Sustainable insertion: A training and support scheme aimed at employing prisoners
Presented by GEPSA
CONTEXT
Each year, Elyo recruits 500 technicians in energy-related occupations. While these human resource needs are on the increase, capacities for initial training are limited. At the same time, 60% of people released from prison have no employment prospects. GEPSA, a subsidiary of SUEZ Energy Services (SES), is responsible for maintaining a number of penitentiaries.
INNOVATION
GEPSA, in collaboration with Elyo, has set up a training and support scheme to create jobs as operations and maintenance technicians for heating installations at the Meaux penal institution (France).
Technical equipment has been installed as a teaching tool. Individual support aims to give prisoners the appropriate social skills for Elyo’s work organisation. The training is followed by a two-month internship in an agency, and then, in some cases by a job.
RESULTS
Prison authorities have expressed their satisfaction with the project as well as with communications efforts and media coverage. This scheme capitalises on the Group’s social reintegration policy. The quality of the jobs created emerges as a key factor in the socio-professional stabilisation of former prisoners. Following the first training course, in which 12 people took part, five internships are currently in the validation process, three people have gone on to additional training and one person has been hired by a company.
