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HMP Durham prisoners offered chance to pitch business ideas to employers as part of rehabilitation strategy (26 April 2016)

Date: 26/04/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, HMP Durham prisoners offered chance to pitch business ideas to employers as part of rehabilitation strategy

Prisoners at HMP Durham are being given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a group of local employers and volunteers under an initiative by the Mitie Foundation.

The Mitie Foundation is an independent charity, focused on creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to enter employment.

The Business Challenge Day being held at HMP Durham aims to raise the aspirations of offenders – and unlock their potential for sustained employment.

HMP Durham has an employer engagement unit aimed at prisoners who are due for release – and delivers a number of qualifications aimed to enhance employment prospects for prisoners, such as a job shop which teaches CV writing and assists with job searches.

The Business Challenge Day will enable employers to engage directly with prisoners, providing career talks, one-to-one chats and interview practice, with the potential for real and lasting jobs on release.

The event is aimed at encouraging more employers to work with offenders in prison, to see their potential – and to take on ex-offenders on release.

Head of the Mitie Foundation, Paddy Stanley, said:

“As a member of EFFRR (Employer Forum for Reducing Reoffending), the Mitie Foundation’s ‘Business Challenge Day’ is only the first step in our innovative approach to addressing skills shortages through local employer engagement – we aim to match employers who need skills with people who need work.

“By considering people with a criminal conviction for employment, we can help reduce the risk of reoffending, challenge the misperception of ex-offenders, and achieve real and long-term benefits for society.”

The learning, skills and employment function at HMP Durham offers prisoners the opportunity to participate in a wide range of educational, vocational training and employability courses, to increase their chances of finding employment on release in construction, waste management and ICT.

HMP Durham’s strategy embraces the three core themes of empowerment, enterprise and employability.

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous added:

“Business Challenge Days are exactly the kind of scheme we need, to show employers just how valuable ex-offenders can be to businesses.

“Through opportunities such as this, we are able to connect prisoners to potential employers and provide sustained employment.

“By working together with local and national businesses – and providing prisoners with vital skills they need to find work – we can help reduce reoffending, cut crime and make our streets safer.”

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