CHAMBER EVENT EXPLORES INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TACKLES REOFFENDING IN THE NORTH EAST
Written by Aaron Kearney on 17 May 2025
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Business leaders gathered last week for a powerful session exploring how employers can support people with criminal convictions into work, and how inclusive recruitment can help reduce reoffending, fill skills gaps and build stronger communities.
The event, Chamber Thought Leadership: Connecting Business and People, was part of the North East Chamber of Commerce’s knowledge and learning programme, proudly supported by associate sponsor NCG.
Chaired by Carrie Peters, director of justice at INGEUS UK, the session brought together insight from across the prison, probation and charitable sectors. Speakers shared practical steps employers can take to support prison leavers and people on probation, along with reflections on the challenges of stigma, disclosure and successful reintegration.
Key takeaways from the session included:
- Over 4,500 people were released from prisons in the North East last year, with up to 90% remaining in the region. This represents a significant, often overlooked talent pool.
- Employment is one of the most effective ways to reduce reoffending. A steady job supports stability and reintegration.
- People with lived experience of the justice system often demonstrate high levels of loyalty, motivation and resilience in the workplace.
- There is a wide range of practical support available for employers, including help with policies, disclosure, onboarding and mentoring.
- Volunteering and flexible pathways, such as Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL), can help individuals transition into the workforce.
- 'Ban the box' policies are recommended to remove barriers at the application stage and ensure fairer recruitment processes.
- Partnership working between prisons, probation services, support organisations and employers is essential to successful rehabilitation and recruitment.
Speaking at the event, Laura Smith, from HM Prison and Probation Service and the New Futures Network, said: “The single most important thing an employer can do is give someone a job. That act alone has the power to break the cycle of reoffending and transform lives. If you do nothing else, do that. The talent is there, the support is there – what we need now is more businesses willing to say yes.”
Fiona Sample MBE, from The Oswin Project, added: “The people we work with are committed, hard-working and embarrassingly grateful for the opportunity. Many have experienced extraordinary challenges, but when given the chance, they thrive. The reoffending rate in the North East is staggeringly high, but for those we support, it is below 4%. That is the difference a job, a mentor and a second chance can make.”
Latest official figures show an average reoffending rate across the North East of 31.7%. The current national average is 27.5%.
The session featured powerful first-hand testimony from Rodney and Kirsty, two individuals with lived experience of the justice system. Both spoke candidly about the stigma they faced, the impact of employment, and how trust and opportunity changed the direction of their lives. “Do I employ people with a criminal conviction? Absolutely,” Kirsty said. “Are they the most loyal staff? Absolutely.”
A panel discussion followed, addressing neurodiversity in prisons, the value of volunteering, best practice in inclusive recruitment and how employers can adapt processes to support individuals with convictions.
The Chamber’s knowledge and learning programme brings together members to share insight, practical advice and lived experience on the issues that matter to the region’s business community.
Any employers interested in learning more about inclusive recruitment or supporting prison leavers into work are encouraged to contact the Chamber for guidance and connections to specialist partners. Please contact Erika Armanino, knowledge and research executive at erika.armanino@necc.co.uk.
The meeting was delivered as part of the North East Expo that took place at Newcastle Racecourse on Thursday, 8 May. It featured contributions from HM Prison and Probation Service, New Futures Network, The Oswin Project, Department for Work and Pensions, Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, The Recruitment Junction and INGEUS UK.
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