Polling published last year found that nine out of ten businesses
that hire ex-offenders say they are reliable, good at their job,
punctual and trustworthy.
Currently prisoners are unable to take advantage of
apprenticeships, which would give them access to gold-standard
training they can gain the skills needed to secure work on
release - with evidence showing that prison leavers in work are
significantly less likely to re-offend.
The government will change the law so that prisoners at open
prisons across England are able to apply for apprenticeship
opportunities in vital industries, including hospitality and
construction, providing direct routes into jobs with businesses
in the community.
The scheme will initially be offered up to a hundred prisoners
across England before being rolled out across the wider prison
estate.
Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of
State for Justice, , said:
“We are introducing prisoner apprenticeships to give offenders
the skills and training they need to secure a job on release.
“Getting offenders into work offers them a second chance to lead
a more positive life and stay on the straight and narrow.
“Breaking the cycle of crime is critical to our mission to drive
down reoffending, cut crime and protect the public.”
Secretary of State for Education said:
“We want everyone to have access to the high-quality training
they need to progress and build a brighter future.
“Apprenticeships will offer prisoners a lifechanging chance to
gain the skills they need to secure a rewarding career, while
providing more businesses with the skilled workforce they need to
grow.”
At HMP Prescoed and Cilwrgi farm the Deputy Prime Minister
yesterday (10 February 2022) met offenders working in agriculture
in areas such as maintenance, animal care and woodland
management.
The prison has one of the largest training programmes in the
prison estate, giving prisoners the experience to plug local
skills shortages and contribute positively to the community.
The new scheme is the latest step in the government’s drive to
boost the number of prison leavers with jobs. Prisoners are
already able to study, train and work while in jail and a further
5,000 prisoners take part in vital work in the community through
release on temporary license, where they learn important skills
and help shore up local labour shortages.
Prisons like HMP Ford in West Sussex partner with sectors facing
staffing concerns - including construction, hospitality and
agriculture - with a number of offenders also training up as HGV
drivers.
The scheme will see hundreds of prisoners start an apprenticeship
by 2025, with pre-apprenticeship training offered to thousands
more – preparing them for a full apprenticeship scheme or a
higher skilled job on release.
This week is National Apprenticeship
Week 2022 which aims to celebrate and promote the
fantastic benefits which apprenticeships offer both learners and
employers, spotlighting businesses who are investing in this
life-changing education route.
Note to editors
- The government intends to bring forward Regulations later in
the year that will change the law to allow prisoners to access
apprenticeship opportunities while they are still serving time
but are out on day release or nearing the end of their sentence.
