Leading UK business executives are spearheading a major initiative aimed at helping thousands of offenders find stable employment, reducing reoffending rates, and steering them away from

a life of crime.

New employment councils to unite probation, prisons, and local businesses

Prominent UK companies, including the Co-op and Oliver Bonas, are backing the program, which seeks to integrate more offenders into the workforce as part of the government’s "Plan for Change." Top executives from well-known brands such as Greggs, Iceland, and COOK will serve on new regional Employment Councils, supporting offenders on probation by helping them gain employment.

This initiative builds upon the success of Prison Employment Advisory Boards, established by Lord Timpson. These boards brought local business leaders into prisons to enhance education and improve prisoners’ chances of finding work after release. The newly established regional Employment Councils will extend this model to the Probation Service, focusing on offenders serving community sentences.

Each council will also feature representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), fostering stronger connections with local job centres to better support offenders.

A core part of crime reduction strategy

This initiative, a key government manifesto pledge, aims to make communities safer by reducing reoffending rates. Currently, around 80% of crime is linked to reoffending. However, recent data reveals that offenders who are employed within six weeks of release have a reoffending rate that is approximately half that of unemployed ex-offenders.

Beyond reducing crime, the program also addresses workforce shortages by helping businesses fill job vacancies, close skills gaps, and boost economic growth.

James Timpson, Minister for Probation, Prisons, and Reducing Reoffending, emphasized the dual benefits of the initiative:

“Getting former offenders into stable work is a sure way of cutting crime and making our streets safer. That’s why partnering with businesses to get more former offenders into work is a win-win. The Employment Advisory Boards I spear-headed have made huge progress and now these Employment Councils will expand that success to steer even more offenders away from crime as part of our Plan for Change”.

He also highlighted the success of the Employment Advisory Boards, noting that the expansion through Employment Councils will further strengthen efforts to divert offenders from crime and contribute to safer communities.

Additional support for offenders and employers

Employment Councils will support probation officers already working to help offenders find jobs by providing them with better insights into the local labor market and building stronger relationships with employers. Furthermore, the DWP will offer additional assistance through job centre work coaches, who will guide offenders in developing key skills, preparing for interviews, and improving their resumes.

Baroness Maeve Sherlock, DWP Lords Minister, underscored the broader societal benefits of the initiative:

“As well as making our streets safer, helping offenders into work will enable employers to fill vacancies and plug our skills gaps. This work is vital in our Plan for Change as we begin our task of fixing the fundamentals of the social security system and progress with wider work to reduce poverty, put more money in people’s pockets and keep our streets safe. That’s why I am pleased that DWP staff will also be a part of the new regional Employment Councils to directly connect them with the frontline support delivered every day by Jobcentre staff across the country - offering work experience and access to our employment programmes”.

Businesses see positive results

Research by the Ministry of Justice shows that 90% of businesses employing ex-offenders report that these employees are reliable, motivated, and trustworthy. Rosie Brown, co-CEO of COOK, shared her experience: “A job provides a key way to help people restore their lives and relationships following a stretch in prison. In return, we get committed, loyal team members to help us build our business.  Re-offending is reduced, and families, communities, and society as a whole wins”.

Expanding job opportunities across regions

The new Employment Councils will replace the regional Employment Advisory Boards, officially bringing together probation services, prisons, local employers, and the DWP under a unified structure for the first time. While Employment Advisory Boards will continue to operate in 93 individual prisons, the regional Employment Councils will provide broader support to help offenders find job opportunities across entire regions, not just near the prisons they leave.

By offering a fresh start to ex-offenders through meaningful employment, this initiative aims to create a safer society while helping businesses grow and thrive. Photo by Steph Gray from London, United Kingdom, Wikimedia commons.