Offploy has secured a share of a £700k contract to support over 100 ex-offenders into construction jobs in Hull.
We are pleased to announce that in partnership with EN:Able Communities Offploy CIC has secured a contract from the Construction Industry Training Board from their ‘Construction Skills Fund’ that will see 130 individuals develop skills within the construction sector and then progress into sustainable employment opportunities.
The project will see Offploy’s candidates referred from the Jobcentre, local prisons and probation services complete our well known ‘nine-step’ candidate journey to sustainable employment. This will include construction industry training, employability support, confidence building, peer mentoring and obtaining a CSCS card.
Candidates will have access to a ‘live site’ during their training in Hull’s ‘Wawne Road’ development. This will give learners the opportunity to develop skills in a real working environment helping overcome the common catch-22 around gaining the necessary experience before employment.
As with all Offploy projects, each candidate will also be assigned a peer-mentor - known as our Social Employment Advisors. Our SEA’s are typically people who have been through the criminal justice system themselves who will help our candidates navigate the hurdles of sustaining employment with the challenges that come with a criminal conviction.
This partnership comes off the back of Offploy’s work in Hull where we are currently mentoring 150+ people and after hosting an event which brought together over 60 employers, trainers and suppliers from the construction industry. You can read more about our ‘Mind The Gap’ event here.
Jacob Hill, Offploy’s Managing Director, said;
“We’re so proud to have been awarded this contract which will be the first step for so many people looking to get their foot back on the employment ladder.
“We are going to use the funding to employ more people with lived experience in our organisation who will ultimately support 130 people from prisons, the probation service and the job centres who find it difficult to secure employment due to their criminal conviction.
“A criminal conviction should not be a barrier to someone securing employment in the majority of cases. We strongly believe that if someone is willing to work and contribute to society we should do everything within our power to support this. Employment reduces reoffending and makes society safer.”
Speaking on the contract Chief Executive of Efficiency North, Lee Parkinson, commented;
“We are very much looking forward to working with Offploy and other local training providers to deliver training and employment opportunities through the Humber Construction Hub. Efficiency North has always been dedicated to improving economic and social mobility prospects for people living in the communities of our social housing landlord membership. The Hub presents an exciting opportunity to significantly increase real pathways into the world of work for residents of North Hull.”
Offploy is a peer-led organisation that supports other people with criminal convictions to secure meaningful, mentored and sustainable employment. Our mission is to reduce reoffending and make society safer.
Efficiency North established EN:Able Communities CIO in August 2015. Any surplus generated by Efficiency North are gifted to EN:Able Communities CIO. They will then gift these funds on through supporting Employment and Training opportunities in areas where their members and social landlords work.
CITB is the industry training board for the construction sector in England, Scotland and Wales. Their job is to help the construction industry attract talent and to support skills development, to build a better Britain.
You can read more about the Construction Skills Fund here.
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