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Amey has teamed up with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) charity to launch a transformative programme aimed at enhancing employment prospects for young offenders post-release.
Young people in prison, are one of society’s most marginalised groups often with limited means to improve their circumstances. There are currently over 44,000 young people involved in the UK criminal justice system, with those not engaged in education, training, or employment, five times more likely to have a criminal record compared to their peers. This programme seeks to break the cycle of reoffending and reduce the £15 billion annual cost to taxpayers.
In collaboration with prison teams, Amey and DofE will co-develop a tailored three-year programme that integrates vocational qualifications with the vital skills, resilience, and self-belief fostered through the Bronze DofE Award. This initiative will empower up to 168 young offenders with the tools and experience necessary to secure employment post-release, marking a significant step forward in youth justice reform.
This collaboration builds on the success of existing initiatives like the Clean, Rehabilitative, Enabling and Decent (CRED) programme and aligns DofE activities with practical work experience opportunities in sectors such as grounds maintenance, warehousing, and administration. The goal is to better equip young prisoners for employment upon release.
Participants will also benefit from DofE employability events, taster days, and job interviews with Amey or its supply chain partners, providing a direct pathway to employment.
Andy Milner, CEO of Amey, said: “This programme reinforces Amey’s commitment to supporting the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service in reducing reoffending rates. By combining our expertise with the DofE, we can create genuine social value and transform the lives of young offenders.”
Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Amey to ensure more young people in prison can develop the skills, resilience and self-belief they need to turn their back on crime and fulfil their potential on release.
“Working with Amey, we will combine the power of a DofE development programme with meaningful work placements with a leading employer; helping young people gain a widely respected DofE Award alongside essential work experience.”
Once pilot prisons begin to offer the programme, the project’s impact will be evaluated and the learnings will help inform future potential roll-out, hopefully encouraging similar strategic partnerships and social value programmes across various sectors.
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