ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

UK facilities services provider SBFM has launched a cleaning training academy at HM Prison Wealstun as part of The Ministry of Justice's HMP Academies Programme, expanding its commitment to providing sustainable employment opportunities for ex-offenders.

SBFM will train nine cohorts annually through the academy at the category C men's prison in West Yorkshire, which houses approximately 800 prisoners. The workshop space features a mock-up of multiple specialised spaces including a bathroom facility, hotel room, warehouse, corporate environment, retail area and a cinema space. Each environment has the flooring it would have in a natural setting to support training, from carpets to hard and shiny surfaces.

Working closely with HMP Wealstun and The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), SBFM developed a two-week training programme for prisoners who are within three months of their release. This means all participants can earn an industry-recognised qualification.

After each course, SBFM will open up employment opportunities and the recruitment team will conduct formal interviews - all successful candidates will be offered employment opportunities. SBFM has an agreed-upon target to employ 30 per cent of trainees over the next three years.

SBFM founder Colin Shute said: "This workshop represents a significant milestone in our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for those in need of a second chance."