AWARD WINNER 2025-26: Jess wins an Award for her impact as Prison Employment Lead at HMP Wealstun, transforming outcomes through her peerless networking skills, relentless drive and positivity, and absolute determination to ensure that every prisoner has the chance to build a better future.
[Her Award is supported by G4S Care & Rehabilitation Services.]

This nomination was drawn up by Bernie Hayes – Head of Business Assurance, HMP Wealstun; and signed off by Diane Lewis – Governor, HMP Wealstun.

Introduction

Jess Tile exemplifies the very best of public service through her unwavering dedication, innovation, and compassion in her role as Prison Employment Lead at HMP Wealstun. Her work has had a transformative impact on the lives of countless individuals in custody, helping them to rebuild their futures through meaningful employment and training opportunities.

Reasons for the nomination

Jess is deeply motivated by the belief that everyone deserves a second chance. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that men in custody are not only prepared for employment but are also given real opportunities to succeed upon release. Her approach is both strategic and personal—she listens to the aspirations of each individual and works diligently to match them with suitable employers or training providers. Her commitment is reflected in the strong relationships she has built with over 60 employers and training organisations, many of whom now actively engage with the prison thanks to Jess’s efforts.

One of Jess’s most notable achievements is her work in co-designing bespoke training courses with employers, tailored to meet the needs of both the labour market and the individuals in custody. A recent example is a new course developed in partnership with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, which not only enhances employability but also instils a sense of purpose and pride in participants. These initiatives have contributed to HMP Wealstun being recognised as a top-performing Category C prison for employment on release at six weeks, for two consecutive years.

Jess’s commitment to continuous improvement is evident in her proactive use of data to identify gaps in employment outcomes. When she noticed lower performance figures for men returning to Bradford, she joined the Bradford Reducing Reoffending Board and actively sought out new employer partnerships in the region. Her targeted efforts led to a significant increase in employment rates for men returning to Bradford, demonstrating her ability to turn insight into impactful action.

Furthermore, Jess has shown a keen interest in supporting individuals with neurodiverse needs. She has sought expert advice to better understand how to help these individuals succeed in employment and training and identify roles that align with their strengths. As a result, more men with neurodiversity are now exploring work options and gaining confidence in their future prospects.
Jess’s work is characterised by her willingness to try new things, her ability to build trust and collaboration with external partners, and her relentless drive to improve outcomes for those in custody.

She is not only a leader in her field but also a source of inspiration to her colleagues and the wider prison community.

In recognition of her outstanding contribution to rehabilitation and employment within the prison system, Jess Tile is a truly deserving nominee for the Butler Trust Award.

Support for the nomination

“I have worked with Jess since my arrival at Wealstun and I couldn’t think of anyone more deserving than her for this award. Jess has worked with me to gain qualifications, a CV and an interview. She has inspired me to be a better person and father to my son. I see a better future for me and my family because of the work Jess does. She cares about her work and that has a knock-on effect with those she works with. Jess is an inspiration! Everyone I know here has the same opinion – that knowing and working with her makes our vision for the future a better one.”
Prisoner

“Jess impresses me with a positive can-do attitude and constant smile. Her work rate is phenomenal and yet she will always offer to support a colleague or step in at short notice.
When looking at performance, Wealstun’s employment on release figures have grown year on year since Jess took on the PEL role.
Jess has supported me with numerous employer visits, prison visits, webinars and more. An example would be leading on the delivery of the regional waste management event which led to positive regional outcomes and secured Wealstun new commercial workshops. A partner who joined one of Jess’ events hailed it as the best such event he had attended.”
Regional Colleague

“I’ve seen prison from both sides, as someone who has served a sentence and now, as someone who works in prisons across the country delivering lived experience-led employment-focused courses. From that unique perspective, I can say with absolute certainty that Jess epitomises everything you’d hope to see in someone working in the justice system.
Jess goes above and beyond. She brings a rare combination of compassion, drive, and integrity to her role, and genuinely believes in the potential of every individual she supports.
I’ve never encountered the level of goodwill and respect that people released from prison have for Jess. Without fail, they all say the same thing: they owe her so much. Many credit her as being a huge part of their successful reintegration into society.
What makes Jess stand out is how she treats everyone with fairness, respect, and humanity. She does it all with a big smile and sunny disposition, which is no small feat in a prison setting. She builds bridges between custody and community and empowers people to believe they can build a better life.
I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.”
External Partner

“Jess is a pleasure to work with, it is rare to see someone so passionate about their job. She is supportive to everyone around her including myself, other staff, and most importantly prisoners. She makes it her mission to ensure that people have the tools to reach their full potential and are empowered to feel confident that they can achieve great things. The support that she delivers is to the highest standard and this is consistently evidenced through the successes of our prison leavers.”
Colleague

Sign off

Jess Tile is a credit to the service, her innovative responsive approach has assisted 100’s of released prisoners into sustainable employment. Jess’s approach stands out, her ability to network and engage new partnerships is a huge strength and the strength that has brought new employers into the Prison Service. More recently Jess recognised through analysis of Data that there was a statistical significant difference in black and ethnic minority prisoners securing employment upon release, addressing this disparity through engaging the faith and community groups in linked communities. she absolutely deserves this prestigious award.

Diane Lewis, Governor, HMP Wealstun