How Offploy Helped Westek Technology Improve Recruitment Practices for People with Convictions

Westek Technology, a specialist in rugged IT systems and a key supplier to global systems integrators, recently worked with Offploy to strengthen its recruitment policies regarding candidates with criminal convictions.  

Recognising the importance of fair and inclusive hiring while maintaining the highest standards required for defence contracts, Westek sought expert guidance to ensure its policies and procedures were both compliant and effective. 

Joining the Movement for Fairer Recruitment 

Recruiting people with convictions can be challenging for employers, particularly in sectors with strict security and compliance requirements. Westek wanted to ensure its approach was fair, transparent, and legally sound, balancing the need to support skilled individuals with convictions while maintaining its supplier obligations. 

That balance is exactly why fair recruitment policies matter. Not only do they help employers access overlooked talent, but they also strengthen transparency and trust within the hiring process. In fact, this government study found that 92% of employers reported that diverse recruitment contributed to securing new contracts. 

How Offploy Supported Westek 

Offploy worked closely with Westek to review and refine its recruitment policies, literature and procedures, focusing on: 

• Policy Review & Compliance: Ensuring that policies aligned with best practice and the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, while meeting security and contractual obligations. This included drafting a bespoke Ex-Offender Recruitment Policy, which has been adopted. 

  
  

• Clarifying the Disclosure Process: Establishing clear guidance on how and when candidates should disclose unspent convictions, ensuring fairness in recruitment decision-making. 

  
  

• Risk Management & Recruitment Decisions: Developing a structured approach for assessing disclosures both before and after recruitment, allowing managers to make informed decisions based on the relevance of a conviction to the role. 

  
  

Related Read: Want to take the next step? Read Offploy’s 'How to Hire Ex Offenders Guide’ to learn how your organisation can develop its inclusive hiring practices.

Key Outcomes 

With Offploy’s guidance, Westek Technology successfully: 

✔ Updated Recruitment Policies: Introducing a clear and transparent framework for handling disclosures, ensuring a consistent and fair approach, and a policy statement on Westek’s commitment to recruiting people with convictions. 

✔ Strengthened Compliance: Ensuring recruitment procedures remain aligned with contract requirements while upholding ethical hiring principles. 

✔ Improved Candidate Experience: Ensuring individuals with convictions feel supported throughout the process, without unnecessary barriers to employment. 

A Responsible and Inclusive Employer 

By working with Offploy, Westek Technology has reinforced its commitment to responsible recruitment, balancing security requirements with fair access to employment.

Their experience highlights how businesses in regulated industries can navigate the complexities of hiring people with convictions while maintaining the highest professional standards. By opening the door to fresh chances, Westek is helping to reshape what inclusive hiring looks like within the defence sector. 

Head of Human Resources, Wendy Dorkin said: “Offploy has supported us with getting the relevant policies and procedures and documentation in place. It is great to work with an organisation which makes such a difference to so many people”. 

For more information on how Offploy can support your organisation, visit www.offploy.org.