National Highways is taking part in a new government initiative that aims to rehabilitate ex-prisoners while filling skills shortages.
The government-owned company said it is involved in one of the 'Employment Councils' ministers launched to support offenders serving sentences in the community into work.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said the councils will build on the success of prison Employment Advisory Boards, created by the current reducing reoffending minister Lord James Timpson, before he became a minister.
The boards brought local business leaders into jails to improve education and prisoners’ ability to get work when released.
The MoJ said that while around 80% of crime is reoffending, the latest data shows that offenders employed six weeks after leaving prison had a reoffending rate around half of those out of work.
It pointed out that getting offenders into work helps employers fill vacancies and plug skill gaps and that its research shows that 90% of businesses that employ ex-offenders agreed that they are good attenders, motivated and trustworthy.
Lord Timpson said: ‘The Employment Advisory Boards I spearheaded have made huge progress and now these Employment Councils will expand that success to steer even more offenders away from crime.’
The MoJ said Employment Councils will provide support to frontline probation staff already involved in getting offenders into work and will provide them with a greater understanding of the local labour market and help build better relationships with suitable employers.
Further support from the Department for Work and Pensions will help link offenders with work coaches placed at job centres throughout the country.
In October, National Highways announced that its Lower Thames Crossing project had launched a pilot Skills Hub, providing work-based training courses for people including men and women on day release from Kent-based prisons.
The pilot is being run with Kent-based Gallagher Group, at its Maidstone quarry site, and Flannery Plant Hire.
Amy Dixon, governor for East Sutton Park Prison and Young Offender Institution in Maidstone, said: ‘It's so important for people leaving prison to have meaningful opportunities to be able to move on and succeed.’
National Highways said that following ‘learnings’ from the pilot the plan is to roll out a series of new Skills Hubs across Kent and Essex in 2025.
These will be in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board, local education providers and the project’s supply chain to continue addressing local skills needs after construction of the proposed tunnel under the Thames.
The project has also appointed Lord David Blunkett, former Labour education secretary and employment secretary, as its skills and education advisor.
Image shows people on day release from Kent prisons for the Lower Thames Crossing Skills Hub Pilot
