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Co-op and the City and Guilds Foundation have launched the UK’s first rail engineering apprenticeships in a prison, aiming to address skills shortages and reduce reoffending.
The scheme, based at the Centre of Excellence skills hub at HMP Highpoint in Suffolk, will enable prisoners to complete Level 2 qualifications in rail engineering operatives before release.
Participants will undergo full apprenticeships and end-point assessments, preparing them for immediate employment on release.
The programme will launch in August and was developed following a call from Co-op members at the organisation’s annual general meeting to support rehabilitation initiatives.
Employers will fund the apprenticeships via Co-op Levy Share, a scheme allowing companies to transfer unspent apprenticeship levy funds to support underrepresented groups.
The scheme has secured £38.2m in pledges since 2021, backing more than 3,500 apprenticeships.
According to government data, around 80% of crime is committed by repeat offenders. The average annual cost per prisoner exceeds £51,000, with more than 87,000 people currently in custody across England and Wales.
Research shows that employment within six weeks of release halves the likelihood of reoffending. Each apprenticeship under the new programme represents a £12,000 investment.
Claire Costello, chief people and inclusion officer at the Co-op, said: “Our partnership with City and Guilds Foundation demonstrates the transformative power of targeted training, employment, and genuine opportunity.”
Kirstie Donnelly, chief executive at City and Guilds, added: “Current programmes delivered through the Centre of Excellence skills hub model are achieving employment outcomes 2.5 times higher than the national average.”
HMP Highpoint governor Nigel Smith, concluded: “This programme not only equips prisoners with hands-on, industry-recognised skills – it also gives them a real, tangible opportunity to build a better future on release.”
