Leading public services provider, Amey, and social enterprise, Blue Sky, are celebrating 10 years of partnership and more than 300 new hires – all of which are ex-offenders.
Blue Sky was launched in 2005 with the aim of getting more ex-offenders into meaningful employment and help reduce the risk of reoffending. Since then, around 1,150 people have been employed through the social enterprise – more than a quarter of them with Amey.
Ian Deninson, Group HR and Communications Director for Amey said:
“We’ve been working with Blue Sky over the last decade to help find work for ex-offenders. Giving people a fresh start is something that we passionately believe in and we’re extremely proud to not only have hit this milestone but that nearly half of the people we’ve brought on board have secured further employment.”
Kate Markey, Blue Sky’s MD:
“It is only with the support of organisations such as Amey that enables Blue Sky to continue to provide the support to help ex-offenders break the cycle of re-offending, bringing them stability and the chance to make a fresh start. Gaining this milestone proves the potential for our model, and how it is possible to bring long-term social value within the delivery of local authority supply chain contracts. We look forward to working with Amey, and to extending the areas in which we can bring them support.”
Amongst those working full-time with Amey is Julie Rickard who works on a waste management contract as a refuse loader.
Julie explains:
“I had a really tough time finding work and was out of a job for a long time. It’s depressing when people won’t give you a chance because of something that happened a long time ago.”
“Everything changed when I started working with Blue Sky though. They got me a job working with Amey and I really like working there; everyone has been friendly and supportive.”