Axess Information
In October 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act came into force requiring all businesses to make reasonable efforts to provide the fullest possible access to services for the UK's 8.6 million disabled people. This can prove expensive if the business is a heritage site such as a 15th century stately home, unable to alter a listed building, or to afford structural changes such as widening corridors or installing lifts.
In response Axess Information has identified a market niche by presenting a cost-effective solution in the form of digital 360 degree Panoramic tours on CD-ROM, which it has branded “Time And Again” tours. By presenting a CD tour at Reception on a basic PC or laptop, heritage sites can help disabled, frail and elderly visitors to easily access Britain's heritage including art collections, furniture and gardens previously off limits.
Visitors can select a route using a mouse control or be guided by a steward, and can pan and zoom in for greater detail. Panoramic Tours literally “open doors and windows” to those previously excluded, and provide equality of visitor experience.
The Axess mission is to help improve quality of life for those with disabilities but needed the expertise offered by Centa Business Services to make this mission a reality. Axess took advantage of Centa’s New Entrepreneur Schlarship (NES) which offers business advice, training, networking, and a grant to help new businesses launch their ideas. Axess used NES funds on interactive editing software for presentation of digital images, audio and video.
The help provided by Centa through the NES scheme has been invaluable. A mentor is an essential part of the process providing experienced and objective advice critical in the realistic assessment of any business in terms of planning and management.