Business Spotlight: Darogan

Darogan is Wales’s dedicated graduate hub, connecting employers with degree-educated talent through a blend of online tools, in-person careers events, and tailored consultancy support. Based in Cardiff, the organisation is driven by a clear mission to help young people discover meaningful career opportunities in Wales and encourage talented graduates to build their futures here.

In August 2025, Darogan joined the GlobalWelsh for Business Membership Programme to expand its network and strengthen connections with Welsh talent at home and abroad. We spoke with founder Owain James about the inspiration behind Darogan, how the platform supports both employers and graduates, and what’s next for the organisation…

Could you start by telling us about Darogan and what inspired you to start it?

I founded the company to connect employers in Wales with degree-educated talent. We do this through an online platform, careers events that connect people in person, and consultancy support to help employers hire graduates effectively. 

The inspiration came from my own experience. I left Wales to study and wanted to return, but there weren’t many tools or resources to support that transition. I realised that if we could communicate these opportunities more effectively, we could attract talented people back to Wales who could make a real impact.

We’re open to anyone looking to start a career in Wales, but we specialise in reaching people who have left the country for university, which is about a third of Welsh students. We do this through events across the UK as well as online engagement.

What are the core services you offer, and how have they evolved since the business started?

Initially, we focused a lot on digital networking, but the pandemic highlighted the importance of in-person connections. People want to meet employers face-to-face, build networks, and create meaningful relationships. For instance, at our recent Gradcon event, we had 500 candidates attend and connect directly with employers, something that online platforms alone couldn’t replicate.

We’ve also refined our service model to include temporary recruitment for employers who want to offer short-term work experience, handling the administration and payroll, and reducing the friction involved in providing opportunities for young people. Overall, we’re constantly identifying gaps in support for both businesses and candidates and aiming to fill them.

You hosted Gradcon last year. How did that go?

It was probably one of the best things we’ve done. The scale was impressive, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Candidates have already started seeing outcomes, such as interviews and work offers, while employers are reporting tangible results from their participation. 

Even beyond immediate results, the event delivered value through talks and skill development that’s harder to measure but equally important. This success has encouraged us to expand Gradcon into two-day events and bring it to new locations, with the next event taking place in Wrexham on 31 March, making it accessible to more candidates and employers.

How does Darogan differentiate itself from other recruitment platforms?

What makes Darogan unique is our focus on Wales and our candidate-centred approach. Unlike large, commercial job boards, our niche offer means employers only connect with genuinely relevant candidates. It also means our partners can speak directly to a real person from the Darogan team and benefit from hands-on expertise, rather than navigating an automated platform.

We understand the Welsh context, offer bilingual services, and engage closely with student societies across the UK. Darogan represents a wider movement encouraging young people to return to Wales, underpinned by strong social values, including dedicating a portion of our profits to student-focused initiatives.

We also go the extra mile to connect with Welsh diaspora talent abroad, which individual employers might not have the capacity to do. This allows us to expand the talent pool and create opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist.

In addition, for organisations without established graduate programmes or internship schemes, we provide hands-on support to help build them from the ground up, supporting succession planning and long-term resilience.

What types of businesses use your platform?

We have a mix of large and small employers. Among larger organisations, many are in the public sector, councils, Admiral, Transport for Wales, Natural Resources Wales, and even UK government bodies like Companies House. 

We also work with smaller companies looking to recruit graduate talent in sectors ranging from engineering and semiconductors to law, finance, and creative industries.

Why did you join Global Welsh, and how can the community support your mission?

Global Welsh is a natural fit for our work with the Welsh diaspora. Most of our current engagement is UK-focused, but we want to reach Welsh talent globally. Being part of this community connects us with like-minded businesses and offers opportunities to collaborate on events and initiatives that align with our mission.

What’s next for Darogan?

Our focus is on scaling Gradcon, with plans to deliver more events in Cardiff and to expand into additional locations. Alongside this, we’re continuing to grow and strengthen our candidate community, ensuring a diverse and engaged talent pool for employers across Wales.

Beyond events and metrics, our longer-term ambition is to keep demonstrating that Wales offers meaningful, high-quality career opportunities. We want to make it easier for candidates and employers to find each other, build lasting connections, and contribute to a resilient future workforce for Wales.

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