About us
Corporate Alliance
The alliance will bring together employers of all sizes from the public, private and voluntary sectors. This mix of business world skills is finding ways of increasing the numbers of offenders going into jobs.
Having a job is one of the most important factors in contributing to reducing reconvictions. Improving offenders' employability and supporting their efforts to compete in the labour market are key components of a successful rehabilitation package.
Offenders can help to meet skills shortages and labour market needs. NOMS is targeting employers in sectors where there is a significant demand for labour and which have feasible employment opportunities for ex-offenders.
Offenders leaving prison and those subject to community orders are a large untapped source of trained labour. There are currently more than 1,500 prisoners released on temporary licence to work with over 400 companies to develop their employment skills.
The work of the Corporate Alliance will also promote other outcomes from business including developing 'soft' skills to assist with making offenders more job-ready, such as CV writing and improving interview skills. We will also be looking at the potential for mentoring schemes and how businesses that take on offenders can be supported.
Corporate Alliance in action
Simon, 39, was referred to Camden Garden Centre from St Mungo’s Trust for the Homeless (new window).
He had been given a Drug Testing and Treatment Order (new window) (DTTO) in addition to Community Service, as an alternative to a custodial sentence.
He took up a traineeship at Camden Garden Centre when his full-time DTTO attendance was finished, although he still had to submit weekly blood samples for the DTTO. Simon made excellent progress at Camden Garden Centre, responding very positively to the opportunities offered to him, and gained NVQ Level 1 Retail Operations, Fork Lift Truck Diver’s Certificate and NVQ Level 2 Amenity Horticulture.
His achievements at Camden Garden Centre were taken into consideration in court, and contributed to his sentence being ended earlier than his probation officer anticipated.
Simon is currently working toward his DVLA Driving Licence and is learning brick-laying. Since completing his traineeship he has been working as a self-employed gardener.
