Leading UK environmental waste management company, Bakers Environmental Solutions, has been working with HMP Five Wells to support prisoners with rehabilitation and job opportunities within the prison and upon their release.
Bakers Environmental Solutions has opened a dedicated workspace within HMP Five Wells, the UK’s first purpose-built resettlement prison,which delivers industry training programmes and qualifications to offenders to increase their employability.
At Baker’s Recycling Workshop, offenders will segregate different materials and enable them to have a second life so they don’t need to be sent to landfill. They gain vital skills throughout this process by using general tools and machinery such as compactors and balers,and contribute to the UK’s circular economy. Any jobs that make money is pumped back into the prison and funds further training programmes.
HMP Five Wells is operated by GS4 and opened in February 2022 It is fitted with 16 classrooms and 24 workshops where offenders can learn new skills and gain qualifications.
All offenders who are chosen to enter programmes within HMP Five Wells will undergo a thorough screening process, supervised by members of G4S prison staff who have completed the necessary training on Bakers’ recycling machinery.
Business Enterprise & Community Manager at HMP Five Wells, Paul Cunningham, said: “We are committed to helping the men in our care to be work ready when they are released from custody. Working with Bakers ensures that the men have the required skills and understanding of an industry that is very much in demand and is likely to continue to grow as people are now becoming more aware of the need to recycle.”
In addition to working with the men to upskill them, Bakers also offers job opportunities and progression upon release.
Managing Director at Bakers, Paul Baker, has said: “The Bakers InsideOut Academy has been devised to kick-start a new socially responsible era for prisons and businesses alike.
Through mentorship, education, scholarship, and a collective people-first approach, local and national business communities can offer the support our prison systems need. Together, we can enhance our economy by creating employment opportunities, building personal development programmes, and reducing our carbon footprint.”
Ex-Offender and official Bakers employee told us: “Having something to look forward to can change your perspective and motivate you to change your life.
To find out more on Bakers Environmental Solutions, visit: www.bakersenvironmental.co.uk
