Prisoners On Parade

Vistry is the first major UK housebuilder to join the Prisoners Building Homes programme, launching a pilot at its timber-frame manufacturing facility in Warrington.

The initiative sees three individuals currently participating in the PBH scheme gain valuable skills and employment experience within Vistry's manufacturing operation, helping to address skills shortages while supporting rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.

Prisoners Building Homes

PBH is an award-winning programme that works with housebuilders to provide meaningful employment opportunities for serving and former prisoners, helping them develop skills and secure long-term employment while contributing to the delivery of much-needed homes. The scheme aims to deliver 10,000 homes by 2030 while increasing employment opportunities for prison leavers and reducing reoffending rates.

The pilot at Vistry's Warrington factory represents a significant milestone for the programme as the first partnership with a major national housebuilder.

Practical skills

The three participants will work alongside experienced colleagues within the factory, learning practical manufacturing skills and gaining valuable workplace experience that can support their future careers in construction.

Neil Lavis, Prisoners Building Homes Employment and Skills Manager, said of the Vistry connection: "Partnerships like this are vital in creating meaningful pathways into employment for people looking to rebuild their lives.

"The construction industry offers fantastic career opportunities. By providing practical work experience and skills development, Vistry is helping to demonstrate how employers can play a positive role in reducing reoffending while addressing the sector's skills challenges.

Reintegration

Lavis added: "Employment is one of the most important factors in helping people successfully reintegrate into society following their sentence. Opportunities like this give individuals the chance to gain valuable workplace experience, develop confidence and build skills that can support sustainable employment in the future.”

James Davis, the factory manager at Vistry's Warrington facility, said: "The Prisoners Building Homes gives individuals the opportunity to develop practical skills in a real working environment, while providing our team with access to motivated individuals keen to build a career in manufacturing and construction. The early signs have been extremely positive. We're really keen to see how the partnership develops."

The partnership forms part of Vistry's wider commitment to creating social value in the communities where it operates, while supporting skills development across the construction sector.

Picture: Vistry is employing three offenders at its Warrington timber house building facility to give them a chance to learn construction skills they can use once they have completed their prison sentences.