Greene King passes milestone in prison leaver recruitment

Greene King has hired its 250th prison leaver through its Releasing Potential programme.

 

The pub group’s scheme helps prisoners develop new skills in hospitality, with the goal of offering them employment once they leave prison.

 

The programme was launched in May 2019 and works with more than 65 prisons across the UK, providing information and support for prisoners to develop their skills in food preparation, customer service, barista training and housekeeping to prepare them to work in Greene King pubs and hotels upon their release.

 

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Scottish Prison Service, New Futures Network and Novus, Greene King has invested in two training kitchens at HMP Thameside and HMP Grampian. Each site emulates a Greene King kitchen and delivers bespoke training programmes.

 

In June 2022, the pub company set a target to hire 5,000 new apprentices and 300 more prison leavers by 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Justice.

 

As part of this commitment, Greene King became one of the first employers in the UK to take part in a pilot programme offering apprenticeships to prisoners in open prisons in October 2022.

 

Earlier this year, Greene King’s first apprentice through the programme, who started their apprenticeship while in custody, became a full-time kitchen team member. The pub company and brewer is currently working with a number of other candidates who are planning on starting an apprenticeship before their release date. 

 

Nick Mackenzie, chief executive of Greene King, said: “We are committed to championing social mobility through providing everybody, regardless of their background, with the chance to pursue a long-term career in the hospitality industry.

 

“With pubs at the heart of local communities across the country, our Releasing Potential scheme supports prison leavers nationwide on their journey to successful rehabilitation. We are proud to have offered a second chance to 250 individuals and look forward to welcoming many more successful applicants in the months and years ahead.”

 

Minister for probation and prisons James Timpson said: “The criminal justice system exists to keep our streets safe, but employers can play their part too by helping offenders turn their back on crime through the stability of a secure job.

 

“We can’t ignore that nearly 80% of offenders are re-offenders. Partnerships like our one with Greene King help tackle this by tapping into a disregarded talent pool, helping to rehabilitate prison leavers, cut crime and grow our economy.”

 

Since launching its apprenticeship scheme in 2011, Greene King has supported more than 17,500 apprentices.

 

In 2020 the firm pledged to create 1,000 jobs for young people across a five-year partnership with the Prince’s Trust.