Prison Tech Academies

Hatch Digital has empowered thousands of incredible people to break into the digital careers of their dreams, simply by valuing them based on their potential, rather than what their CV says they have – or haven’t – done in the past.

By opening up the doors into the industry, we’re driving a quality and diversity mix into our clients’ workforces that’s unparalleled. We’ve even used the model to address specific areas of widespread underrepresentation, like programmes targeting Women-in-Tech, global majority representation, disability & neuro-inclusion, veteran hiring, over 50s hiring, NEET empowerment and those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

This year, we’re extending the positive social impact of our model even further, and pioneering a solution that will see prison education brought into the digital age.

In a nutshell, our pilot Prison Tech Academy, launching at HMP Brixton in November 2024, will see cohorts of prison residents identified based on their potential, trained in skills aligned to entry-level tech roles, and guaranteed a relevant role in the sponsoring clients’ workforce once they’re through the gates, should they be willing and able to take it.

And all of this is delivered without drawing down on any of the prison’s already stretched funding.

In fact, it’s a win-win, because we’re enabling our clients to deliver real, measurable social value by designing, sponsoring and hiring through these Academies as part of their social value, DE&I or ESG commitments.

All at a time when the fight for tech talent has never been greater, and the need for interventions that support prison leavers into meaningful careers is at an all-time -high. 

Our hope is that this solution and its impact will force a centralised review of how those serving custodial sentences are equipped with the digital skills necessary to survive in today’s world, and more importantly, how they’re prepared for the meaningful careers that will enable them to thrive longer-term.