HMP Springhill's Business Challenge Event on the 20th June 2017 with the Mitie Foundation

1. Background and Business Case
As a responsible business, Mitie makes a significant contribution to
community investment and has established the Mitie Foundation to
co-ordinate its community engagement programmes. The specific
aim of the Mitie Foundation is to help people from disadvantaged
sections of the community, including offenders and ex-offenders to
unlock their potential to give them an opportunity to make a
valuable contribution to society upon release. This is a mutually
beneficial arrangement that also helps businesses to recruit
talented people and address skills shortages.
Our Business Challenge Day (BCD) is a highly participative
dragons’ den style event with business partners working in teams
of two’s and three’s with offenders throughout the day inside a
prison facility. The event involves motivational activities to
develop entrepreneurial and communication skills to enhance their
employment prospects upon release. The prisoners who
participate are generally nearing their release dates and are
carefully selected by the prison staff
We have run over 20 BCD’s very successfully in various prisons
around the UK and feedback from the prisoners, prison staff and
business partners is consistently excellent.

2. Typical Business Challenge Day Programme
08:45 Business Partners and Candidates arrive in the room
09:00 Welcome and briefing
09:15 ‘The Challenge’ is set
10:25 Market research
10:50 Refreshment break
11:00 Marketing, Finance and Delivery meetings
11:30 Prepare business pitch
12:00 Lunch (everyone together)
12:45 Regroup
13:00 Business pitch presentations
13:45 Awards (best product, best team, individual prizes)
14:00 Next steps, including self-employment options
14:15 Interviews with Business Partners
15:00 Summary, ‘thank-you’ and close
Business Partners do not need to do any preparation for these
events and full briefings and guidance is provided throughout the
day.

3. I have never been to a Prison before. Will this make a difference?
No. We are aware that for a lot of our volunteers, this will be the
first time in a prison. We ask you to familiarise yourself with the
prohibited list and you’ll be given all information needed on the day.
What does the day involve?
We ask volunteers to work with small groups of candidates on a
range of activities. Volunteers are asked to support the candidates
throughout the day. The aim is for candidates to come up with the
ideas themselves, but volunteers may guide or probe.
What is the aim of the day?
For candidates, it is to increase their confidence, promote their
skillset, abilities and broaden their knowledge.
For both volunteers and candidates it’s also very much about
challenging perceptions and gaining a better understanding of
recruiting individuals with criminal records.
What is security like?
As you can imagine security is tight. When you arrive your ID will
be checked and any of the prohibited items will need to be left in
the lockers available. Throughout the day we will be escorted by
prison staff at all times, and guards will be present for the
activities. At no point will be you left unattended.
Am I able to step out to make calls/catch up on emails?
Unfortunately not! The uses of mobile phones or electronic devices
are not allowed in the prison and we ask that you leave these items
in the car or at home. We would recommend letting your team
know or putting your out of office on for the day.

4. Am I allowed to ask the candidates about their convictions?
We ask that you don’t enquire about the candidates convictions,
offenses etc. If they initiate the subject, please let them know they
will have the opportunity to practice disclosing their conviction at
their Mock Interview arranged at a later date.
What type of prison am I likely to be at?
The Foundation run Business Challenge Days across a number of
prisons, from high security to open prisons. You will be made
aware of the level prior to the day, as security requirements can
differ.
If candidates ask for my contact details regarding
vacancies/further information/guidance etc., am I able to share
them?
No. We ask that candidates are directed to the Mitie Foundation
email address foundation@mitie.com All contact details will be
given to the candidates on the day.
I’m keen to get other people in my team to come along.
Please promote the Business Challenge Days within your team. If
you are keen to do a team building challenge day, or have any other
questions please contact Stephen Barthorpe, Head of Community
Engagement, Mitie Foundation stephen.barthorpe@mitie.com