New Futures Programme | KPMG UK

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About

We launched our New Futures Programme in 2022, designed to give reformed prison-leavers a second chance at a brighter future and better support the communities we serve. Three years on, and the programme has provided meaningful support and career opportunities to build essential and transferable workplace skills.

Through our small-scale pilot, we initially welcomed four prison leavers into non-client-facing roles, giving them the opportunity of permanent employment at KPMG, whilst partnering with third-sector organisations to offer targeted support for our recruits. Since then, we have hired across a broad range of internal teams and the reception of the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, with colleagues across our firm providing mentorship and guidance to recruits and the wider programme.

Since launching, the programme has positively impacted over 50 individuals through recruitment days held in prisons and our London office. Participants have benefited from guidance across all levels, including partners, with many progressing to interviews or receiving support from third-sector partners for other job opportunities.

Supporting prison leavers is one way we’re delivering on our commitment to touch 1 million lives. To further this commitment, we are delighted to announce we have recently signed up to be a Founding Member of the Fair Chance Business Alliance. The Fair Chance Business Alliance (FCBA) is a membership, not-for-profit-organisation, with the aim to advance the cause of Fair Chance employment in the UK, supported by a tiered quality standard framework.

Nicholas Fox

Nicholas Fox

Partner, Head of Government

KPMG in the UK

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We're signing up as a Founding Member of the Fair Chance Business Alliance.

New futures in action

We recently partnered with Beating Time to deliver a skills and employability workshop at HMP Isis. This session, led by Karl Edge, Chief People Officer at KPMG UK, focused on empowering prison leavers with the tools, confidence and guidance needed to build brighter futures through meaningful employment. Watch the video to see how we’re inspiring positive change.

Celebrating Thea Tomison – MCA Inclusion Award Finalist

We are proud that Thea Tomison has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 MCA Inclusion Award. Thea has been instrumental in shaping and driving our New Futures Programme.

Her leadership, passion and dedication have been at the heart of the programme’s success, creating real opportunities for underrepresented talent and ensuring inclusive innovation is built into everything we do.

Thea’s recognition by the MCA is a testament not only to her outstanding work but also to the values we stand for as an organisation. We are thrilled to see her efforts recognised on a national stage.

Find out more about Thea’s nomination here.

Our 3rd Sector Partners

Our public sector team have worked in partnership with Key4Life for 8 years, a third sector organisation based in London, the South West, North West and Midlands that aims to reduce youth reoffending with an innovative rehabilitation programme that is delivered through the gate using their Seven Step Model.

The impact of Key4Life is significant with only 8% of Key4Life participants reoffending compared to the government rate of 64%, and 60% going into employment versus the government rate of 15%.

That’s why through this partnership, we contribute volunteer time to mentor participants and deliver skills-based workshops. Our volunteers work directly with young people in prison and in the community, helping them to build confidence, develop key life skills and prepare for employment opportunities.

Find out more here.

We launched an exciting partnership with Redemption Roasters in 2023 – a coffee company whose mission is to make a difference to people leaving prison and reduce reoffending in the UK.

This social enterprise provides coffee industry training to prisoners and people leaving prison, with direct pathways to employment. With a roastery inside HMP The Mount, they employ prison residents and teach them practical skills in coffee roasting, production and logistics.

Every coffee purchased at our Canary Wharf coffee shop helps fund their impactful work, creating real opportunities for individuals to rebuild their lives.

Since 2019, we’ve proudly partnered with Beating Time, an organisation dedicated to helping people survive their prison sentence and thrive on release.

We’ve worked closely with their Inside Job initiative - a peer-led programme that identifies top candidates for employment while they are still serving their sentence. KPMG has hired individuals through this programme, supporting their journey into meaningful work and a fresh start.

Our teams also provide mentoring support to participants in Beating Time’s Restart programme, which was recognised with the Robin Corbett Award for Best Prison Rehabilitation Programme in 2020.

Most recently, we led a skills and employability workshop at HMP Isis, a men’s prison in south-east London, helping individuals build confidence, develop practical tools and prepare for life beyond prison.

Watch our ‘New Futures in Action’ video above to learn more.

Breakthrough Social Enterprise is a mission-driven organisation led by individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system that empowers marginalised communities through high-impact digital education, AI training and employment pathways.

Since 2023, we have partnered with Breakthrough to support their pre-apprenticeship technology training programme in prisons and communities, sharing our expertise and opening doors to roles in our firm.

Together, we work with Breakthrough to bridge the gap between today's workforce and tomorrow's industries, fostering a more equitable digital future.

ANTZ’s Mission is to reduce costs to society while changing lives – both in and out of work.

What sets ANTZ apart is their business-led, community-driven approach. They support businesses to achieve commercial success while delivering sustainable social impact.

We partnered with ANTZ to co-design and deliver our pilot New Futures Programme – an alternative recruitment model focused on supporting prison leavers into meaningful employment.

This end-to-end approach included candidate selection, co-delivery of role-specific assessment workshops, and business training for our hiring teams, delivered by ANTZ. Their ongoing support extended through the first year of employment, provided via their charity, Antz Junction.

Working Chance supports women with convictions by helping them access employment and education opportunities that reflect their skills, aspirations and personal circumstances. The charity works closely with a remarkable talent pool, building confidence, self-belief and the skills needed to succeed in the workplace and rebuild their lives.

At the heart of Working Chance is a strong belief in the power of women's potential. Sharing these values, KPMG’s New Futures Programme has recently partnered with Working Chance to connect with exceptional candidates who could thrive within our business.

11:11 Prison Support is a community interest company with a mission to break down personal and professional barriers to empower individuals to break the cycle of re-offending, helping them rebuild their lives and become positively integrated within society. This practical, person-centred approach focuses on three key areas: resettlement, health and wellbeing, and skills.

As part of our partnership, 11:11 Prison Support has contributed to the delivery of our client's social value workshops, highlighting the importance of essential soft skills in the workplace. These sessions help individuals build confidence, improve communication and unlock new employment opportunities. 11:11 Prison Support has also referred outstanding candidates into roles at KPMG. They continue to offer personal, ongoing support to these individuals as they adjust to life in the community and a professional environment. They engage with each person in a way that is meaningful, responsive, and rooted in what that individual needs at that moment.

Our Why

We believe everyone deserves a second chance.

Our longstanding focus on social mobility is about giving everyone – regardless of their background – the chance to succeed. I believe reformed prison leavers should be no exception. As well as creating permanent jobs opportunities, our New Futures pilot builds on our existing support through mentoring and skills workshops and our Redemption Roasters coffee shop in our head office. We want to play our part in helping prison leavers turn their lives around.

Jon Holt

Chief Executive

KPMG in the UK

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Impact

Read the testimonials from those who have taken part in our New Futures programme.

"Prior to being offered a job at KPMG, despite five years of experience, many industry-recognised qualifications and high enthusiasm, I faced dozens of rejections purely due to my criminal record. Even when presented with a job offer, as soon as the background check went through, it's over. Dark times, hopeless thoughts and questioning everything; KPMG not only gave me a job, but a future, a way to achieve my goals and a reliable, stable lifestyle."

“The KPMG New Futures Programme is a trailblazer in creating inclusive opportunities. It has provided me with a unique opportunity to rebuild my life, offering not just skills and employment, but a sense of purpose and belonging. This initiative breaks down barriers creating a pathway for genuine transformation and a brighter future. I am looking forward to a prosperous and rewarding career with KPMG as they lead by example.”

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