Soft services provider SBFM has received funding from the UK Ministry of Justice for HMP Academies to support the rehabilitation of prison leavers.
His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service which is part of the MoJ has been seeking to develop its academy delivery model within prison work and learning environments, and the funding package will enable SBFM to offer cleaning jobs, addressing labour shortages while offering a clear pathway from prison to employment for ex-offenders.
The academies will help prisoners gain vital vocational experience, soft skills, sector specific training and qualifications in cleaning while serving their sentences.
Prisoners will receive training in BICSc modules, alongside soft skills like CV writing and mock interviews to support their return to the workforce.
Through its Evolve programme, an initiative dedicated to providing sustainable employment to people from disadvantaged groups, SBFM has already placed ex-offenders and care leavers in cleaning roles at PureGym.
Participants receive free training to become personal trainers, providing them with stability and improved prospects.
Evolve was also the reason for a visit to HMP Wealstun by Damian Hinds, the Minister of State for Prisons, Parole and Probation, who had received positive feedback about the programme's impact.
The facility services provider plans to introduce a dedicated PureGym training area and academy in prisons where it already has a presence.
It’s crucial that we build trust inside prisons prior to the release of ex-offenders
Colin Shute, Owner and Founder of SBFM, says: “We are absolutely delighted with this appointment as it solidifies our position as a trusted source which links ex-offenders with full-time employment.
We already work closely with prisons and ex-offenders, and we can see that they need a stable place to transition to.
They are real and they are waiting for them on the outside to help them build a new life.
These individuals require a sense of security and stability to aid their rehabilitation, and this is precisely what the HMP Academies in prisons offer, and we are proud and delighted to be part of it.”
SBFM already sits on the Government’s Employment Advisory Board (EAB) as part of a programme that links prison leavers with local employers who can offer their expertise on skills, qualifications, and training.
The funding will allow the company to provide training, advice, and guidance services to an additional 19 prisons, complementing its existing partnerships.
