Non Charity Employer
51 - 100 
About us
Who we are
Established in 2013 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and now operating in up to 22 local authorities across England and Wales, The Skill Mill is a award-winning social enterprise directly employing young people aged between sixteen and eighteen.
We employ only ex-offenders, actively reducing reoffending whilst increasing engagement, participation, employability, and educational levels of the young people to increase their life chances.
Over the last 10 years, The Skill Mill has employed 450 young people in the UK. 417 of them have not re-offended. This means our re-conviction rate is 7.3%, compared to 63.8% of national reoffending rates (England and Wales) for young people aged under 18 according to Youth Offending statistics.
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We work with local YOTs to identify and work with young people in the youth justice system who face significant barriers to gaining employment;
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Every you young person engaged in the Skill Mill is supported through six months of paid work experience as part of a team of four young people led by a qualified team leader;
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Each team works on a range of unique projects linked to environmental management - this ranges from building fish ladders in Northumberland to helping to transform brownfield sites into a community asset in Leeds;
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In addition to obtaining important basic qualifications every young person gains invaluable work and life experience with an emphasis upon taking responsibility for themselves and their decisions;
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We have a relentless focus upon tracking our impact and seeking to ensure every young person goes on to long term employment and away from the otherwise inevitable transition into the adult criminal justice system;
Our culture and values
The stigma attached to having a criminal record, lack of previous opportunity and the negative societal attitudes towards children who have committed offences creates enormous barriers for children. Often even with the best will in the world children are unable to access education, training or employment opportunities which are vital to helping them move forwards with their lives. The Skill Mill removes these barriers and enables them to gain work skills, knowledge and importantly confidence.
We employ only young ex-offenders, actively reducing reoffending whilst increasing engagement, participation, employability and educational levels of the young people to increase their life chances.
The Skill Mill is supported by an Advisory Board of representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors. It is this partnership which makes the Skill Mill unique and brings significant added value.
Equality, diversity and inclusion policy
We have a clear organisational commitment to inclusion and to continual improvement internally (how we recruit, develop and support our people) and externally (how we design and deliver services with and for young people who face the greatest barriers).
Our statement/commitment is reflected in our mission and values and in our equality, diversity and inclusion approach: that every young person deserves access to opportunity, fair treatment, and high expectations, and that we will actively remove barriers and challenge stigma, particularly for young people affected by disadvantage and the justice system. We also commit to listening to lived experience and using evidence to improve how we work.
