Starting Fresh: Driving career opportunities for people with convictions

Supporting employers to proactively recruit skilled and qualified people with convictions

Employers are struggling to recruit the talent they need to operate at full capacity. Attitudes towards hiring people with convictions to help fill these gaps are improving – although many business owners and hiring managers still harbour concerns.

At Sodexo, we have been running prisons in the UK for 30 years and are committed to rehabilitating offenders, treating those in our care with dignity and providing opportunities for purposeful activity. Our employment, education and rehabilitation services give them the skills, qualifications and support to lead law-abiding lives in their community on release.

Employers guide to recruiting people with convictions

People with criminal convictions can make a valuable contribution to many businesses, but misconceptions mean they are often not considered for roles.

At Sodexo we have been recruiting people with convictions into our business and have created a guide from our experiences to assist employers who are interested in exploring hiring people with convictions into their business.

With more than one million vacancies across the country, it’s important that employers consider all avenues available to them when recruiting to fill vacancies, including exploring employing people with criminal convictions.

Education and skills overview
The same ambition standards and focus on results.
Download the Education and skills overview
Hair and beauty
A match for any high street.
Download the hair and beauty skills pack
Hositality
From high-end hotels to hospitals.
Download the hospitality skills pack
Catering
Real restaurants, real customers.
Download the catering skills pack
Construction
Accredited construction training.
Download the construction skills pack

Rehabilitation to recruitment

One year on: How Starting Fresh is supporting employers and changing lives
Starting Fresh is Sodexo’s initiative to support employers in proactively recruiting trained and qualified ex-offenders. Commitment from organisations and colleagues is plugging skills gaps and keeping lives on track.
Read about Starting Fresh one year on
Resettling prisoners after release: getting ex-offenders into the workforce
Sodexo's Tony Simpson, Justice Operations Director, addresses how upskilling, retraining, and boosting confidence activity across our prisons is supporting prisoners into positive futures.
Find out more about resettling prisoners
Unlocking construction opportunities to reduce re-offending
An initiative developed by the New Futures Network – part of HM Prisons and Probation Service gives prisoners the chance to discuss career opportunities with companies who operate in their release areas.
Read about unlocking New Futures

Prison-leaver stories

I was always good with hair, and now I’m fully qualified
Read Emily's story
I want to be working, I want the stability and to provide for my family
Read Claire's story
I had no idea you could work full-time in prison until I did it myself
Read about full-time work in prison