SRAG Employers Take Action on Second Chances and Social Mobility
October 09, 2025Posted by:
Newcastle | 8 October 2025
There are few venues more symbolic of community spirit than St James’ Park. Whether you’re a Magpies fan or not, the home of Newcastle United is seen as belonging to the city - a place where business prioritises people. It was the perfect setting for the latest Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG) Summit, hosted by Sodexo UK & Ireland, where 100+ employers, VCSE partners and policy voices came together to explore inclusion, collaboration, and the power of second chances.
A shared commitment to progress
The day opened with Rt. Hon. Anne Milton's welcome, followed by Emma Grigson, Partner and Social Value Solutions Director, PeoplePlus, who shared how organisations can move beyond compliance and use the new Social Value Model, in effect since 1 October, as a driver for meaningful action. The presentation of SRAG Charter Mark Awards to Pointer Ltd (Bronze) and Concentrix (Gold) set the tone - recognising progress with purpose and the shared prioritisation of a currency that accrues value far beyond the bottom line.
Angela Halliday and Clare Belford from Sodexo then grounded the room in a simple truth: If something feels right - if it engages both the heart and the head - it’s worth doing. Be persistent. Be annoying. Make it happen. It became the phrase people carried with them through the day - and will act as a guidepost.
As attendee Katherine Lamb observed, "What I love about SRAG days is that I arrive with a head full of things started, and leave with pages of notes on how I’m going to get them done. It all comes together while I’m listening - suddenly it’s clear who I need to talk to, a connection I hadn’t made - and I leave with the energy and clarity to make it happen." Katherine is a SRAG champion and Senior Manager at Currys PLC, who hosted a SRAG Summit at their training centre at Fort Dunlop in September 2025.
Ripples of impact
To focus hearts and minds, attendees watched a BBC Ideas film exploring what happens when a mother, often a primary carer, goes to prison. The piece offered a devastating look at the long-term impact of sentencing on children and families. There was no debate or commentary - just a quiet moment of listening. For many, it crystallised another reason why this work matters: to counter how negative impact ripples across generations.
Launching the Justice Recruitment Advocacy Group
Among the day’s many forward-looking discussions was the launch of the Justice Recruitment Advocacy Group (J-RAG) - a new, employer-led collaboration that will grow over time as more organisations lean into their capacity to create pathways, deepen understanding, and offer practical support to people leaving prison.
Introduced by Laura Savage, Director for Social Value Solutions at PeoplePlus, J-RAG builds on the Justice round table convened by PeoplePlus in collaboration with Mitie in June 2025, and subsequent insights in Unlocking Potential: Employment Pathways for Prison Leavers in the UK. It's a space for employers to turn intent into collective action, backed by early supporters including Timpson, Mitie, COOK, Greggs and Sodexo, and will work alongside partners and practitioners to address the complex challenges facing the justice system - and help make business part of the solution.
From conversation to collaboration
The day’s agenda flowed between reflection and action. Sodexo shared updates on their Social Impact Pledge 2030, including the Starting Fresh programme for prison leavers, commitments to NEET young people, and work with SMEs and VCSEs through their supply chain.
The Driving Legacy Social Impact Panel - featuring Sodexo UK+I, Newcastle United Foundation, Pilotlight, TENT UK and Half the Story (who baked the delicious biscuits, as procured by Sodexo Live!) -explored what sustained employer-VCSE collaboration looks like in practice.
The Partner Carousel offered more to take away: RideTandem, RNIB, TENT UK, Gateway Qualifications and the PeoplePlus Prison Education team each shared practical examples of social value in action, from inclusive travel and training to accessible employment routes.
Looking ahead
The final word came from Dr Mick Jackson of WildHearts Group, who linked the day’s conversations to the wider issue of social mobility. Many of the young people WildHearts works with, particularly those from areas of multiple deprivation, don’t see business as a force for good - or recognise themselves in leadership roles.
Through initiatives like Micro-Tyco, WildHearts helps to shift that perspective - showing young people that enterprise can be a platform for change, and reminding employers that opportunity begins with belief.
Attendees also made thoughtful book donations - a collection of well-loved titles reflecting the values shared in the room, which will now be distributed across PeoplePlus Prison Education sites nationwide.
From the smell of freshly cut turf at St James’ Park to the promise of freshly brewed purpose at Tap Social Movement in Oxford, the SRAG network will carry this energy forward to the final summit of 2025 - hosted by M Group Services on 4 December.
For more information, or to get involved in the work of the Justice Recruitment Advocacy Group, contact [email protected] or email [email protected].
Check out the PeoplePlus LinkedIn post on the day here.
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October 09, 2025Posted by:
