Positive Partnerships Boost Job Opportunities for Ex-Offenders

The Novus team in London have been working with Keltbray Group, a UK-leading specialist business which offers engineering, construction, demolition, decommissioning, remediation, rail, environmental services and reinforced concrete structure solutions, since 2015 to create employment opportunities for ex-offenders.

Keltbray’s involvement with Novus has been extensive, working closely with Bounce Back, a sub-contractor of Novus. Bounce Back is a charity and social enterprise focused on the training and employment of ex-offenders, with three training centres within HMP Brixton with a focus on getting people into paid employment in construction. Keltbray has consistently offered interview opportunities to every candidate referred to them by the Novus Works team this year to date, taking into consideration the circumstances of each individual and tailoring interviews to challenge and support them.

Lloyd Graham, a Community Engagement Coordinator at Keltbray, regularly liaises with Novus. He says: “If candidates appear that they are not quite ready upon release, I always hope that we can help get them there, and more often than not I am happy to meet with them. The information sent over by the Novus team gives me an understanding of how to gear an interview and allows me (where possible) to challenge an individual which, in turn, helps them become more job-ready.”

Since working with Bounce Back, Keltbray have employed 31 ex-offenders and offered 68 positions. Keltbray’s first ex-offender from Bounce Back is still working for them. Lloyd concluded: “We have come a long way. We still have further to go but with support from organisations like Novus and Bounce Back, we can continue to reach out to ex-offenders and offer them a working home within Keltbray.”