Family Friendly Working: Let's turn prisoners into apprentices

Educating and training prisoners could cut crime and reduce the UK’s skills gaps, a tech entrepreneur says. James Tweed, CEO of Cambridge-based Coracle which provides laptops to prisoners, says it is essential that apprenticeship providers consider working with prisoners. Also, he points to an important legal change made in October 2022 when the Ministry of Justice and Department for Education lifted a ban on prisoners undertaking apprenticeships. Since then major brands such as Greene King, Kier and Timpson have opened their apprenticeship programmes to ex-offenders. “Taking on prisoners as apprentices is a golden opportunity to transform lives, help society and increase skills in the workplace,” says Tweed. “This gives them something practical to work towards, which is a huge part of ensuring they can realise better life outcomes. Including prisoners in Apprenticeship Week is a great step towards reducing reoffending and boosting their employability.” Read the feature on Family Friendly Working here.