Powerday launched a scheme in November last year that would work alongside the social enterprise Blue Sky and HMP Onley that has allowed inmates to receive training and employment with Blue Sky and Powerday on construction sites around London. The first delegates of the scheme have started their training as part of the scheme, with the offer of a six-month contract of employment when they are released.

One of the delegates to start their training is Tony Hogg, from Southwark. Hogg has taken his City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment and his CSCS Labourer Green Card last year while completing his sentence at HMP Onley. Upon his release earlier this year, Tony has managed to complete his onsite training and is a labourer with one of London’s leading logistics teams, St George. Tony will be required to assist with waste removal and deal with water leaks and dismantling and putting up fences. It is expected that in a few months Tony will move to a handyman position where he will be trained as a fire marshal and first aider.

Powerday are a part of this scheme as a way of helping the local community. Tony Hogg has made a good first impression on site which will help gather support for the scheme. The scheme should help get ex-offenders in to work, which is a proven way of reducing the reoffending chances. It is also promising to see the longstanding client of Powerday, St George supporting the scheme and offering placements for the delegates.

Tony Hogg is the first person to go through the scheme and it is hoped that more delegates will follow him. The new scheme has come into effect as the Justice Secretary Liz Truss called for a shake-up of the prisons in England and Wales. These changes made up the Prisons and Court Bill and could make it law that prisons work to rehabilitate and reform offenders.