HMP Dovegate hosts event for local employers in drive to help more prisoners find jobs upon release

HMP Dovegate last month hosted an event bringing together over 60 employers and employment support organisations from across Staffordshire as part of a drive to help more of its prisoners find jobs to move into upon release.  

Employers attending the event included national chains such as Greggs and JTF and as well local employers such as the National Memorial Arboretum, Dudley College, and Burton YMCA.

Other organisations also attending to support the initiative included the Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company, Job Centre Plus and The Burton & District Chamber of Commerce, who helped to organise the event.  

The event included a tour of the prison’s facilities showcasing how the prison works to prepare and upskill prisoners ready for release, as well offering employers the opportunity to meet prisoners currently taking part in educational classes in Maths, English, Enterprise and Technology, Barbering and Art.

John Hewitson, Serco Contract Director at HMP Dovegate said:

“The evidence is clear that prisoners who move into stable employment upon leaving prison are much less likely to re-offend. We wanted to bring together local employers to encourage them to consider recruiting ex-offenders and give them the opportunity to see first-hand how we prepare prisoners for the transition back into the community.

“The feedback we have had from the employers who attended was very positive and we hope the connections we have made will help more of our prisoners to find jobs in the local area. We’ll be holding another event in February next year and we’d encourage any local employer to get in touch if they would like to come along and find out more.”

The next Employer Event at HMP Dovegate is currently being arranged for 18 February. Any employer wishing to attend can contact [email protected] for further information.

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