Ryan FowlerNew research from Sodexo has highlighted a growing recognition among UK businesses of the positive contributions made by ex-offenders in the workforce. This comes alongside the launch of Sodexo’s ‘Starting Fresh’ campaign, which aims to provide guidance and encourage businesses to proactively hire ex-offenders.
The study surveyed 1,000 senior leaders and business owners across the UK, revealing that 43% of businesses are struggling to fill more than ten job vacancies, with the hospitality sector particularly affected, as 16% of businesses face 31-40 unfilled positions. Despite these challenges, 30% of UK private sector businesses reported that they do not currently employ any ex-offenders, although 61% expressed intentions to hire ex-offenders within the next year. However, 17% mentioned they would consider such hires only if positions remained open for more than six months.
Tony Simpson, justice operations director at Sodexo UK & Ireland, emphasised the untapped potential of this workforce: “While not all ex-offenders are prison-leavers, an important aspect of this campaign is to help employers understand the quality of learning which takes place in prison. Nearly 50,000 people leave prison every year, many emerging with formal qualifications they didn’t have before.”
The campaign collaborates with partners like New Futures Network, The Oswin Project, Clean Sheet, and Novus Works to tackle perceived barriers to the employment of ex-offenders, aiming to integrate them back into communities more effectively. Sodexo, a ‘Ban the Box’ employer, also highlighted its commitment to employing ex-offenders, aiming to fill 5% of suitable job opportunities with individuals from this background.
The research also touched on employers’ concerns, with 25% worried about potential reoffending and the safety of other employees. Nevertheless, 46% of businesses recognised the importance of supporting their wider community by hiring people with criminal records.
Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO of UK Hospitality, added: “Most hospitality businesses cannot currently operate at full capacity due to ongoing labour shortages. It’s great, therefore, to see Sodexo launch Starting Fresh which will really help demystify the process.”
Sodexo’s ‘Starting Fresh’ initiative includes an online hub offering resources for employers interested in hiring ex-offenders, featuring case studies and information to demystify the hiring process. The campaign encourages businesses to engage with prisons and consider ex-offenders as a viable solution to the current labour shortage, which could also provide a more stable and secure future for this underutilised talent pool.
