‘Unlocking’ employment campaigns

Introducing Unlocking

Unlocking is our flagship, national recruitment campaign. It will increase the number of prisoners and prison leavers taking up employment opportunities and securing jobs on release.

Unlocking campaigns focus on a specific sector or prison function and run for up to six weeks. Previous Unlocking campaigns have focussed on sectors such as hospitality, construction and manufacturing, or on the female and open estates.

Unlocking gives employers the opportunity to:

• Deliver workplace style training and events within prisons.
• Showcase what their business has to offer, such as the types of roles available and culture of organisation.
• Meet and network with future employees.

Unlocking gives prisoners the opportunity to:

• Get a feel for the sector and employer.
• Find out about the types of jobs on offer.
• Meet and network with employers who are actively recruiting.

The reception from our first ever Unlocking campaign, Unlocking Hospitality, was fantastic. One Prison Employment Lead said:

Since then, we have gone on to run a further twelve campaigns and are excited to announce our 2026 schedule:

If you are an employer or represent an organisation that can provide employment or resettlement support and would like to get involved in future Unlocking events, get in touch via newfuturesnetwork@justice.gov.uk . We can connect you with the relevant Employment Lead.