Marvin OnumonuAmey’s ‘Journey to Work’ programme has helped nearly a dozen prison leavers find jobs with Amey and its supply chain in the last year.
The scheme supports prison leavers, the long-term unemployed and people from disadvantaged backgrounds into work.
In the last 12 months, 7.2% of Amey’s new recruits were people facing barriers to employment.
The programme runs in 10 prisons across the UK and has supported 196 prisoners.
It offers employability skills training, curriculum vitae (CV) writing, interview preparation and help for those about to be released to get ready for work.
Participants can apply for jobs across Amey’s built estate, highways and rail contracts, and in its supply chain.
At a recent event at HMP New Hall in Yorkshire, Amey worked with the prison’s employment advisory board and employment hub to offer two women jobs on release.
Evie Rollinson, prison employment lead at HMP New Hall, said: “We have worked with Amey for over 12 months, and the professional relationship is developing from strength to strength.
“It’s great to see their commitment to working with prison leavers.”
Stephanie Johnson, people director at Amey, said: “As a facilities management partner to the Ministry of Justice across 64 prisons, we have a unique opportunity to work intensively with prisoners and support them into employment while they are serving their sentences.
“The FM sector is increasingly facing a need for specialised skills to ensure vital public services can continue to operate.
“There is also a growing need to redefine the skills required to tackle emerging challenges such as decarbonisation and climate resilience.”
Johnson added: “For Amey providing second chances is pivotal to creating a workforce with the ability to meet this challenge, while delivering social good.”
