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Construction and engineering firm NM Group (North Midland Construction) has launched a training programme for ex-offenders.
NM Group has helped develop a training academy and CV-writing workshop in partnership with HMP Ranby, a category ‘C’ prison in Nottinghamshire and Milton Keynes college.
Following a team-building day with NM Group, including a ‘Dragons’ Den’-style interview session, candidates are selected for the training programme based on their behaviour, values and attitude and not whether they have previous construction experience.
They then embark on a 12-week, NVQ Civil Engineering Level 1 course.
NM Group’s health and safety manager holds a workshop on behavioural safety and the programme also allows former offenders to attain Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS).
After completing the programme, successful candidates are offered a job interview with NM Group, which can lead to a full-time position with the company upon their release.
The company said the initiative was partly in response to Ministry of Justice figures which revealed that just 17% of offenders are in full-time employment one year after their release, whilst £15bn is spent annually on associated reoffending costs.
It first began looking at the idea of retraining ex-offenders in 2016 after a visit to HMP Nottingham, organised by Business in the Community (BITC).
Karen Morris, HR director at NM Group, said: “The initiative is offering training and employment opportunities for skills that are very much needed by the construction industry. We believe we can make a real difference, not just to the lives of former offenders, but also our industry, supply chain and the employment economy.
“We have a learning culture at NM Group, with training and personal development a theme throughout our business. It is great to see the enthusiasm of the those taking part in this programme. Some have never had a job, while others are building on existing construction skills. We have seen a real change in individuals, with confidence and skillsets growing throughout the duration of the course.”
