Ryan FowlerThe CIPD Trust has released a new guide aimed at helping organisations recruit, employ, and retain individuals with criminal convictions.
This initiative addresses the underutilisation of a significant portion of the workforce, as one in four people of working age in the UK has a conviction.
The guide provides practical recommendations for employers, such as showcasing their recruitment policies on job advertisements and training hiring managers on inclusive recruitment practices.
It also highlights the benefits of hiring individuals with convictions, including reduced recruitment costs, filling skills gaps, enhancing brand reputation, and contributing to societal change.
Sally Eley, head of trust at the CIPD, stated: “Around a quarter of working age people in the UK have a conviction. That’s a large number of individuals with vital skills, experience and knowledge who can make an important contribution to society.
“At the same time, many organisations are struggling to recruit the right people. The CIPD Trust is particularly passionate about supporting and mentoring people facing barriers – including those with a conviction – and we do this through utilising the unique knowledge and skillset of our people professionals.”
Companies such as J. Murphy & Sons have successfully integrated this approach by directly collaborating with prisons to create job opportunities for prison leavers, providing over 100 jobs in the past two years.
Dawn Moore, group people and communications director at J. Murphy & Sons, said: “At J. Murphy & Sons, every prison leaver is treated just like any other employee. They are not just starting a new job; they are being given an opportunity to make a fresh start.”
