Bounce Back gives construction employment opportunity for ex offenders

Here at Health and Safety Training we work hard to help people gain employment in the construction industry and support any initiative that joins our cause – which is why we we’re really interested to hear about the work Bounce Back are currently doing with ex-offenders.

Bounce Back is a charity that works with ex-offenders, providing them with training and employment opportunities that will help them to re-engage with their community. They believe everyone has the ability to change, so they work in prisons and with the London Probation Service to connect with offenders behind bars. They give them access to training and work experience facilities that might not otherwise be available to them, so that by the end of their sentences, they have the skills and confidence to find employment in the construction industry.

NEETs

NEETs  (or young people not in education, employment or training)  are going to benefit a great deal from this focus on developing employable skills. Most young people serving custodial sentences were previously classed as NEET, and without training or development whilst in prison, they have very little chance of entering the job market or changing this classification on release.

One of the reasons there are so many NEETs is the huge number of 16-29 year olds that have left education without the necessary skills required to enter employment. This means that they struggle to find work, and can easily drop off the radar and become disengaged with their community and labour market.

The benefits of Bounce Back

A recent article by Construction News explained that the trainees have a very positive  attitude towards the programme, seeing it as an opportunity to secure their future outside of prison.

The training facility inside HMP Brixton offers a unique dry-lining training centre that opened in May, mobile access equipment that the trainees are taught to use and a painting and decorating training facility,  as well as the opportunity to take online CSCS exams to gain the required certifications.

Bounce Back reported that 21% of participants secured employment on leaving prison, which is well above the norm, with most in-prison training programmes reporting that just 5% of participants find work.

Not only that, but Bounce Back claim to be saving the taxpayers’ money. Apparently it costs £50,000 a year to keep someone in prison, or £29,000 a year to keep an unemployed person on benefits. So, even once the training and facility costs have been deducted, the charity have estimated that their programme will save £76,000 per person they train and get into employment.

The required skills

Alongside savings for the taxpayer and opportunities for ex-offenders, Bounce Back are offering an additional layer of protection for the recovery of the construction industry by providing a new stream of skilled workers.

Last year, KMPG undertook a study that found the UK construction industry is facing a major skills shortage, and that a 20% increase in requirement for skilled workers is expected over the next few years. This is especially concerning news considering that training rates are falling, and led to the KMPG predicting an overall 51% shortfall of skilled workers. They stated that this deficit must be addressed to avoid endangering the future of the industry.

Health and Safety Training

The team at Health and Safety Training are committed to helping people re-train and get back into employment – whether that’s because they’ve been made redundant, need a career change, or are trying to learn skills that will help them progress in their chosen trade. We work hard with all our learners, no matter what their background, to help them find rewarding and valuable employment. To find out more, simply get in touch today.