‘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.

The Unlocking campaign follows the 2021 Prisons Strategy White Paper which commits to cutting crime and protecting the public with a prison estate designed to rehabilitate prisoners. Unlocking events focus on a specific sector for up to two weeks per quarter. Previous Unlocking events have focussed on sectors such as hospitality, construction, and manufacturing.

A serving prisoner in The Clink charity branded apron holding a plate with three small desserts on it
A man delivering a talk on scaffolding to a group of prisoners

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 Unlocking campaign, Unlocking Hospitality, was fantastic. One Prison Employment Lead said:

“I have had fantastic feedback from the prisoners, and they have felt a lot of hope from seeing some huge named companies coming through the gate.”

A man in personal protective equipment grinding metal in a workshop
Four closed large delivery doors at a distribution centre awaiting heavy goods vehicles

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 Prison Employment Lead.

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