FEATURE
PARTNERSHIPS FOR A BETTER FUTURE
Max Rumley, Assistant Director of Reducing Reoffending at HMP Fosse Way, a Serco- run Category C resettlement prison, explores how the FM industry can work alongside prisons to help plug industry skills gaps and support broader goals for prisoner rehabilitation and employment.
With pressure on the justice system and an urgent need for additional prison capacity, the UK Government’s long-term strategy is to focus on prisoner rehabilitation, which has the potential to reduce reoffending rates and therefore demand for space.
One of the ways it intends to achieve this is by working to boost employment prospects for those leaving prison. New Employment Councils are aimed at bringing probation, prisons and local businesses together, and facilities management (FM) is one of the sectors that could stand to benefit from this approach.
Despite strong growth, there are recruitment challenges in the sector, with a shortage of candidates across the UK. Last year, a RICS Facilities Management Survey found that three-quarters of respondents reported difficulties in sourcing workers for building operation and maintenance roles.
So, what can be done to address this critical
skills shortage? Engaging with a workforce of prisoners and ex-offenders presents FM companies with a distinctive opportunity for
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change. Not only does it tap into a diverse talent pool to help fill essential positions, but it also supports the broader objective of achieving positive outcomes for prisoners upon release.
Former prisoners are at a higher risk of reoffending if they struggle to reintegrate into society, especially when lacking a stable income. Establishing clear training pathways into FM, as an industry that can provide both stable and rewarding career opportunities, can support rehabilitation and ensure meaningful employment on the outside.
At HMP Fosse Way, a Category C male resettlement prison in Leicester, we’ve experienced firsthand the benefits of how this can work in practice. We run one of the largest prisoner- staffed facilities management operations in the UK, and over the years we’ve seen real evidence of its success. Here I want to share how we’ve achieved this, and how FM employers can partner with prisons as a means of gaining access to a unique pool of talented and dedicated employees.
Our FM scheme currently employs 35 prisoners at Fosse Way, all of whom carry out a diverse range of tasks from painting and decorating to carpentry and cleaning. The scheme is part
Tomorrow’s FM Yearbook 2025/26
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