Transport for Wales’ all-deaf team wins national award for diversity initiative (BSL)

The Application Support team at Transport for Wales, all of which are deaf or hard of hearing, have been recognised as winners at the CIPD Awards in Wales 2024.

The CIPD is the professional body for HR and people development. It champions better work and working lives and it has been setting the benchmark for excellence in people and organisation development for more than 100 years.

From Transport for Wales, the Application Support Team of four took home the accolade for Best Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative at the seventh annual awards ceremony, acknowledged by judges for collaborating with an advocacy group to inform their approach to diversity.

Supporting the finance department, the Application Support Team communicates with each other by using sign language and utilising the functions of Microsoft Teams to raise purchasing orders, collect project information and test systems for upgrades.

Transport for Wales also consulted with The Council for Deaf People to embrace a diversity model to create employment opportunities for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and the company has worked to make its office environment more accessible by providing the team with vibrating pagers to safeguard their wellbeing.

These initiatives have not only helped make the organisation more inclusive for its deaf employees but have had a positive impact on company culture and team behaviours – showing that equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives benefit all employees and improves the performance of organisations as a whole.

Karlijn Asveld, Senior Finance Business Partner at Transport for Wales, said:

“We’re very proud that we’ve been able to establish a team at Transport for Wales that is made up of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. We’ve ensured that our office set up allows them to sit together so they are able to support and communicate with each other but also engage with the wider team.”

Rhys Hiscock, an Application Support team member who has deafness, added:

“I’m extremely proud to be part of the Application Support Team.  It has provided me and others with a safe space to grow, learn vocational skills and fulfil our potential. Transport for Wales has helped build my confidence and provided me with a working environment where I am a dependable and functional team member.”

Transport for Wales was recognised alongside over 80 finalists across nine categories in this year’s awards which saw a record number of entries and the toughest competition to date.

Lesley Richards, head of the CIPD in Wales, said:

“HR and people development directly influences the successful operation of every business and are integral to championing employee progress and retaining talent – which has been particularly challenging in recent years as our sector like many others have dealt with shrinking budgets and difficulties with recruitment. Transport for Wales have proven to be an excellent example of the difference that HR and people practices can make.”

The CIPD Awards in Wales 2024 were sponsored by: Welsh Government, Skylite, Monmouthshire Building, ALS Training, SSCL, Cardiff Business School, The 2024 CIPD Wales awards were sponsored by: Welsh Government, Skylite, Monmouthshire Building, ALS Training, SSCL, Cardiff Business School, Hugh James, Moxie People, Human Resourcing, Paul Harris, and Hoop Human Resources.

For more information on The CIPD Awards in Wales, visit: www.cipdwalesawards.co.uk