Why I believe the government prison apprenticeship scheme needs to be more ambitious

I read with great interest the government’s recent announcement to introduce apprenticeships for prisoners in UK prisons, but while it’s fantastic news, I felt it could have been more ambitious and should go much further.

Our business already delivers substantial social impact through its work with ex-offenders, and of course I welcome any initiative under which prisoners will be offered apprenticeships and job-based training because evidence that prison leavers in work are significantly less likely to re-offend.

I’d like to see the new scheme rolled out more quickly and dove-tailed more effectively into the opportunities already being provided by us here at Recycling Lives and other companies with similar programmes in place. I’d also like to see support for offenders to go beyond simply providing a job which is one vital step on the rehabilitation ladder.

Experience tells us that support on issues not directly related to a job are equally important as people try to rebuild their lives. We achieve this in a coordinated approach, with our partner charity using a person-centred technique, but this could also be achieved by improving the integration of re-homing, wellbeing and financial support.

As a nation, we can only maximise reducing reoffending if we use these initiatives to benefit the education system, the prison estates and business across the country. It is well evidenced that the higher someone’s skill level, the more they can earn, and in turn the better the outcomes not only for themselves but also their families and broader society, improving health and other social measures.

Having set-up our social value programmes in 2008, Recycling Lives has helped in excess of 500 ex-offenders to transform their lives, and we continue to provide support for ex-offenders once they are employed with our company because that is an essential part of the process to ensure it is sustainable.

Business as a whole must be involved in the design of these apprenticeship routes alongside the justice system to help expand the available workforce and deliver the reduction on crime and reoffending. Our model shows this can be done at zero net cost increase to the government, but with substantial long-term benefit to society.

Having grown around a strong belief in social sustainability, our business and partner charity work together seamlessly to maximise social value and life-changing initiatives. Together we’re already actively engaged with 29 custodial settings across the UK to rehabilitate ex-offenders and help lower reoffending rates by providing support and work opportunities.

We’ve also pioneered award-winning programmes and currently support seven Academy workshops within prisons across the North West, Yorkshire and East Midlands, where ex-offenders can earn, gain skills, and pave the way for employment on their release. In partnership with the Recycling Lives Social Enterprises, Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) opportunities are also provided for offenders to work outside the prison environment when they are approaching the end of their sentence, and employment and support is provided for newly released offenders.

If Recycling Lives has a workshop in prison, the apprenticeship needs to be linked to that, building on the knowledge that it can lead to sustainable employment for the men and women upon release. Joined-up thinking of this nature will encourage more businesses to develop workshops within the prison estates and get involved with helping offenders.

At Recycling Lives, we prioritise delivering social impact across every aspect of our business, both in the recycling circular economy and beyond it. We have provided employment for hundreds of people within the justice system, and are in the process of extending this initiative nationwide. We are currently developing plans to increase the number of Academies and extend our work with prisons and police forces still further, providing more opportunities to cut re-offending and reduce crime

Given that offenders are currently unable to take advantage of apprenticeships, the government’s plans to allow offenders at open prisons across England to apply for apprenticeships in vital industries is an excellent step forward. Nevertheless, it is disappointing to learn that the scheme will only be initially accessible to 100 prisoners across England, before being rolled out across the wider prison estate.

I agree wholeheartedly with Secretary of State for Education, Nadhim Zahawi, when he said apprenticeships will offer prisoners a life-changing chance to secure a rewarding career through new skills. However, we should aim to allow a more ambitious number of offenders to be offered the initiative, which would make a real reduction in the £18-billion cost to the taxpayer of reoffending.

Andrew Hodgson is executive chairman of Recycling Lives.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Andrew Hodgson, Recycling Lives

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin