Following this week’s publication by Onward, the campaigning think-tank “Unlocking a Better Life”, a report into how to achieve employment revolution in UK prisons, Robert Walters plc announces it has written to Government to offer the Company’s resources across the UK to provide recruitment training and advice within prisons to enable prisoners to be better equipped to secure jobs post release.
The Onward report highlights the lack of development and training for prisoners to enable them to be employed outside prison and recommends both public sector and private sector training for them. It also recommends that every prison in England and Wales establishes an “Employment Council” focused on training and employment issues within that prison and local community.
The “Employment Council” would offer job fairs and recruitment days for prisoners within the establishment’s walls. It is also recommending the Government creates a “Second Chances” scheme offering training and apprenticeships to prisoners either in prison or upon release.
Robert Walters plc hopes that the Government will act on today’s report’s recommendations to establish “Employment Councils” and a “Second Chances” scheme and would like to be represented on those prison “Employment Councils” within the UK regions where it currently has offices:
- Milton Keynes
- St Albans
- Leeds
- Liverpool
- London
- Birmingham
- Bracknell
- Manchester
The Group has today written to Robert Buckland, QC MP, Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice, requesting that they be involved in a national campaign to provide training and prison recruitment days for prisoners and also involved in any “Employment Council” initiatives or “Second Chances” schemes within UK prisons.
Robert Walters, CEO, commented:
Having reviewed Onward’s findings we have decided to pursue a scheme with the government’s support, to offer our employees’ expertise in recruitment advice to prisoners looking for help.
There is no doubt that proper training and support for them for life outside prison will reduce the current re-offenders rate of 47.9% which costs the UK £15bn per year.
Over the last few months I have visited prisons in both the UK and Norway and currently the UK is lagging behind other countries in the rehabilitation of prisoners.”