Britain’s biggest businesses are being urged to recruit prison leavers as part of a national campaign to reduce reoffending and grow the economy.     

Under a new pilot programme, professional services firm KPMG UK has become the first white collar British business to employ ex-offenders as part of a UK Government partnership.

Having successfully employed their first cohort of prison leavers in a range of different roles, including in technology development, KPMG are now working with the Ministry of Justice to encourage other big-name businesses to follow suit.

Prisons and Probation Minister Ed Argar said:   

“Our drive to get ex-offenders into employment is not only cutting crime and reoffending but is also growing the economy as part of our long-term plan for growth, which is why we’ve partnered with KPMG UK to encourage other businesses to follow suit.

“We’re helping prisoners kick-start law abiding lives, which makes our streets safer and provides businesses with the staff they need to boost the British economy.”

KPMG UK Chief Executive Jon Holt said:    

“Our longstanding focus on social mobility is about giving everyone – regardless of their background – the chance to succeed. I believe reformed prison leavers should be no exception.

“As well as creating permanent jobs opportunities, our New Futures pilot builds on our existing support through mentoring and skills workshops and our Redemption Roasters coffee shop in our head office.

“We want to play our part in helping prison leavers turn their lives around.”

Prison leavers in full-time employment are roughly 10 percentage points less likely to re-offend when released and more than 90 per cent of surveyed businesses who employ prison leavers report they are motivated, have good attendance and are trustworthy.

Reflecting on his own journey after prison, a KPMG UK employee and ex-offender said:    

“It was rejection after rejection, businesses never looked beyond my criminal record. It felt quite belittling because no one’s looking at your skills and experience – that generates a lot of anger and frustration, it was very tempting to give up.

“KPMG’s pilot programme wasn’t just refreshing to see, it’s a lifeline that gave me hope. To get a job at KPMG – it’s a miracle. It put me on the right path. I could have gone down a totally different path, but now I’m putting the past behind me and have a bright future. That’s all thanks to KPMG giving me a chance.”