On Tuesday 11 February, RailStaff visited St. Pancras International to witness the launch of Rebuilding Futures Alliance (RFA), an ambitious new initiative dedicated to changing lives for the better and tackling the recruitment pressures affecting the entire transport industry.
RFA is a not-for-profit organisation established to create national opportunities for employers, delivering real scale in placing people with low-level past convictions into full-time, meaningful careers. The initiative brings together a powerful alliance of credible charities, each with a strong track record and an established national network of experienced providers. However, despite their success, these organisations often operate without central support, limiting their ability to fully scale their efforts.
The launch event was attended by major groups including the Department for Transport, the Department for Work and Pensions, High Speed 1, Network Rail, and the Centre for Social Justice, along with key charity partners such as Clean Slate Solutions.
Recruitment pressures
In rail alone, a recent National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR) survey reported that: 90,000 people are leaving the rail industry through retirement etc. during the next five years; the workforce in rail decreased by 9.4% in the last year; and in 2025-2029, the sector could generate additional £344 million in economic value from jobs created, plus nearly £122 million in social value benefits over the next five years.
RFA has now begun work to bring over 100 past-conviction charities together and, by working directly with transport’s biggest employers, the Alliance will help place and track low risk ex-offenders, tackling the workforce shortage in the sector.
Founded by transport expert and Director of RFA Chris Leech MBE, the alliance will connect those individual charities with major transport employers. RFA believes this will break the cycle of criminality amongst the UK’s low risk prison population by offering them the chance to learn a skilled trade across the rail, bus, and metro networks in Britain.
“This is the start of the journey and over the coming months and years this new alliance will be game-changing for transport, prisons, people, and the communities we serve – along with a boost to the economy with more people in work, paying more tax,” said Chris.
“Add in the savings to the taxpayers in reducing the prison population, even by a fraction, and it makes complete sense and underpins our mission to deliver shared-value creation, where everyone benefits.”
A fairer society
RFA says reoffending rates in the UK are among the highest in the western world. One in two people reoffend within 12 months of release, compared to one in five if they secure a job with purpose. According to Government statistics, the average cost to keep a prisoner in jail in 2022-23 was £51,108. And reoffending costs the UK £18.1 billion annually.
An employment tracker devised by partners Genius, and a social value impact model created by partners Loop and the Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) will be used to track each person’s progress into employment and measure the value to the economy, respectively.
“The RFA is making the case for a fairer society and one that is more forgiving to those of us who have made our mistakes,” and I include myself in this,” said Peter Wilkinson, major rail projects director for Department for Transport.
“Social mobility and supporting those seeking to move on from past mistakes is something the rail industry can offer. It’s a fantastic industry in which to develop as a person, supported by thousands of amazing staff who come from across all sections of our society. Caring for each other, supporting each other through the trials of our lives, should be in the DNA of this great industry”.
Benefits for all
RFA’s initiative brings huge benefits to candidates and employers alike, as well as the charities it works with.
Stable employment provides structure, financial independence, and a renewed sense of purpose, helping people with past convictions move forward and reduce the risk of reoffending. By working in supportive environments, individuals gain a sense of belonging, develop skills, and build confidence, enabling them to transition from past challenges to meaningful careers.
For employers, hiring people with past convictions helps businesses access a diverse and skilled talent pool, addressing critical workforce shortages while strengthening equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) strategies. RFA provides structured support, including pre-screened candidates, mentoring and training, ensuring successful placements and high retention. Employers also gain access to data insights, enabling them to measure and demonstrate their social impact.
Finally, many of the grassroots organisations supporting people with past convictions face challenges such as limited funding, regional constraints, and a lack of shared best practices. RFA creates a national network to address these barriers, uniting charities, employers, and policymakers to expand employment opportunities. By providing a collective voice, securing funding and facilitating collaboration, RFA enables charities to focus on helping individuals into work.
Mark Libby, regional manager (North East) Centre for Social Justice, said: “Having served time myself, I recall pacing the yard with many inmates. Caught in this unfamiliar world, and contrary to my own prejudice, I discovered some fantastic people.
“The hardest time of my sentence started when I returned home. As a prison leaver I know first-hand the burning desire to rebuild, and the crushing reality of the barriers preventing this being achieved. Rebuilding Futures Alliance offers a pathway to harness this workforce. A chance not just for the prison leaver, but for employers to strengthen their organisation.”
Overwhelming support
After it’s successful launch, RFA is now calling on charities working with people with past convictions and transport employers to be part of the project.
“The support we’ve had for the launch from industry and charity leaders has been overwhelming, which proves the concept is right – it’s now about the delivery,” said Chris.
“Charities up and down the country supporting those with past convictions will continue to do their brilliant work, but we will be the glue that binds them together with the major employers across the transport sector – visionary companies who see the benefits in giving someone a second chance.
“In short, the transport sector integrates into every part of the UK. We are an amazing sector created for a social purpose. This programme demonstrates that beyond government policies, it’s businesses that have the power to affect positive change in society. The journey starts now.”
Image credit: RFA
