At Hurst, we understand that publishers have a mandate to make their materials accessible. We’re proud to help remove barriers to knowledge and ensure that our authors’ work can reach as many people as possible. To that end, we are guided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 in our communications and have followed UK Government best practice guidelines on accessibility. Our aim is to comply with global legislation, including the European Accessibility Act (EAA), the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), and future similar requirements.
We have consulted with our partners—such as ebook producers, website designers, direct marketing platforms, and metadata providers—across the business to ensure we are striving for best practice when it comes to accessibility. We have used the Axe® accessibility checker, moved to reflowable EPUB3 ebooks, updated our metadata, and trained on the importance of features like alt text to make content more inclusive.
Due to the costs, complexity, and size of our backlist, as well as staff size, it will take time to bring our older content up to current accessibility standards. If you find that a title is not available in an accessible format, please contact our accessibility coordinator below so we can help. Please note that we are working to update titles produced prior to the new EU accessibility legislation by prioritising those most in demand by readers.
Contact us: If you have any questions about our policy, require an alternate format for a Hurst title, or require any further assistance, please be in touch with Kathleen May, Associate Publisher.
Updated June 2025