Recruiting from a Different Talent Pool
Corbett Network and Lord Mayor of London, William Russell

On Thursday 23^rd September, Inside Connections Founder, John Burton, the Inside Connections team and Emyr who is one of our returning citizens, took a trip to London for an exciting event. The event ‘Recruiting from a different Talent Pool’ took place at the Mansion House, co-hosted by Lady Val Corbett and The Lord Mayor of London, William Russell. The day was about employers understanding the benefits and importance of hiring returning citizens into their companies. The hall was full of like-minded organisations networking with other companies and employers who don’t already hire those with convictions.

Our Founder, John Burton, was invited to the stage to speak about his experience in prison, what Inside Connections can do and how you can help others. He says: “I have been a bad guy, I’ve done some bad things in the past, but it’s all about what I can do in the future”. “If you read about me on paper, you will think bad of me but if you meet me in person, you will find that I’m totally a different person”. John then goes on to explain why companies should hire returning citizens stating that there are 5 key elements to expect from those who are job ready “Attendance, Time keeping, respect the health and safety, respect the people you work with and work hard. If you work hard, you will get that job and you will show people who have looked down on you at the past that you are just a normal person who has made a mistake in life, and you deserve that opportunity.” “It’s all about letting top tier companies understand that people deserve a second chance”.

John Spoke about our Willmott Dixon Building Lives Academy where we took 10 people on ROTL and 3 from the community and placed them on a two-week work placement then straight into employment. After the first week the project manager of Willmott Dixon said “if I had 20 more people like that on site then I would take them all on”

We heard a few words from Emyr Jones our returning citizen who was one of the 13 people a part of this project. He was 3 months into his job when offered a promotion to Supervisor. Now he says he has “been working for them for 16 months nationwide and off to Glasgow on Monday”. Emyr says “I’m very grateful to John, and all the work that he does within the prisons and all the support that he continues to give us”.

John then finalises his speech by saying “Were just normal people who have made a mistake in life and unfortunately some people do believe in us, and some people don’t and better now a lot more people have been giving us a second chance. To all those companies and everyone here today I’ve heard you now give someone else a second chance! Thank you”.