Hundreds of UK Businesses Unite to Give Prison Leavers a Fresh Start

The UK Government has announced a major crime-reduction initiative aimed at helping prison leavers secure employment and turn their lives around. Over 300 leading British businesses—including Greggs, Iceland, and Kier—have joined the hiring drive to fill labour shortages and reduce reoffending. A new digital job-matching tool will soon be rolled out across prisons in England and Wales, connecting inmates with employers and supporting applications. Employment for ex-offenders has surged, with 38% of those serving sentences of 12 months or more now in work within six months of release—more than double the rate in 2021. Data shows that securing jobs significantly lowers reoffending rates, while businesses report high motivation and reliability among prison leavers. This initiative forms part of the Government’s broader “Plan for Change,” combining rehabilitation, economic growth, and crime prevention.