How Can Working with Ex-Offenders Benefit Your Business?

At Novus, we know that there are so many benefits to hiring an ex-offender on to your business.

Not only do you give someone a fresh chance, but you also get to tap into a pool of extremely hardworking and motivated candidates, who are eager to step up and show what they can do.

Over 80% of the public think businesses who take on ex-offenders are making a positive contribution to society, which makes it a great way to create a diverse workforce and boost your brand rep.

But the benefits of working with ex-offenders don’t end there! Businesses that employ prison leavers are also shown to have reduced absences, increased productivity, and better staff retention.

Why is employment important for ex-offenders?

Reducing reoffending is at the heart of our work here at Novus, and by increasing the education levels of our learners, we are laying the foundations for long lasting change.

Employment is proven to lower reoffending rates, and by providing our learners with up-to-date work resources, we are ensuring that they have every chance at success upon release.

Our work with employer partners at HMP Low Newton highlights how working with open-minded employers can create real and meaningful opportunities for ex-offenders. Through collaborations like these, we’ve set learners up with connections and pathways into employment with businesses and industries that value their abilities and contributions.

Many learners come into our education departments with a spotty history of learning.

For example, a Novus learner was approached by one of our educators while she was in HMP Styal. She had never found a way that education could work for her and was disappointed that she didn’t have the skillset to take on more demanding roles that fulfilled her.

Working with a Novus colleague, she was able to clearly understand where her passions lie and worked alongside a great team of professionals to take on the skills that she was lacking.

Without the guidance of a dedicated educator, she may never have known how to achieve her goals, let alone understand what they were.

Since she was first approached by Novus, the learner has completed her Level 5 TEFL course and is searching for employment in a field that challenges and excites her.

How can prisoner education benefit businesses?

Recent statistics from HMPPS point out that 81% of people think that businesses employing ex-offenders are making a positive contribution to society, 86% of employers of ex-offenders rate them as good at their job, and 92% of employers say diverse recruitment has enhanced the workplace, helping their business grow into its full potential.

Employing through Novus and hiring prison leavers not only has a massive moral benefit but has been shown to reduce staff absence and increase retention of employees.

Providing ex-offenders with a vital second chance means that many will go the extra mile to ensure their chances of success upon release.

Each year, over 50,000 prisoners return to their communities in the UK. Without in-prison education, and a smooth transition into employment, many of those individuals will end up back in prison within 6 months.

We work directly with employers to ensure that our education is up to industry standards and that the learners are taking on the latest methods and approaches to each field. Every course we offer to learners is aimed at generating or complementing employment. 

How Novus prepares ex-offenders for employment

As we discuss in our blog on vocational training in prisons, our Novus programmes in subjects like construction, catering, and digital skills don’t just supply learners with transferrable skills, they also give employers access to skilled candidates, who’ll be ready to contribute from day one on the job.

We understand that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for every learner and where possible we adapt our offering to suit both the subject and the learner.

We are constantly working with HM Prison Services to ensure we do everything we can to provide the best education while remaining within the restrictions in place in a prison setting.

How to bring ex-prisoners into your business

Once you’ve found a candidate, it’s really important to start with a friendly and inclusive approach.

To help your new employee get settled in, it’s a good idea to set them up with mentorship or buddy support, until they’ve confidently got the hang of things on their own.

Creating a welcoming and supportive work environment is another crucial thing to consider.

Get your workforce together to educate them about the challenges faced by ex-offenders and emphasise the unique strengths they add to the team, like resilience, motivation, and determination.

Lastly, make sure you recognise the achievements of any ex-offender employees – this critical for building confidence, engagement, and job satisfaction.

Making your new employee feel welcome at work will help you support an ex-offender's rehabilitation journey, while also allowing you to make the most of a dedicated and loyal workforce.

Hire an ex-offender with Novus

Hiring ex-offenders supports individuals, builds a stronger workforce, and creates safer, stronger communities.

At Novus, we’re always excited to work with high-quality partner employers. We’ll support you every step of the way, from preparing our learners with skills to enter the workforce, to helping them get integrated into your team.

Become a partner employer with Novus and help us lay the foundations for change to give ex-offenders a second chance.