‘The big secret in life is that there is no big secret; whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.’
Oprah Winfrey ‘O’ magazine
Path 2 Work an employment agency providing support to both ex-offenders seeking employment and employers providing a path to employment. We work in partnership with Probation at their offices in Bury St. Edmunds. Path2work also works in partnership with charities, local government, public sector agencies and employers.
Path2Work
What we do
We have a team which includes project workers and employment advisors who have a wide range of expertise and experience giving our candidates a full advice, information and guidance and employment consultancy.
Our help includes confidence building, communication and interview skills.
What we offer
We offer tailor made, one to one employment preparation which includes vocational and life skills training where required.
We are there to support the candidates in applying for and successfully gaining the right employment for the right individual.
We then offer in-work support to both employer and employee to ensure a positive working relationship.
Who pays?
This service has been designed by Path2work and the National Offender Management Service, and is free to both candidate and employer.
The principal objective is to reduce re-offending by increasing the take up of sustainable employment by providing a path2work for ex-offenders.
Benefits to Employer
- A professional jobs matching service with no fee.
- A tailored recruitment consultancy to ensure that their preparation is focussed on developing and enhancing the relevant skill base for your vacancy.
- Our candidates are guided through a preparation programme bespoke to your business.
- Work trials to assess suitability for role and fit with employer.
- In work support for both employer and employee for 3 months.
- Disclosure and details of candidates’ relevant previous history.
Benefits to Candidate
- Full information to ensure relevant, sustainable and appropriate career choice.
- A tailored employment consultancy to ensure that their preparation is focussed on developing or enhancing the relevant skill base for their chosen career.
- Work trials to assess suitability for role and fit with employer.
- In work support for both employer and employee for 3 months.
- Disclosure and details of candidates’ relevant previous history.
What other help ?
We offer help with arranging bank accounts, in-work benefit calculations and mentoring.
Also on offer is direct help or sign posting to the correct agencies to help remove barriers to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are they a risk to my staff or business?
All of our candidates are risk assessed before joining our service. We will gain their agreement to be honest and open with you about their past.
There are likely to be offenders working within your staff now but you are not aware of who they are or what they have done and therefore cannot offset the risk
Will they be able to do the job?
Many offenders have excellent skills and those who do not are more willing to learn as they realize that this is a chance of a new start for them.
Our project workers will have worked as long as necessary with the individuals you are interested in employing to prepare them specifically for your workplace.
Why should I take them on?
Ex-offenders can make loyal and able employees – given the chance they will appreciate the trust you have placed in them and will work hard to prove themselves to you.
By recruiting on the open market you are taking on the unknown.
Our candidates will have been specifically prepared for your vacancy, may have been through a work trial with you and they have a lot to lose if they do not perform.
Contact us at our Bury St Edmunds Office
Ask house
Northgate Avenue
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP32 6BB
Telephone: 01284 777934 Fax: 01284 777936
Don't forget to mention The Best of Bury St Edmunds when contacting Employment and Recruitment Agencies.
Path2Work