While many of these students have already been working in Clink training schemes and studying towards industry standard hospitality qualifications, the apprenticeship programme provides an additional pathway to employment which is linked to vocational training.
This will be the first time that apprenticeships have been delivered to serving prisoners. On release, candidates will then work towards full completion of the course and their apprenticeship.
A number of national employers such as Azzurri, Sodexo, Compass and Accor Hotels are working alongside The Clink Charity and HIT Training on the programme. Part of the study also includes a minimum level of English and maths, which is a condition of completion.
Yvonne Thomas, chief executive of The Clink Charity, said: "People in prison are looking for ways to embrace change and start again - and this programme allows them to do just that, by securing employment with a national employer on release."
The Clink Charity is on a mission to reduce reoffending through training and intensively supporting people in and leaving prisons for careers in hospitality, food production and horticulture. In 2023 The Clink Charity trained over 800 people in prison and delivered 550 NVQ qualifications.
Jill Whittaker, executive chair at HIT Training, added: "We believe that careers change lives, and that those people undertaking these special programmes will leave prison with a career to look forward to. We have been working toward our first prisoner apprenticeships with The Clink for some time, and simply can't wait to get started.”