4
Good Access and Facilities for Wheelchair Users and Assistance Dogs
My visit to the ICC Birmingham for the National Final of the Great British Care Awards highlighted both strong accessibility features and a few barriers. The building itself is very accessible, with smooth ramped entry, a large glass lift, and staff who were generally proactive in offering support.
However, access to the event level required a staff-operated pass. This meant I couldn’t move independently between floors and had to find staff every time I needed to go outside, which became frustrating. While many staff were kind and helpful, a couple were rude towards me and my assistance dog, and I experienced a 25‑minute wait for drinks followed by someone shouting at me. In contrast, the team handled my mum’s allergy with care and professionalism.
The accessible toilets were a real highlight—huge, clean, and already equipped with Euan’s Guide red cord cards. The Subway inside the ICC was also wheelchair accessible with another excellent accessible toilet.
I didn’t use the venue parking, but it’s close to hotels, trams, and taxis. Overall, I enjoyed my time at the ICC and felt the physical accessibility was strong, with some improvements needed around staff training and independent access to event floors.
My visit to the ICC Birmingham for the National Final of the Great British Care Awards highlighted both strong accessibility features and a few barriers. The building itself is very accessible, with smooth ramped entry, a large glass lift, and staff who were generally proactive in offering support.
However, access to the event level required a staff-operated pass. This meant I couldn’t move independently between floors and had to find staff every time I needed to go outside, which became frustrating. While many staff were kind and helpful, a couple were rude towards me and my assistance dog, and I experienced a 25‑minute wait for drinks followed by someone shouting at me. In contrast, the team handled my mum’s allergy with care and professionalism.
The accessible toilets were a real highlight—huge, clean, and already equipped with Euan’s Guide red cord cards. The Subway inside the ICC was also wheelchair accessible with another excellent accessible toilet.
I didn’t use the venue parking, but it’s close to hotels, trams, and taxis. Overall, I enjoyed my time at the ICC and felt the physical accessibility was strong, with some improvements needed around staff training and independent access to event floors.
