This project has been set up to help ex-offenders get jobs. It will develop, trial, evaluate and mainstream innovative methods of reducing re-offending rates by strengthening the engagement with employers. It is a groundbreaking project and links delivery partners and employers with prisons in the East of England.

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Business success and staffing levels are all affected in some way by this issue. Businesses can play a crucial role in helping to address this problem by building better links with the prison and probation services; helping to improve job-ready skills within the prisons; and by offering jobs and work placement opportunities to those who have attained the required skills.

The project hopes to achieve a number of things which include:

• Bringing offenders serving prison sentences to a point of job readiness through skills development, training and mentoring schemes prior to release
• Helping improve the chances and remove barriers to employment that can help individuals into the labour market and address labour market needs
• Placing ex-offenders in employment and provide new employees for companies
• Engaging employers in the project by raising awareness of the issues and developing the business case for involvement

Examples of how companies engage with ex-offenders: