Second chance for Steven pays off

An employer recruitment event hosted by Novus at HMP Northumberland in 2019 saw Hatton Traffic Management recruit their first ex-offender. Since joining Hatton, Steven has been fully supported with his training and development by the company. He has now been in a full time role as a Traffic Management Operative for over 18 months and is looking forward to a positive future.

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Hatton Traffic Management is one of the UK’s leading traffic management companies, based in Newcastle upon Tyne and operating nationally. Charlotte Taylor, Novus Works Employer Account Manager for the region, has been working with Hatton Traffic Management since early 2019 to provide job opportunities and training for ex-offenders.

Following a successful event at HMP Northumberland in 2019, Hatton successfully recruited their first ex-offender for the position of Trainee Traffic Management Operative.

Since joining Hatton, Steven has been fully supported with his training and development by the company. He now works full time as a Traffic Management Operative for Hatton.

Steven said: “Like everyone who starts a new job, I was a bit nervous, but as time went on it’s been good. I went through the initial training and I’ve worked with the other lads to learn the job. The more work you do the more training you get. I would like to progress as much as I can in this job, potentially in the future, energy renewal and offshore work is also something I’m interested in.

“Having a job on leaving prison has helped loads, it’s helped to keep me out of trouble and the structure is good. My advice is definitely work hard and keep your head down, it’s not worth going back to prison.”

Darren Ryan is regional manager at Hatton Traffic Management and has been working with Steven since he joined the company. Darren said: “Steven made a really good impression from his first interview. He found his feet early on and once he got to know the lads he was working with he turned out to be a very good worker. He’s a very quick learner, he asks a lot of questions.

“Working with Charlotte and Novus has been great. There is a little bit more involvement and the recruitment process is more extensive than compared to finding trainees via our usual routes, but that additional time spent has been valuable, as we’ve been able to give someone the opportunity for a second chance, and it’s good for the company too. I would definitely recommend Novus and looking at ex-offenders as a viable recruitment opportunity to other traffic management companies.”

The partnership is now set to grow with the roll out of the tailored recruitment process in London where the local Novus Works team are now supporting Hatton to recruit trainees to work on the HS2 contract.

Having a job on leaving prison has helped loads, it’s helped to keep me out of trouble and the structure is good. My advice is definitely work hard and keep your head down, it’s not worth going back to prison.