Disability consultancy Direct Access appoints new MD as international growth accelerates
Award-winning disability accessibility and inclusion consultancy Direct Access has announced the appointment of Peter Brassington to the new role of Managing Director for Direct Access Consultancy in the UK.
With full responsibility for the leadership and development of Direct Access’ UK business, Peter will take Direct Access to the next stage of success.
Established in 2004 as an accessibility and inclusion consultancy, the Nantwich, Cheshire-based firm with 17 staff, the majority who have a disability, undertakes architectural design reviews of new builds and accessibility audits of established premises. These enable building owners to identify ways of improving access for disabled people.
Recent clients include Expo City (which recently hosted COP28), the Royal Armouries Museum Group, and the United Nations International Organization for Migration in Geneva.
Peter’s background in the packaging manufacturing industry will be instrumental in growing Direct Access’ new tactile map team – creating 3D maps and tactile models for blind and neurodiverse visitors to museums, stations and recreational facilities.
Peter will be joined by a new bid writer in mid-January as part of an enhanced business development team covering all aspects of UK business.
The new Managing Director role enables Direct Access’ founder, Steven Mifsud MBE, to focus on international growth. Over the last five years Direct Access has facilitated accessibility for several high-profile projects from the world exposition Expo 2020 Dubai to a new headquarters for the United Nations in Geneva to multiple new build projects across Saudi Arabia.
In the United States, Direct Access works with municipalities, housing authorities and state departments from Texas to Massachusetts with a team of disabled people based in Boston.
Commenting on the appointment, Steven Mifsud MBE said “I am delighted Peter is joining us in the new role as Managing Director.
“Peter’s knowledge and experience of the manufacturing of medical packaging will be valuable in growing our tactile map and model division to meet client demand for access solutions. Our established UK consultancy operations will also benefit from Peter’s management expertise.”
Peter added “I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead a strong team of people who provide specialist consultancy services for organisations that want to be inclusive but are unsure how to start their journey. It is an exciting time as we grow our access consultancy market share in the UK.”
