Construction Employers Urged to Support Ex-Offenders into Careers
HMP The Mount and CITB seek partners to provide skills and employment pathways for individuals leaving custody.
By The SME Chronicle Newsroom
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a modern prison workshop with various tools and equipment laid out for vocational training.
HMP The Mount, in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is actively seeking construction employers and training providers to help individuals leaving custody build careers in the sector.
The initiative, part of the prison's Construction Centre for Excellence programme, aims to create clear pathways into construction by developing industry-relevant skills, qualifications, and employment opportunities. This effort is driven by a recognised need to provide viable employment routes for individuals approaching release, identified through prisoner surveys and labour market reviews.
An employer engagement event was held on 10 September 2026, allowing potential partners to tour the prison's facilities and learn how they can contribute. Employers were invited to support through workshops, resource donations, and mock job interviews. The event highlighted the potential for significant social value and rehabilitation.
“
"One individual we met particularly stood out, and we are now exploring ways to support him into employment on release. For us, that is exactly why days like this matter."
Bugler Group, an existing programme supporter, was so impressed by a candidate interviewed at the event that they offered him a job. This success story underscored the impact employers can have in supporting rehabilitation and creating opportunities.
Keynote speakers, including Governor David Daddow and Alison Bell of The Mount Employer Advisory Board, emphasised the programme's life-transforming potential. Organisations expressed genuine interest, offering practical support for the men's transition into employment.
“
"It was great to see how education, training and employer engagement are being brought together to create real opportunities and, importantly, a pathway to a better future. I found the visit particularly powerful because it demonstrated what meaningful Social Value can look like in practice - supporting rehabilitation, challenging perceptions and helping people build a positive future through skills and employment."
“
"Volunteers and prison staff showed a genuine commitment to helping prisoners develop the skills and confidence needed to find work after release. I was really impressed with some of the individuals that I did mock interviews with – good eye contact, spoke clearly, well prepped and were keen for a fresh start!"
Following the event, 19 out of 20 men due for release expressed interest in construction careers, with CITB and employers receiving CVs. This initiative addresses the construction industry's ongoing skills shortages, with CITB's Construction Workforce Outlook projecting a need for an average of 41,200 additional workers annually between 2026 and 2030. Ex-offenders are identified as a valuable talent pool to help meet this demand.
HMP The Mount aims for its Construction Centre for Excellence to become a replicable model across the UK. The prison has invested in refurbished workshops, set to open in April 2027, which will offer skills such as CSCS, plumbing, plastering, bricklaying, flooring, and general maintenance. These facilities will also feature employer branding to raise awareness of organisations willing to consider candidates with a custodial background.
“
"The centre of excellence for construction can offer a gateway to learning skills, which the prison hopes can improve employability on release. These skills will include CSCS, plumbing, plastering, bricklaying, flooring and general maintenance. This is essential to help our prisoners develop hope for a better future and encourage them to be a contributing member of society. Third-sector support from the construction sector can help the prison to deliver this objective."
Employers and training providers interested in supporting the programme are encouraged to contact HMP The Mount. Further information can be obtained by emailing angela.evans1@justice.gov.uk.
