The National Offender Management Service Co-Financing Organisation (NOMS CFO), via Achieve North West Connect has awarded a contract to Procure Plus, to help ex-offenders access employment and high-quality career training opportunities.
Financed by European Social Fund (ESF) monies, the new contract, known as CFO3, runs for five years from January 2016 and aims to get at least 130 people into work during this period. Targeting those deemed to be furthest from the jobs market, participants are supported for six months to become job ready, learning life skills and overcoming barriers to employment, before being referred to job opportunities created by the Procure Plus framework.
Since beginning work with NOMS CFO in 2010, Procure Plus has helped 257 people enter employment, with 85 per cent retaining their roles for a minimum of six months. The majority of these achieved at least a recognised qualification at NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.
In addition, nearly 600 people have been assisted by attending supportive mock interviews, receiving mentoring and feedback to help improve their interview technique, while nearly 500 were interviewed by employers on the Procure Plus contractor framework.
Cilla Roberts, Project Manager for Achieve North West Connect, commented: “Procure Plus has helped to deliver a number of success stories through this scheme, which reflects the high quality programme being delivered. Its experience in delivering this scheme, and contacts in setting up both interviews and job opportunities, will ensure we can transform a lot more lives in the future.”
One of these successes is John* who has been supported by Procure Plus since July 2011. John gained a six month contract carrying out maintenance repairs for one of Procure Plus’ clients, before being appointed a Gas Installation Apprentice with a framework contractor in July 2012. He received his NVQ Level 3 qualification in August 2015 and has since found permanent employment as a Gas Engineer.
John said: “This is a scheme to help ex-offenders gain employment and education that works. It has been reassuring to know I had a team 100 per cent behind me through some extremely challenging years. Programmes like this only work if the people delivering them are right and I am extremely grateful for the help and support I received.”
Concluding, Ann-Marie English, Senior Regeneration Manager at Procure Plus, said: “What’s different about our approach is a focus on the long term, via sustained career opportunities and support. We look forward to working with NOMS for a further five years to help ex-offenders remove barriers to employment and break the potential re-offending cycle.”
*John is not his real name to protect his anonymity.
For more information, visit www.procure-plus.com.