sad to see this hasnt had any updates for 6 years 

I presume the difficulty is once one company goes public about hiring ex-offenders, especially with millions of people with AND without criminal records looking for work, any company would not only see an influx of applications but potentially negative publicity too (Timpsons handles the publicity/criticism fairly well, I think).

One route is to put your skills to use and sell your services online. I realise this isn't for everybody, but sites like Fiverr, Freelancer and Upwork don't do any background checks, it's a rare level playing field. I've earned money on those in the past while being registered as self-employed. Nobody who I've worked for over the past 3 years has asked about my background, I'm paid to do the job and if more work comes from it because I've done a good job then I pat myself on the back.

Companies who advertise jobs for people to work from home / remote etc may also not ask for a check, it's worth checking the usual job sites for these because I have seen some. Again this isn't for everyone but with more and more skills going online, and businesses having less offices and using things like Slack to co-ordinate efforts, there could be opportunities to be found. There's also lots of ideas for side hustles on this page: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/293954

I'm not saying it's easy but hopefully, ideas here can go some way to end a six-year chasm.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

I didn't get a job at Timpson's and I'm almost 100% sure it was down to my offence.

I had a phone interview/chat with the area manager, it went great. I then got invited in for a face-to-face interview which went really well and they emphasized experience in the trade isn't needed as they put you through a course all they care about is customer service experience or at least based customer service handling.

Got offered a work trial for a few hours. I went to that, did really well. I was asked about my offence which I was fairly open about.

Then radio silence.

I chased it up a week later and was advised I didn't have enough customer service experience.

Seemingly over looking 15+ years of customer service experience I've got ranging from small part-time shop assistant roles to being a retail store manager in a multi-billion pound company.

It felt like a huge cop-out and I'm convinced it was due to the offence as the tone shifted sharply once that came up that I almost got whiplash.

Sadly as much as they bang on about taking people with convictions there are some convictions they just  won’t entertain 

Apologies, I meant Timpsons handling very well the publicity/criticism around hiring ex-offenders.
Otherwise, as your story shows, they're by no means perfect.

This also brings into question, once again, the lack of rehabilitation. If employers don't believe in rehabilitation the whole system of checks and pointless arbitrary lengths of time around being 'unspent' needs changing.

As per my suggestion though, if we do have to think differently about employment, the UK has five million people who are self-employed. That's a number that has done nothing but increase for a number of years, so people with or without criminal records are having to create their own jobs to make money (some by choice, of course). I'd be very interested to know the stat on how many of the self-employed do have criminal records.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

Even Timpson's website mentions how they proactively like offering roles to offenders and giving second chances etc.

Who knows; in another branch I might have gotten the job.

I think the biggest change needs to come from public perception. I honestly think in their heart of hearts most employers don't really care if a person is an offender or not but are more concerned about the public outcry of having a registered sex offender at their work in the fear it'd drive off customers etc.

Going by some base statistics. Supposedly around 11 million adults in the UK have a criminal conviction. There is purportedly around 52.4 million adults. That's 21%, nearly a quarter of the entire adult population has a criminal conviction - This isn't taking into account accused people, this purely convicted and sentenced.

I think people would be amazed how many people they see on the street that could have a conviction, perhaps even a terrible one and not bat an eyelid at them but as soon as it becomes public...

As an aside and a fun tidbit - The Scottish Prison Service had an open day at the start of March which I went to. Turns out they supposedly don't hire people with convictions either. Which surely brings the entire Scottish Justice System into disrepute as they're basically confirming they don't feel rehabilitation works so why take a chance?

And this is what ticks me off about the likes of Timpson’s, they bang on and on about social justice and helping ex offenders and other forgotten members of society, but as soon as you mention sex offences to them they shut up shop, its the one offence that if you have they will not touch.

part of there agreement with the prison service when they set up there training academies in the prison system was that they would not have to train sex offenders. as in there view the person convicted of multiply crimes of burglary and theft or even come to mention it manslaughter is much less a risk than a person with a sex offence. 

Hi
I can agree but it is a sign of our times with image and perception by others being a higher priority; especially in politics.

In some areas rehabilitation beliefs are put to one side. For example the Scotish Government is mentioned due to ex-offenders not being allowed to work in the prison service. Is this because of the above AND the fact they cannot stop existing officers committing offences during their daily work life?

I have been in IT and HR both permanent and contract since leaving the military and have references supporting my skills and experiences. However circa 2000 applications since my offence I am evidence that a conviction - especially a sex conviction - stops employment of all types. My offence was paying for sexual services, no violence, grooming or predatory acts and my only offence.
Working from home or being a contractor does not stop declarations as you can and will be asked by either the agency or the hiring firm.



Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.

Hi, I meant it was sad that there have been no addition of any companies that are ex offender friendly - this is a sad fact of life 

In fact even those that purport to be, are in fact the very opposite 

I find reading the comments about the ban the box companies listed on unlock,  actively discriminate against those with unspent convictions

Hi Rufus,

I hope you are OK, safe and it is good you are visiting the forum still.

I can only fully agree with your last post as; sorry for repeating, I have applied for circa 2000 roles and still searching. As previously mentioned, any "headhunting" of me or offers made after F2F interviews were rescinded upon declaration.
As an ex sex offender on the SOR for life/ or till I appeal, I smile when the PPU ask me about my fantasy's. They cannot comprehend my answer; "To get a job"

Keep safe

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.