Councils are urged to support training schemes for ex-offenders and give them jobs following launch of innovative job scheme with HMP Norwich – a sponsored column by Norse Group
Local government recruiters have been urged to turn words into action by employing ex-offenders – and help their own communities cut crime.
Council leaders were told the huge cost of re-offending and homelessness could be massively cut by taking on freshly trained, enthusiastic ex-prisoners in frontline roles.
It came as the prisons watchdog in England and Wales warned communities are bearing the brunt of reoffending.
The call for change was made by Norse Group CEO Justin Galliford (pictured) to promote the Future Horizons initiative developed in partnership with HMP Norwich.
The event, held at Cinema City, Norwich on Friday, 3 October, was supported by national organisations including the CBI and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
The audience heard 70% of employers say they would employ an ex-offender but just 17% actually do. HMP Norwich staff have been told in feedback that perceptions about taking on people with criminal convictions is the biggest factor in their decision.
The call to action came as the Prisons Inspectorate warned in a hard-hitting report that “most jails are facing at least a 20% reduction in their budget and some governors are expecting up to 50%”.
With trainers and teachers facing redundancy as a result, the watchdog warned the cycle of reoffending would continue unless there is a change in approach.
HM Inspector Charlie Taylor said: “There is little doubt that many prisoners already leave jail and return to criminality, creating more victims of crime.”
His report called for more high-quality education and training “that could support rehabilitation and help to break the cycle of offending”.
The number of former prisoners in employment a year after release is just 17%. And Ministry of Justice (MoJ) data also reveals the reoffending rate remains around 40%.
However, men going into employment immediately on release from HMP Norwich reduces that re-offending rate by more than 50%. The social value of that reduction to our local communities, to the ex-offender and his family, and to the public purse is massive.
Norse Group has used its resources, including senior staff, for the Future Horizons project. It uses a website created by the team at TRO Marketing to connect prisoners with potential employers.
Norse is also working with staff at HMP Norwich to ensure prisoners have the right skills to succeed. It is supporting a large group of Category D Open Prisoners on day release to gain practical skills across the business including highways and facilities management.
The group is a local authority trading company (LATCo) owned by Norfolk County Council, which employs 9,000 people across England and Wales.
Mr Galliford said council HR teams could benefit by taking on ex-offenders: “Most companies and public sector organisations struggle to find good candidates. From our experience, the people placed with us have been excellent.
“We’ve invested less in this project than it would have cost us to recruit the excellent employees who have joined us. So, it’s not only good social value, it also makes real commercial sense.”
Mr Galliford added: “Some people don’t even have a first opportunity in life. There has to come a point where people can contribute to society. This is not about being soft on offending, it’s about being smart. Recruiters can be the change they want to see and solve their candidate drought.”
Candidates are risk-assessed by the resettlement team at HMP Norwich to ensure the best candidates potential employee matches are put forward for the most suitable roles.
Speaking at the event, HMP Norwich Governor Declan Moore said: “The prospect of employment means most people won’t come back. With this scheme, employers get to see the person they actually are first, not the person they were. They will often get the opportunity to try before they buy!”
