Transport for Wales Testimonial – Championing Inclusive Recruitment

Transport for Wales (TfW) has long prioritised fairness in recruitment. But when it came to employing people with previous convictions, they recognised there was more to learn. Inclusive hiring was about challenging assumptions, creating opportunities, and reflecting the communities they serve. With Offploy’s support, they set out to turn intention into action.

Across the UK, more employers like Transport for Wales are beginning to see the value in offering second chance employment. Many are discovering that inclusive recruitment brings real business benefits, too.  According to recent figures from the Ministry of Justice, 92% of employers say employing those with criminal convictions has enhanced their reputation and helped them win new contracts.

To create real change in inclusive recruitment, Transport for Wales first had to understand what was holding them back. Transport for Wales had a clear ambition to create a more inclusive workforce. Fairness was already embedded in their organisational values, but when it came to recruiting people with criminal convictions, they weren’t sure how best to move forward.

Their concerns were common among many employers:

• Understanding best practice – knowing how to approach recruitment in a fair and consistent way.

• Internal readiness – ensuring hiring managers and teams felt confident and informed.

• Perceptions and stigma – recognising that unconscious bias or misunderstanding could unintentionally stand in the way of progress.
  

TfW didn’t want to make assumptions or take a tokenistic approach. They wanted to do things properly, not just because it was the right thing to do, but because they knew inclusive recruitment could strengthen their workforce and reflect the communities they serve.

Working with Offploy – Turning Uncertainty into Action

Once Transport for Wales made the decision to take action, they partnered with Offploy to build their understanding and shape a practical, inclusive approach to recruitment.

Offploy supported TfW through a series of tailored sessions and resources, including policy guidance, manager engagement, and internal workshops. One key workshop was a Lunch ’n’ Learn event, where colleagues came together to explore the realities and misconceptions around recruiting people with previous convictions.

This session created space for honest, open conversations. It helped demystify the process, address concerns, and give people at all levels of the organisation the confidence to ask questions and challenge assumptions.

Watch the short session overview here:

The Impact – A Shift in Culture

Since working with Offploy, Transport for Wales has taken real steps toward making inclusive recruitment part of its everyday practice. The partnership helped move the conversation from uncertainty and hesitation to confidence and action.

Hiring people with convictions is no longer surrounded in uncertainty, but rather part of TfW’s broader commitment to fairness and social responsibility. Teams across the organisation have become more informed, engaged, and open to considering candidates with lived experience of the justice system.

Today, TfW actively shares their learning with other organisations and uses their platform to challenge misconceptions. By leading with honesty and clarity, they are helping to create a ripple effect across the wider public and transport sectors.

Thinking about inclusive recruitment? Offploy can help you take the first step with confidence. Take the first step here.

Testimonial and Feedback

For Transport for Wales, partnering with Offploy sparked a wider shift in mindset, culture, and confidence. Joe Lofts, Programme Manager for Recruitment & Talent, shares how the experience helped shape their approach:

“Offploy has played a critical part in our journey so far in recruiting people with convictions. For organisations that don’t have much experience of recruiting from the justice system, it can be challenging, daunting and a little confusing on how to align yourself with best practice. 

Offploy has broken down some of these barriers, giving us confidence that we’re approaching recruitment in this space properly. Encouraging us to be a true advocate of recruiting people with convictions, to benefitting not only our organisation but others as well.”  -  Joe Lofts, Programme Manager – Recruitment & Talent, Transport for Wales

The experience helps to highlight what’s possible when determined action to incorporate inclusive hiring is supported with the right guidance and understanding.

Creating a Fairer Future, One Hire at a Time

Transport for Wales set out to make their recruitment more inclusive, and in doing so, became a powerful example of what’s possible when organisations lead with purpose.

By partnering with Offploy, they were able to break down barriers, build internal confidence, and embed fair chance hiring into their wider recruitment strategy. The result isn’t just policy change, but lasting cultural change that benefits individuals, organisations, and society as a whole.

Whether you're unsure where to start or ready to take the next step, Offploy is here to support your journey toward inclusive recruitment.

Contact us today to explore how we can help your organisation recruit with confidence, compassion, and clarity.