Employer forum highlights benefits of prison partnerships

At our latest Forum in April 2026, staged at Hull Guildhall by the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP), also focused on the logistics sector to highlight the need to identify new talent.

The current LSIP was approved nearly three years ago to address skills shortages in five priority sectors – construction, engineering construction, manufacturing, agri-skills and health and social care.

The organisation is currently working on its proposal for LSIP 2.0, with further sectors grouped under the headings of being key to growth driving, growth potential and growth enabling.

In ports and logistics, the forum heard from Dr Sarah Shaw, Director of the Logistics Institute at the University of Hull, about how the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has established the CILT (UK) competency framework as the “gold standard” for all training in the sector.

Delegates also heard that Tempus Novo, which works to help ex-offenders find jobs, has placed 300 people in employment with global business GXO Logistics.

Representatives of HM Prison Service and New Futures Network, which attracts and supports employers to partner with prisons in England and Wales, told of the support available to ex-offenders with training and employment before and after release.

Gill Oaten, Hull City Council Employment Hub Manager, spoke about the support provided by her team to help people in the wider community, including those with disabilities, into employment, training and volunteering opportunities.

She highlighted the “meet the employer” events, which enable individuals to ask important questions about working hours, flexibility around college or childcare, and role expectations before deciding to apply.

Rod Chambers, Project Manager for HEY LSIP, said: 

“Our quarterly forums are an excellent opportunity to bring together leaders and representatives from the world of education, industry and other supportive stakeholders to learn from each other.

“While there are always some specific themes that are relevant to each sector we continue to see the importance of areas such as employability skills and leadership.

“Introductions made at the event today have already generated opportunities for delegates and their wider contacts to work with each other, and the feedback on the day was again invaluable. A key message was how we need to understand more about the roles and career opportunities that exist within the sectors.”