Hiring with Conviction

 29/08/2023    Last Modified: 29/08/2023

As part of our continuing work on the issue of succession in arboriculture, the Association is in discussions with the Department for Work and Pensions to look at how we can ensure arboriculture is an attractive and welcoming sector for people with convictions.

As a first step we are hoping to identify a small number of Approved Contractors in different parts of the country which we can connect with local prisons to see what might be possible. If you think you might be interested in this project or would like to learn more, then please email Association CEO John Parker, john@trees.org.uk

Some facts and figures:

• Over a quarter of the working population in England and Wales has a criminal record. By disregarding this group you are losing out on a huge talent pool.
• This gives some sense of the incredibly wide range of types of people in this situation, with an equally wide range of skills, experience, talents and personal qualities. Some will have a string of qualifications and have had high-flying careers before their conviction.
• There are savings to recruiting from this pool too: when an employer uses a specialist charity to recruit people with convictions, or recruits people directly from prison, they reduce or eliminate recruitment costs (the CIPD has calculated that filling the average non-managerial vacancy costs around £2,000).
• 92% of employers say diverse recruitment of this kind has enhanced their reputation, helping them win contracts and even awards.
• 81% of people think businesses employing people with convictions are making a positive contribution to society.

These statistics are taken from the document Hiring with Conviction – An employers’ guide to recruiting and supporting people with convictions (Summer 2023), published by employment charity Working Chance.

You can download the full Working Chance document below.

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