Education provider Novus wins new prison brief

A new education and training programme is set to be run in prisons across the West Midlands.

Education provider Novus has won the brief from the Ministry of Justice which is aiming to help prisoners find employment after release.

This latest wave under the Prisoner Education Service scheme will commence in September and take place in eight West Midlands prisons including HMP Stoke Heath in Market Drayton.

Novus has previously delivered education at the eight sites since the introduction of the Prison Education Framework in 2019 and said it was proud to continue to build on the strong relationships with establishments and stakeholders.

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Manchester-based Novus is already delivering education in prisons in four other English regions and now operates at 50 locations.

Managing director Peter Cox said: "Novus has a long track record of effective collaboration with prison regimes and employers across the West Midlands and we are delighted to continue delivering education in this region.

"For more than three decades, Novus has been providing high-quality education and training in the prison estate, working with learners who are the furthest from the labour market.

"We are proud of our track record in supporting individuals into employment after release, as well as the innovative practice led by our committed teams of education professionals.

"We look forward to working closely with His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service to help more people in the West Midlands turn their lives around."

The other prisons included in the programme are Birmingham, Hewell in Worcestershire and Staffordshire prisons Brinsford, Featherstone, Oakwood, Stafford and Swinfen Hall.