Prison leaver opportunities

A drive to increase employment opportunities for prison leavers in construction.

Did you know… reoffending is estimated to cost the UK £18bn per year? Like most things, this money could be better spent elsewhere if we could help break this relentless money pit cycle. Latest research from the Government shows:

• Only 17% of ex-offenders manage to get a job within a year of release
• 81% of people think that businesses employing ex-offenders are making a positive contribution to society
• 86% of employers of ex-offenders rate them as good at their job
• 92% of employers say diverse recruitment has enhanced their reputation, helping them win new contracts

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unlock-opportunity-employer-information-pack-and-case-studies/employing-prisoners-and-ex-offenders

As part of Kier’s Social Values initiatives, we’ve been supporting a particular focus on the implementation of work opportunities for the rehabilitation of ex-offenders and prisoners on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL). These opportunities involve industry workshops, ROTL placements and employment of prison leavers as part of their Making Ground programme.

Currently at one of our MoJ sites at HMP Millsike, we have two ROTL guys and one ex-offender that have been working on site for several weeks. They were both hired as labourers with a view to become a dumper operator / apprentice groundworker. Their CSCS cards are acquired through the prison, where they can then progress to get their dumper roller license and shadow the groundworks carried out. Below, is one of our ROTL guys who is looking after a Silt Buster unit by checking its levels.

We’ve had great feedback by our management team, citing,

“They’ve settled in really well and are making a positive impact on the project”

John Murphy, Site Manager.

The hiring process can involve different methods of recruitment. Firstly, offering this kind of employment is only applicable to CAT D prisons, where there might be a careers fair, followed by an interview from a subcontractor such as ourselves. A risk assessment is then processed by Kier. This is further enabled by the New Futures Network (NFN), who are a specialist part of the prison service that brokers partnerships between prisons and employers.

Opportunities for serving prisoners 

Employers can set up training and production facilities in a dedicated space within the prison estate. Workshops run by external organisations benefit from a dedicated workforce made up of serving prisoners. NFN find out what will suit your business needs and helps prisoners gain valuable skills and qualifications which will increase their likelihood of securing employment after release.

Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) 

Release on Temporary Licence, or ROTL, is a scheme which allows risk-assessed prisoners who are within two years of release to work while on day release from prison. This can be for a full working week or part-time. It allows for training and work experience to a serving prisoner while you assess if they are right for your business, before possibly offering them a job on their release.

Employment on release 

Upon release, individuals can work and have full employee rights. NFN can also help to arrange interviews with prospective candidates before they are released, so that you a business can choose the right candidate.