Transforming Lives: The Rail Industry's Initiative to Empower Former Inmates in Their Job Search

According to a recent publication by the Rebuilding Futures alliance (RFA), a collaboration involving Merseyrail, Angel Trains, and the Go-ahead Group is set to launch an innovative program designed to assist former inmates in securing jobs within the transportation sector.

This initiative marks a pioneering effort in the UK rail industry, linking transport companies with organizations dedicated to supporting ex-prisoners.the goal? To help low-risk offenders gain meaningful employment while enhancing their life skills and reducing recidivism rates—all while tackling the pressing skills shortage faced by the transport sector.

The RFA was established in January 2025 by Chris Leech, who previously worked with RSSB. He expressed his excitement about having major players from both rail and bus industries on board: “it’s incredibly rewarding for us at RFA to recieve such strong support. We’re eager to collaborate on this transformative journey that aims not only to change lives but also contribute positively to our economy.”

The statistics are striking; reoffending rates in the UK are among the highest globally. Research indicates that half of all released prisoners will reoffend within a year unless they find stable employment—whereas only one in five will return if they secure purposeful work. The alliance has already partnered with over a hundred charities focused on helping those with past convictions and plans to facilitate job placements for these individuals within transportation roles.

an employment tracking system developed by Genius will aid this process, alongside an impact measurement model created by Loop and RSSB that evaluates each participant’s progress into work while assessing economic benefits.

Citing Home Office figures from last year, RFA highlighted that it costs approximately £51,108 annually per prisoner—a staggering figure when considering that reoffending drains around £18 billion from the UK economy each year.

Additionally, Malcom Brown from Angel Trains remarked on their commitment: “Our foundation rests upon innovation and sustainability; thus offering second chances aligns perfectly with our values. We believe engaging motivated individuals can significantly enhance Britain’s railway system now and into future generations.”