Iceland is set to take in a new cohort of ex-offenders as it ramps-up its ‘Second Chance’ initiative.

Since the appointment of Paul Cowley MBE as director of rehabilitation in 2022, the frozen food specialist has offered over 680 prison leavers employments, with over 300 starting the business within in the past 18 months.

Job opportunities include front-line retailer workers and delivery drivers as Iceland and The Food Network.

Alongside the scheme, the grocery retailer has petitioned the new minister of state, parole and prohibition James Timpson as it urges the government to consider its rehabilitation model as a “blueprint” in helping ex-offenders rejoin the workforce.

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Executive chairman Richard Walker said: “Finding meaningful paid employment following release from prison is a significant factor in reducing the chances of individuals reoffending, so it’s not only beneficial to us to have them in the workforce but also to society as a whole.

“The next step for us is to help more people is to share our blueprint for rehabilitation to get ex-offenders into the workforce and help them stay on the right path.”

Iceland director of rehabilitation Cowley, who is also a former prison leaver, added: “Not having the security of a paid job following release from prison can have a devastating impact on ex-offenders, as well as their family, friends and society as a whole – with the cost of reoffending currently sitting at £18bn per year.”

“These individuals deserve the second chance that we are giving them, and more needs to be done to ensure they are given the opportunity to succeed.”