Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 32
32
Accepted in Part
Paragraph: 140
No-one understands the skills market better than employers.
Recommendation
No-one understands the skills market better than employers. Local partnership with employers is key to identifying and providing the necessary skills for the job market. During our inquiry, we heard of some fantastic partnerships between prisons and businesses. However, these examples are too few. The Ministry of Justice must build on this and significantly expand this approach. Prisons must be able to react to the needs of employers. We welcome the announcements in the Government’s White Paper to improve links between prisons and businesses, such as the establishment of Employment Advisers and local Employment Boards. The Ministry of Justice must in its response to our Report set out clear timetables for the changes announced in its White Paper on Prisons Strategy.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation in principle but states that auditing the size of individual employers would be administratively challenging and that NFN is only one source of employment, but will explore ways to better demonstrate the work and impact of NFN.
Paragraph Reference:
140
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We accept this recommendation in principle. NFN is part of HMPPS, which already publishes data on employment outcomes for prison leavers. Further, the network works with over 400 employers, many of which are SMEs. Auditing the size of individual employers would be administratively challenging both for NFN and the employers. Further, NFN is only one source of employment opportunities brought to prisons. Other sources include the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) Prison Work Coach, Education Providers, CFO3 providers, Employment Advisory Boards, and others. Therefore, data focusing on roles secured through NFN would only provide a partial view of the employment opportunities for prison leavers. We will explore ways to better demonstrate the work and impact of NFN.