Business & Technology
Young adults hit hardest by mobile app barriers in UK
SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIO
News Editor
Accessiway has published UK research showing that 64% of smartphone users encounter barriers when using apps, websites and online services on their phones. The highest reported rate was among people aged 18 to 24, at 81%.
Based on a nationally representative Censuswide survey of 1,000 UK adults, the findings point to problems affecting every age group. More than half of smartphone users in each age bracket said they had experienced at least one barrier.
The research suggests mobile usability problems are not confined to older users or people with disabilities, despite a common assumption that younger consumers are more comfortable navigating digital services. Among users aged 55 and over, 53% said they had faced at least one issue, lower than the rate among the youngest adults.
Among the most commonly reported problems were ads, pop-ups and cookie prompts that were hard to close, cited by 21.5% of smartphone users. Slow-loading content was reported by 16.2%, while 16.1% pointed to confusing or poor navigation.
Text size was another recurring complaint. Some 16.0% of users said text remained too small even when enlarged, while 13.2% said content did not fit properly on their screen.


Youngest users
The age breakdown stands out because it challenges the idea that digital barriers mainly affect older consumers. Instead, the survey found the highest level of friction among younger adults, a group often regarded as the most confident mobile users.
That pattern matters for businesses that rely on mobile traffic for sales, bookings and customer service. If users struggle to complete forms, navigate menus or dismiss on-screen prompts, companies risk losing transactions before a purchase or enquiry is completed.
Accessiway linked the findings to wider pressure on retailers and other consumer-facing businesses. A CBI survey published in April reported the sharpest year-on-year decline in retail sales since the series began in 1983, with consumer confidence at a multi-year low.
Separate estimates from disability charity Purple put the cost of failing to meet the needs of people with disabilities at around GBP £2 billion a month for UK businesses. Research from the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers found that 63% of people with disabilities would give a previously inaccessible brand another chance if it improved accessibility.
Commercial impact
The latest results build on earlier research pointing to a similar trend in online shopping. In that study, 57% of UK consumers said digital accessibility problems would put them off shopping online during major sales periods, rising to 76% among younger adult shoppers.
The latest figures broaden that concern beyond peak retail periods into day-to-day mobile use. They indicate that barriers such as intrusive prompts, poor layout and unclear navigation are affecting routine interactions with digital services.
Amit Borsok, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Accessiway, said: “Accessibility is, first and foremost, about inclusion. People with disabilities and access needs must be able to use digital services equally. But the impact of inaccessibility does not stop there. These findings show that inaccessible design creates friction across the whole customer base. At a time when retailers are under pressure, businesses cannot afford to lose customers because a form is difficult to complete, a pop-up cannot be closed, or content does not work properly on a mobile screen. It goes to the heart of customer experience, loyalty and commercial performance.”
Business & Technology
Rosa’s Thai is giving away 4000 free Pad Thais to students
Celebrating both GCSE and A-Level Results Days, the chain will offer the popular dish to students who buy one of its bubble teas.
The free offer is available at all 42 Rosa’s Thai restaurants across England and Wales.
To avail of the free noodles, students need to register on Rosa’s Thai website for a unique code, which they should present at the restaurant together with a copy of their results.
Rosa’s Thai has a new range of bubble tea flavours, including Ube-Taro, Matcha-Coconut, Mango Sticky Rice, and Milo Chocolate Milk, as well as favourites like Home-brewed Thai Tea with Tapioca, and Lychee Mango with mango boba.
Students can sign up for their free Pad Thai at rosasthai.com/result-day-free-pad-thai and find their nearest restaurant at rosasthai.com/locations.
Business & Technology
Historic coin company enters administration after 20 years
The London Mint Office, which distributes commemorative coins and medals, appointed administrators on July 31 after 20 years in business.
The company’s website now displays a message confirming the appointment of Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP as joint administrators.
A spokesman for Alvarez and Marsal said: “On July 31 2026, Michael Magnay and Jonny Marston of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed as Joint Administrators of The London Mint Office Limited in administration (the “Company”).
“Regrettably, the Company’s liquidity challenges have led to a number of immediate redundancies. We are supporting the affected employees through the redundancy process.
What Happens When a Company Goes Into Administration?
“The affairs, business and property of the Company are being managed by the Joint Administrators who act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.”
The announcement confirms that it is no longer possible to purchase coins or medals through the company’s website.
The London Mint Office operates a distribution centre in Tonypandy, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where it employs a significant number of people.
Administration is a formal insolvency process triggered when a business cannot meet its financial obligations.
An insolvency practitioner is appointed to manage the company’s affairs and may attempt to restructure the business or sell off assets to repay creditors.
What happens when a company goes into Liquidation?
Founded in 2006, The London Mint Office describes itself as “one of the UK’s most trusted suppliers of historic, commemorative, and collector coins.”
It is part of Samlerhuset AS, a Norwegian company based near Oslo and one of Europe’s largest distributors of commemorative coins and medals.
Samlerhuset’s website states that it offers “provide a wide range of coins from ancient to modern, originating from virtually every country in the world.”
The London Mint Office has advised anyone with an interest in the company’s assets to contact the administrators at INS_THLMOL@alvarezandmarsal.com.
Business & Technology
Warning of new rules for Aldi and Lidl after watchdog review
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally decided that both discounters should be added to the Groceries Market Investigation (Controlled Land) Order 2010, which currently applies to Asda, Co-op, Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose.
This order is designed to prevent large grocery retailers from using land agreements to block competitors from opening nearby stores, often through restrictive covenants or exclusivity terms.
Juliette Enser, executive director of competition enforcement and markets at the CMA, said: “We want everyone to have the best choice of supermarket and range of prices when buying their groceries.
“To ensure this happens, we put rules in place to prevent big supermarket chains blocking rival stores from opening nearby – and now we propose applying those rules to Aldi and Lidl too.
“This is about allowing shoppers to choose where they spend their money and levelling the playing field for all major supermarkets.
“Today’s proposals are provisional and we welcome views before deciding the best way forward.”
The CMA’s review found that Aldi, Lidl GB, and Lidl NI now meet the criteria of ‘Large Grocery Retailers’ (LGRs) due to their store footprint, nationwide presence, procurement model, and the breadth of their grocery range.
Aldi and Lidl were originally excluded from the 2010 order as ‘limited assortment discounters’, offering a smaller selection of products compared to traditional supermarkets.
However, the CMA’s provisional findings indicate that this is no longer the case.
All three now operate large grocery stores, each with more than 1,000 square metres of shop floor space, and offer a full range of products, though with less category choice than some competitors.
They also purchase goods directly from suppliers through integrated wholesaling.
With the UK grocery market estimated to be worth £215 billion, Aldi and Lidl are now ranked among the top five retailers by market share.
The CMA is seeking feedback from stakeholders before reaching a final decision.
Aldi and Lidl could join the other supermarket chains later this year.
The CMA is inviting views until 5pm on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will issue its final decision in the autumn after reviewing responses.
If the discounters are included under the order, they will be prevented from using land agreements to limit competition from other supermarket chains.
The CMA aims to ensure competition across the grocery sector to give shoppers more choice and competitive pricing by removing obstacles to new store openings.
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