APRIL 2019 PRISONER REFORM
33
practices and help them create
social value. She says: “From
an ex-off ender’s point of view,
I cannot express how getting
back into work can save you on
your release from prison. While
serving your time in custody
you spend hours looking at
where and how you went wrong
and if you can ever come back
from that. You never believe
that you’ll be able to fi nd a job,
let alone secure a career.
“I had several qualifi cations
before my time in prison,
including a business degree,
and was still told daily by
offi cers that I would struggle.
I didn’t want to allow the
system to beat me, but I knew
it was going to be a challenge.
I worked at changing my
perspectives, my outlook,
becoming more positive and
learning how to be open, honest
and talk about my mistakes.
Getting back into work gives
you a purpose, builds your
confi dence, and means you can
move forward with your life and
build a future safe and legally.”
Harris concludes: “We make
it easy for employers to work
with prisons. There are three
main ways businesses can work
with us, including helping to
train serving prisoners to make
products or train them in the
specifi c skills businesses need,
so they can employ them post
release. Secondly, employing
prisoners on day release, also
called Release on Temporary
Licence (ROTL). This is when
risk-assessed prisoners leave
prison each day to work for
employers in the community.
It can be for a full working
week, or over an extended
period. Employers may then
decide to off er them permanent
employment when they are
released from prison, although
there is no commitment to do
so. And, lastly, employing exoff
enders – when businesses off er
permanent jobs to ex-off enders
following their release.”
For more information and
advice and to register your
interest in working with prisons
and employing ex-off enders,
visit www.off enderemployment.
campaign.gov.uk.
Henry Powell, commercial
director, Inpress Plastics Ltd
Why do you choose to
hire ex-off enders?
Like any manufacturing business,
we are always looking for good
people who are willing to work hard,
learn and help us grow. I subsequently
contacted my local prison, HMP Ford in Sussex, to
ask about recruiting machine operators for our day
and twilight shifts. Together we have established a
programme that has fl ourished, including an injection
moulding workshop, which we run at the prison, and a
new Inpress Distribution Hub operating in the prison.
How has it impacted your business, and what
benefi ts has it off ered?
We are a people business, so fi nding the right people
with the right skills helps us grow and serve our clients.
We fi nd the off enders we train in the prison, employ on
day release from the prison or on release are motivated
and are keen to improve their lives, they are capable,
hard-working and eager to learn.
Was it a challenge to integrate the ex-off enders
with the other employees, and if so, how did you
overcome that?
When we fi rst started employing people from HMP Ford,
I spoke to our staff and was initially apprehensive of their
response. However, with only one exception, I found
them supportive and willing to give off enders a second
chance. I was not only encouraged but inspired by my
staff ’s supportive response. In some instances, the staff
had friends or family who had been to prison, so were
able to understand. One member of staff actually
confessed to having had a “naughty youth”, which had
resulted in a spell behind bars.
What successes have you seen?
We have been able to help prisoners get back into
the world with new skills and the confi dence to apply
for and get good jobs in our organisation. The most
rewarding aspect is the positive impact on their
families. When the main earner goes to prison, families
can sometimes be left in fi nancial diffi culty. We have
had wives and children visit us to thank us for helping
their husbands and families. In one instance, a wife and
her children made a meal for our whole factory. That
was incredibly touching. Another off ender was able to
buy his children Christmas presents for the
fi rst time in years and he was so grateful. One of the
men we employ has told us recently that having a job
means he has ‘peace of mind’ and that being able to
support his family means a lot. He also says that being
trusted and treated the same as the other staff is
something that has a big impact on him personally.
The New Futures
Network provides
employers with
full details of all
ex-off enders
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
/www.off
/campaign.gov.uk
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk