Max Rumley is the head of Serco’s reoffending reduction program at HMP Fosse, where he discusses how an operations management operation run by prisoners shows off the benefits of employing and training ex-offenders.
Ex-offenders face a particularly difficult time finding work, as many UK recruiters report a decline in job vacancies by 2025. What is being done to tackle this issue?
New Employment Councils are being formed to bring together local businesses and probation services. They recognize that both employers and ex-prisoners can benefit from better employment schemes within prisons, both for tackling skills shortages and reducing reoffending. Many people are watching closely to see how the various programs run by public and private institutions perform.
A good example of this is HMP Fosse Way, in Leicester. Here, 35 prisoners and prison staff work together to provide facilities management services (FM) that support the efficient running of the prison.
It is one of the UK’s largest FM schemes, focusing on post-release employment and training. It is important to note that it helps businesses by creating roles and workshops based on labour market data.
Workshops are set up to address skills shortages where data indicates significant gaps in both the UK and the local area.
The team at HMP Fosse Way offers a wide range of workshops to help prisoners with little or no experience learn valuable skills in carpentry, decorating and painting, and even building components for new prisons. The skills of prisoners can be put to use both in the prison as well as for the benefit of the community.
Our partnership with the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners is an example of how we work with employers. This industry has recently been affected by a shortage of workers in the UK, resulting more than 1,500 vacant positions. Fosse Way has now set up training workshops where prisoners can gain the necessary skills and qualifications in three weeks. After release, the prisoners can then work in these positions. Over 250 prisoners have already qualified.
Motivated and reliable
The availability of skills is a benefit to employers, but so are the employees who have a commitment. The scheme has proven to create loyal and hardworking staff. This is also confirmed by a Ministry of Justice survey that showed 90% of employers who employ ex-offenders are satisfied with their employees’ “good attendance, motivation and trustworthiness”.
Many prisoners in custody also aspire to be part of the FM team, which is located within the prison. This encourages them to get involved with training and active work to demonstrate their reliability and dedication. Our information and guidance team, for instance, meets with prisoners upon arrival at HMP Fosse Way to conduct interviews and background assessment. Our teams can then direct individuals to the appropriate workshops.
We identify prisoners with trade experience during the initial assessment so that they can use their skills and develop them by working with other prisoners. One prisoner, who had worked in construction, said that it was “good to be able help others out within the workshop and mentor them to a safety standard and coach them on how they should do things correctly and safe”.
This shared work fosters connections and independence, which both help to improve the employability of prisoners. Fosse Way, a Category C prison, allows prisoners to go to work during the week or under curfew. Prisoners gain valuable soft skills, such as reliability and self-sufficiency, through employment schemes like ours.
Training for ex-offenders
It is evident when we examine the success stories of former prisoners who have been able to transition into employment outside prison. A former prisoner who was released from prison and found a job working as a highway operator is now undergoing additional training to meet his newfound goals. His current work focuses on equipment repair and maintenance, but his training will allow him to eventually operate HGVs.
He said of his experience working at HMP Fosse Way: “Everyday is different and the company is willing invest in me. This means that I am gaining more qualifications and keeping my work diverse and progressing my professional career.” I have been supported by a wonderful team at every stage of my journey and I am looking forward to the future.
Prisons like HMP Fosse Way, by offering employment programs, remove the barriers that many prisoners face and create a pipeline of talent which businesses can access. Our approach will be crucial in all UK prisons to reduce reoffending and create positive working environments, as well as diversifying the talent pool needed by employers from all industries.
