HMP Berwyn to receive six new officers as part of Unlocked scheme

Six new officers will join the Wrexham prison from the 120 joining the programme this year.  

It offers graduates a two-year scheme to train as prison officers and this year’s cohort have completed their training at the ‘Summer Institute’ this month.

More than 2,500 applications were received for this year’s programme and 70 percent of the successful new recruits have come from the most competitive universities.

Their two years on the programme kicks off with an intensive six weeks of training based at Leeds Trinity University. 

READ MORE: HMP Berwyn is making prisoners more employable

Alongside classroom training, they’ve been taking practical lessons, hearing from ex-prisoners and experienced officers and spending time in the prisons in which they’ll be based.

Since the programme began, more than 10,000 applications have been received for the highly sought-after places, and more than 600 prison officers have been placed in 37 prisons across England and Wales. This year, for the first time a cohort will also go into a prison in Wales, with 2022 participants joining Berwyn Prison.

Nearly four in five of the first three years’ participants are now either in operational roles in prison or still working in the wider criminal justice system and almost half of officers took on additional responsibilities or were promoted in their first two years.

Nick Leader, Governor of HMP Berwyn, said: “Recruitment is a huge focus for us at the moment and Unlocked reaches an audience that does not usually consider the prison officer role. 

HMP Berwyn (Image: Staff)

"I’m excited by the energy and diversity they will bring to Berwyn and look forward to welcoming these staff to be part of our team. The scheme will bring different approaches to problem solving and most importantly help us deliver improved outcomes that reduce the risk of prisoners re-offending after release.”

Natasha Porter, chief executive and founder of Unlocked, said: “It’s hard to believe that five years since our first summer institute we’re welcoming our 600th recruit.

“I’m so proud of everything our recruits have achieved. Prison officers are perhaps our most invisible public sector workforce but what they do day in day out to keep both prisoners and society safe is incredible.

READ MORE: Drug driver caught after parking up outside HMP Berwyn

“Our charity was created because we need great leaders on the frontline of prisons and throughout society. We learn through challenge and this is a place where you can address some of the most entrenched social issues in our country.

“And the lessons you can learn on this graduate scheme will go way beyond what you can learn anywhere else.

“We want to grow even more next year so for any grads or career changers looking to make a real difference in society all I can say is come find us.”

People interested in applying to the Unlocked programme can find out more on the website.  Applications for 2023 open this month.