Yorkshire entrepreneur launches ex-offender employment firm

A Yorkshire entrepreneur is launching a new business venture to encourage ex-offender employment in the region.

Jacob Hill, 23-year-old Brighouse-based businessman, is spearheading the new ex-offender employment firm, Offploy.

Offploy is a social enterprise established to help organisations realise the commercial and societal benefits of ex-offender employment.

Having created a platform to connect companies and candidates with a criminal record, Offploy manages the entire recruitment process.

Back in 2014 Jacob, who notably launched the Lazy Camper brand, was arrested and charged for selling drugs at a music festival. Despite no prior criminal convictions, he went on to serve 294 days of a 28 month prison sentence.

Whilst serving his sentence, the idea for Offploy was born. Jacob worked as a St. Giles Trust peer adviser, supporting ex-offenders with their professional development and progress into employment. But, with the help of research from family on the outside, Jacob learned that ex-offender hiring is far from mainstream.

Jacob said: “The rehabilitation revolution has been debated at parliamentary level for some time. But the level of stigma surrounding ex-offender employment still prevents many businesses from getting on board. We’re here to make sure it happens.”

With 760,000 job vacancies currently unfilled in the UK (Department of Work and Pensions), Jacob does believe that the answer lies partly in ex-offender employment.

He added: “A vast talent pool is currently untapped because of organisations’ reluctance to hire ex-offenders.

“But with over 20% of the working population holding a criminal record, businesses need to think differently, especially if Brexit creates wider employment struggles. We’re here to help businesses tackle their recruitment challenges at the same time as addressing a wider societal issue.”

According to the Centre for Entrepreneurs, only a third of ex-offenders succeed in finding formal employment two years after their release from prison.

Re-offending costs the economy up to £13bn a year (Home Office), but 68% of prisoners state that having a job helps break the cycle (Prison Reform Trust). Businesses with ex-offender employment strategies report retention rates as high as 91% two years later.

Jacob explained: “Many custodial sentences are served by good, honest and skilled people who have made a foolish mistake. They want to repay their ‘debt’ to society and build an honest, secure future for their families. As a result, we see tremendous levels of loyalty among these candidates, when they’re recruited.”

Jacob, who has also acted as an Ambassador for the Virgin Media Business Pioneers scheme, is now talking to several organisations about their ex-offender employment strategies.

Offploy has already attracted investment for growth. Jacob has been awarded grant funding and support from charity UnLtd, for example, which will help cement Offploy as the ‘go to’ brand for organisations looking to tackle this complex area of HR. This came after Offploy received private investment from Hull businessman Nigel Stabler, who offered ongoing strategic mentoring as well as the injection of funds, back in April.