Sesame Access

13/03/2026

Providing step-free access in historic buildings can be challenging - but it’s essential.

At King Edward VII's Hospital, a Sesame Access lift was installed to provide dignified, step-free access for wheelchair users, while carefully respecting the character of this listed building.

When lowered, the lift sits flush within the steps, maintaining the traditional appearance of the entrance. When needed, it transforms into a platform lift, allowing wheelchair users to enter the hospital safely.

Have a similar project in mind? Get in touch: https://buff.ly/Kg6pnyH

11/02/2026

Engineering isn’t one-size-fits-all - and neither is the path into it 🧐

This National Apprenticeship Week, we’re celebrating our degree apprentices Danny and Krystian, who are building their engineering careers through a Level 6 Electro-Mechanical Engineering degree apprenticeship at the University of Nottingham.

Earning while learning, gaining real experience, and working on projects that make a difference - apprenticeships are opening doors for the next generation of engineers.

24/12/2025

The past few days we’ve been winding down for the Christmas break 🎄⭐️

Between pizza and year-end reviews, we’ve been reflecting on what’s been a great year - and getting excited about what’s to come in 2026.

Thank you to all of our clients and partners, and most importantly to the Sesame team, who have worked exceptionally hard throughout the year. We couldn’t do it without you 🥳

19/12/2025

We meet so many organisations that want to improve accessibility now, but need a practical way to manage the investment. Good news - Sesame Lifts can now be financed with unsecured loans through Universal Partners FX.

We know accessibility upgrades are often delayed due to cost or timing. Meanwhile, those who rely on accessible solutions can’t wait—they face barriers every day.

United Partners can offer up to £350,000 unsecured, repayable over up to six years, for business clients and private individuals.

This new finance option is all about making accessibility achievable right now. It allows organisations to improve access immediately, rather than waiting for capital budgets or fundraising cycles to catch up.

Get in touch to find out more: https://buff.ly/aEEwtmY

18/12/2025

Historic porticos are beautiful, but often inaccessible.

At Sesame, we’ve transformed countless buildings like these with our lifts, making them fully inclusive while preserving their architectural character.

What architects need to know:

Different lifts for different needs: Our Buckingham, Westminster, Wellington, and Edinburgh lifts each suit different structural layouts and planning requirements.

Key considerations: Pit depth, user type, fire-exit routes, and heritage restrictions all influence the right solution.

A structured approach works best: Detailed site surveys, understanding user needs, and early planning consultation ensure the chosen lift is safe, effective, and minimally disruptive.

Find out more: https://buff.ly/aEEwtmY

17/12/2025

We installed two lifts in a vibrant coworking space, and it transformed the way the space could be used 🤩

While the space was full of energy and creativity, like many older buildings, it posed challenges for anyone with mobility needs.

The addition of the lifts transformed the space for people who used wheelchairs, had limited mobility, or were managing deliveries, allowing them to access and enjoy all areas freely.

Accessibility in this project was about creating equal opportunities for everyone to work, collaborate, and participate without barriers - not just for compliance.

By adding the lifts, we helped make the space more welcoming and inclusive. This project reminded us that accessibility benefits everyone, not just those who rely on it.

Learn more: https://buff.ly/aEEwtmY

16/12/2025

Like anything mechanical, lifts occasionally need servicing, repairs, or maintenance. But at Sesame, we work tirelessly to minimise downtime, ensuring our lifts are operational as close to 24/7 as possible 😁

Sesame hidden wheelchair lifts are installed in some of the world’s most important buildings, from historic heritage sites to national museums, government institutions, and popular hotels, and are expected to work flawlessly every time. Reliability isn’t just a marketing claim at Sesame; we take it very seriously. It’s a culture, a process, and a 30-year engineering discipline.

Through careful design, continuous improvements, and data-driven engineering, Sesame lifts achieve industry-leading uptime, most recently reaching 99.7 per cent performance. Every upgrade, from sensors to mechanical components, is incorporated into future lifts, making each generation more robust than the last.

Our oldest lift tells the story best. Originally installed as Sesame’s second-ever lift 25 years ago, it served its building reliably for decades. Thanks to regular servicing, it remained fully operational until it was replaced with updated technology, proving the durability and longevity of our engineering.

12/12/2025

The Sesame team recently traded the workshop floor for the dance floor at Pyrford Lakes Golf Club to celebrate a brilliant year of hard work! 🎄🕺

We came together with our families for an evening of dancing, singing, great food and plenty of festive cheer - the perfect way to wrap up 2025 😊

19/11/2025

What is a Sesame Lift?

A Sesame Lift is a revolutionary hydraulic wheelchair lift system, specifically engineered by Sesame Access Systems in the UK to address the accessibility challenges posed by steps and architectural constraints in listed buildings.

The Sesame Lift is a hydraulic system that can be installed in historical or Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II listed buildings, where traditional accessibility solutions like ramps may not be feasible due to listed building regulations or architectural constraints.

At Sesame Access Systems, we have installed our lifts in numerous buildings worldwide, including historical landmarks and important institutions such as the Bank of England, Seattle Space Needle, Sydney Opera House, Kensington Palace, Qatar National Library, and Royal College of Music. We have also received awards for our innovation and design, including The Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2016.

Visit our website to find out more about the Sesame Lift: https://www.sesameaccess.com/technical/what-is-a-sesame-lift

We’re here to design a lift that perfectly suits all your requirements!

📲 01784 440088
📧 sales@sesameaccess.com

Sesame Access Systems design hidden wheelchair platform lifts that disappear into floors and staircases for heritage and listed buildings across the UK.

07/11/2025

When is our Mayfair Lift the right choice? 🧐

If your project has a rise between 500mm and 999mm, the Mayfair is the sweet spot - elegant, hidden, and fully bespoke.

✅ Perfect for listed buildings, galleries, and private residences
✅ Ideal when you need a hidden rising barrier that disappears when not in use
✅ Designed for seated wheelchair users in controlled environments
✅ CE marked under the Machinery Directive

Learn more: https://www.sesameaccess.com/lifts/mayfair-stairlift

31/10/2025

How do you make a heritage staircase fully accessible without changing its character?

Our Edinburgh Lift is a bespoke vertical retracting stair lift that transforms a short flight of steps into a hidden wheelchair platform. It’s one of our most popular solutions for listed buildings and heritage properties with generous landings and shallow pit depth.

What makes it unique?
- It uses a scissor lift beneath the landing, allowing for a shallower pit than other Sesame models like the Buckingham or Wellington.

Where is it used?
- Ideal for heritage entrances, churches, private residences, and boutique hotels where the façade must remain untouched.

How deep is the pit?
- As little as 335 mm for rises up to 750 mm.

Customisation?
- Every lift is bespoke - step depths, risers, width, and cladding can all match the building’s materials.

Power & safety?
- Runs on 240 V single phase, with optional UPS backup, safety wheel stops, and full Machinery Directive Annex VIII compliance.

Learn more: https://www.sesameaccess.com/lifts/edinburgh-access-lift

27/10/2025

This 10-step retracting stairlift is one of the largest lifts we've ever designed and installed! 🤩

Located in a stunning Grade II* listed pre-World War II building, renowned for its timeless, almost space-age design, this lift seamlessly blends with its unique architecture.

Our Westminster Equality Act stairlift provided the ideal solution, allowing wheelchair users, pushchairs, and those with limited mobility to access the main entrance with ease and dignity ♿

Learn more: https://www.sesameaccess.com/lifts/westminster-equality-act-lift