability to retailers and centre teams.
Purple Advantage was founded in 2024 by Fran and Chris Whitaker, a disabled couple with extensive personal and professional experience in the field.
Fran is a former Paralympic swimmer who represented Great Britain for over a decade, while Chris is a disability technical specialist with more than 15 years of experience.
Ms Whitaker said: “Purple Advantage was created to break down barriers and end the ‘fear factor’ that can sometimes exist around disability.
“This partnership with Festival Place shows what is possible when organisations commit to meaningful change.
“By equipping staff with the right tools and understanding, we can create environments where disabled people feel genuinely welcome, respected and confident.”
Part of the initiative is creating opportunities for disabled visitors to share direct feedback on their experiences at Festival Place.
This feedback will help guide ongoing improvements, ensuring that changes are informed by real-world experiences and needs.
For more information on the scheme, visit www.purpleadvantage.com.
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