The new partnership will give the HR profession a greater voice and use the skills of HR professionals to provide better support for people leaving prison.
The CIPD Trust is proud to announce a new partnership with the New Futures Network, which will enable the people profession to have a valuable voice and consistent representation on prison boards across the UK.
Working together, the CIPD Trust and New Futures Network will identify and engage senior people professionals to join Employment Advisory Boards (EABs), helping to improve job opportunities for prison leavers by using the skills and expertise of HR professionals.
"We are delighted that transforming the existing prison system is one of the new Government’s first priorities. The opportunity to have a strategic HR voice at the table within all prisons is a game-changer for the sector."
HR support for EABs will include practical advice and guidance for people in prisons around recruitment and skills, creating closer links between prisons and local employers and sharing the challenges employers face. This will help to build a deeper level of understanding within prisons and mentoring for Prison Employment Leads.
This collaboration builds on the work by new Prisons Minister James Timpson, who was instrumental in creating EABs. His vision centred on bringing together business leaders and people in prisons, with the goal of providing employment opportunities and reducing reoffending.
"Prison leavers are less likely to reoffend if they have a job within a year of release. Getting them into work doesn’t just cut crime, it boosts our economy too. But for many, applying for jobs can be daunting."
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