Pathway out of offending 

At Willmott Dixon, our dedication to breaking down employment barriers and creating opportunities for people in the justice system so they can successfully reintegrate into society after release is the catalyst for our partnership with labour agency O’Neill & Brennan. Over the past two years, we have worked with them to establish their social enterprise, Evergreen.

A Community Interest Company (CIC) launched in March 2024, Evergreen and its Constructing Futures programme provide opportunities for serving prisoners participating in the Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) programme, offering placements on Willmott Dixon sites.

Alicia Dobie at Evergreen Perspective explained to me:

“ROTL participants provide a reliable, sustainable workforce and help meet labour demands. Beyond that, the programme creates real social value in the region by giving individuals in prison paid work, helping them regain normalcy, secure jobs, and develop skills for a better future. These opportunities change lives and significantly reduce reoffending rates”

What is Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL)?

ROTL enables prisoners nearing the end of their sentence at Category D prisons (Open Estates) to work in the community. To reach a category D prison, a potential ROTL candidate has already worked through their sentencing plan in the custodial chain and by the time they are granted this benefit they are already considered “a model prisoner”. We also ensure all candidates are carefully vetted, and we do not work with those whose convictions involve sex offences or arson.

The ROTL programme helps participants reintegrate smoothly back into society. The result is a safe, effective, and mutually beneficial programme that helps build better futures by reducing reoffending rates and easing the participants’ transition back into society. At the same time, the scheme provides employers with access to a unique and motivated talent pool, helping to meet the skilled labour demand of the construction industry and adopting an inclusive workforce.

Providing work on site to people on Release on Temporary Licence helps them re-integrate back into society on release

Alex Heath, our operations manager at Willmott Dixon, saw the value of having two people on ROTL work at our Eclipse Leisure centre site in Spelthorne:

“They have both been excellent and I would highly recommend the scheme to others. I, like most people, had some nervousness at first about using the scheme, so wanted to share that I will certainly continue to use it going forward.”

A strong ROTL programme supports personal development and growth

Most of our ROTL people come from a category D open prison in Kent and Sussex. The centre helps individuals in prison build healthy relationships and live better lives by working with candidates, families, and community partners. It focuses on resettlement and teaching skills to help prisoners when they are released.

The personal stories of people on ROTL show the impact the programme has on each individual. For example, David is passionate that returning to work but it was a big positive change for him after feeling stuck. Exploring different industries helped him see more career options and realise he wanted a stable job.

David was worried about his long sentence of five years. At first, he didn’t know ROTL was an option. It was his first and only time in prison. Once he learned about category D prisons, he set a goal to get there so he could work and see his family.

David told me,

“From day one, senior building manager James Hatton welcomed me and made me feel part of the team. Everyone was friendly and encouraged me to reach out if I needed anything. I never had any issues on-site but felt reassured knowing support was available.”

It was great that David felt welcomed and valued.

With support from his team, training, and mentorship, he gained confidence and discovered a new goal - becoming a site manager, something he hadn't considered before.