Employing over 4,000 people across more than 100 stores and advertising 1,500 roles annually through its DFS, Sofology, and The Sofa Delivery Company brands, DFS has long been recognised as a prominent name in UK retail. As part of its broader commitment to accessibility, the DFS talent team identified a pressing need to ensure its hiring process meets WCAG compliance standards, enabling all candidates – regardless of ability – to apply seamlessly.
“At DFS, we’re not just filling roles; we’re rethinking how we make the candidate experience more inclusive from the start,” said Stacey Williams, Group Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at DFS.
To address this, DFS has collaborated with inploi, alongside partners accessiBe and Tribepad, its Applicant Tracking System, to integrate an accessibility widget into its careers site. This feature supports individual applicant needs with functionality such as keyboard navigation, simplified layouts, and screen reader compatibility.
The enhanced careers site is now live across all DFS Group brands—DFS, Sofology, and The Sofa Delivery Company—inviting candidates to engage confidently with a recruitment process designed to accommodate diverse needs. This initiative not only fosters inclusivity but also helps the talent team understand and support the accessibility requirements of applicants across the group.
Inclusive hiring practices
At the heart of this initiative is a shared belief in inclusive hiring. With the guidance of DFS’s Disability Inclusion Council, this partnership underscores the company’s dedication to embedding accessibility into every stage of the recruitment journey.
Matthew de la Hey, CEO and co-founder at inploi commented: “Accessibility is about more than technology; it’s a reflection of an organisation’s values. Candidates notice when their experience is seamless and supportive, and that trust translates into long-term engagement, both as employees and advocates for the brand. I’m incredibly proud of the work our team has done to make this vision a reality and look forward to continuing to support DFS on its journey towards creating an industry-leading candidate experience.”
