Prison boards in the North East are to benefit from the skills of HR professionals, thanks to a new partnership.

The collaboration between the CIPD Trust and the New Futures Network will see HR experts providing recruitment advice, skills development, and mentoring to people in prisons.

This joint effort aims to forge stronger links between prisons and local employers, share employer challenges with prisons, and offer mentoring for Prison Employment Leads.

The initiative builds on the work of Prisons Minister James Timpson, who created Employment Advisory Boards (EABs) to unite business leaders and people in prisons to boost employment opportunities and reduce reoffending.

The partnership comes in the wake of emergency government measures to tackle prison overcrowding, including the early release of some prisoners.

Sally Eley, head of the CIPD Trust, said: "This partnership provides a unique opportunity to build on James Timpson’s excellent work, ensuring HR advice, support and expertise is consistently being provided in prisons across the UK."

The CIPD Trust is currently running a mentoring programme for women at HMP Styal.

Mr Timpson said: "We know that prison leavers are less likely to reoffend if they have a job within a year of release.

"So, getting them into work doesn’t just cut crime, it boosts our economy too."