In November 2023 the Prison Education Team at Complete Skills Solutions (CSS), started delivering targeted intervention within two North West prisons under the Future Skills Programme. Fast forward 14 months, and the impact of this is clear to see. 110 learners have completed training, 79 have had successful employer interviews, and 63 have accepted job offers.
Launched following the Prisons Strategy White Paper, which established the Employability Innovation Fund, the aim of the Future Skills Programme is to enable Prison Governors to work with more employers and training providers to deliver sector-specific skills training. While research suggests that there has been some progress made in the proportion of prison leavers finding work within six weeks of release (Gov.uk report an increase from 15% to 19% since April 2022), sadly, many ex-offenders face discrimination. The Future Skills Programme aims to help address this by providing sector led skills and qualifications, with guaranteed interviews for jobs at the end of the training.
The Complete Skills Solutions Prison Education Team have delivered two pathways, Waste Management and Warehousing, providing learners with a range of nationally recognised qualifications to 110 inmates to date, with the feedback being overwhelmingly positive.
One participant commented:
“I feel the course will help greatly in acquiring a job-thank you for all your help”, whilst another remarked, “Excellent course, would recommend to other prisoners.”
The CSS team’s successes to date with the Future Skills Programme is the latest in a long line of achievements. Since 2019, the team have supported over 3000 inmates to achieve new skills and qualifications across their 35-course offer. The extensive education programme, which has operated in 14 prisons nationally, has boasted a 95% pass rate to date.
Head of Sector for Prisons at Complete Skills Solutions, Lucy Chapman, said:
“To us, it’s more than just a training course. We are passionate about truly making a lasting difference to the lives of the inmates we support. We want to help them successfully reintegrate back into society after release and become economically and socially active.
“Not only do we deliver the training, but we also offer a wrap around solution that includes the likes of interview prep, CV writing and liaising with prison staff to hold interviews within the establishment prior to release. We also support our learners through the gate, providing work wear and food and transport vouchers.
“We are delighted to have some brilliant employer links with the likes of Kenny Waste Management and Sodexo, and it’s thanks to these close links that we are able to offer life changing opportunities, that go way beyond the classroom.”
The Complete Skills Solutions Prison Education Team deliver 35 courses in prisons nationally including HMP Haverigg, HMP Downview and HMP Wymott. Their delivery programme, which has grown significantly since launching in 2019 continues to go from strength to strength.
