Greene King hires 250th prison leaver

One of the UK’s largest pub retailers has reached the landmark of hiring its 250th prison leaver through its Releasing Potential programme. 

The initiative from Greene King helps prisoners to develop new skills in hospitality, with the goal of offering them employment once they leave prison.

The programme was launched in May 2019 to support those leaving prison to find employment with the company following their release from prison. It works with more than 65 prisons across the UK, providing information and support for prisoners to develop their skills in food preparation, customer service, barista training and housekeeping to prepare them to work in Greene King pubs and hotels upon their release. 

"We are committed to championing social mobility through providing everybody, regardless of their background, with the chance to pursue a long-term career in the hospitality industry," says Nick Mackenzie, CEO of Greene King. "With pubs at the heart of local communities across the country, our Releasing Potential scheme supports prison leavers nationwide on their journey to successful rehabilitation. We are proud to have offered a second chance to 250 individuals and look forward to welcoming many more successful applicants in the months and years ahead."

Releasing Potential  

Working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, the Scottish Prison Service, New Futures Network and Novus, Greene King has invested in two training kitchens within prisons at HMP Thameside and HMP Grampian.

Each site emulates a Greene King kitchen and delivers bespoke training programmes, which help to build confidence and teach prisoners the skills needed to cook popular dishes from pub menus so that they can take up a role with Greene King on leaving custody.  

As part of its commitment to hiring prison leavers, Greene King became one of the first employers in the UK to take part in a pilot programme offering apprenticeships to prisoners in open prisons in October 2022. 

Earlier this year, Greene King’s first apprentice through the programme, who started their apprenticeship while in custody, has become a full-time kitchen team member for Greene King. The pub company and brewer is currently working with a number of other candidates who are planning on starting an apprenticeship before their release date.  

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