Are ex-offenders the answer to the motor industry’s talent shortage?

Before we all start picturing thieves who steal cars all day, let’s start at the all-important question of ‘what does a person with a criminal conviction look like?’  

I always thought people with convictions would be like someone off the ‘Shawshank Redemption’, ‘Prison Break’ or ‘Orange is the New Black’. That was until I became and prisoner myself. I don’t have the space to go into my story today, but you can always read more about that on my LinkedIn page further down.  

In the UK, people with convictions make up 1 in 4 people of working age according to gov.uk with approximately over 50% of convictions for driving-related offences.  

92% of people sentenced each year will never see the inside of a police station or a prison cell as they are given community service, cautions or even… speeding points. I wonder if that makes you, the reader, one of the newest members to our club of ex-offenders?  

In an industry with record unfilled vacancies, can we really afford to be turning down 25% of the UK’s eligible workforce which often shows a keen willingness to learn and higher retention through loyalty?  

The motor industry offers incredible opportunities for all socially excluded people, not just those with convictions to excel within a career. From customer service on the shop floor right through to skilled fabrications.  

Obviously, there are risks associated with every role but that doesn’t mean a blanket ban on all convictions is the best approach. How much of an actual risk does that ‘drunk and disorderly’ offence from two years ago pose to your bookkeeping or social media manager role?  

With the highest vacancy rate in 21 years, the automotive sector needs to ensure it widens the recruitment pool and consider individuals from all walks of life with differing skill sets and experience. By working with organisations such as Offploy, we can identify and highlight new pools of talent to our members and the wider sector that may have previously been overlooked due to misconceptions.

By embracing individuals who may have previous convictions the automotive sector can access a broader talent pool, infusing fresh perspectives and expertise.

Jacob Hill

As a specialist advocacy organisation, we support employers to always consider the risk of the role separately from the risk of the eager job applicant in front of you.  

If you’d like some free advice on hiring people with convictions, be sure to follow me on LinkedIn or below you can book in a free 30-minute advice call with our employer team.  

Jacob Hill is a guest author, ex-prisoner and founder of Offploy, a social enterprise that supports companies to hire people with convictions. Formed 8 years ago, they have supported over 3000 people with criminal convictions.