CIWM Supports MoJ Interactive Training to Boost Green Jobs in Prisons

Image: Sophie Howard, CIWM’s Business Admin Manager, prepares for filming

CIWM welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s (MoJ) Climate Change and Sustainability team to CIWM HQ in Northampton to help film an interactive training course designed to upskill Band 4 Specialist Production Instructors working in prison waste management units across England and Wales.

Developed by the MoJ’s Climate Change and Sustainability team with Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), the course is part of a wider strategy to embed circular economy principles across the prison estate. It promotes sustainability, health and safety, and green employment opportunities for prisoners.

Through its awarding arm WAMITAB, CIWM has delivered more than 2,300 waste qualifications to prisoners since 2018. The new course enables Specialist Production Instructors—officers who run prison industries—to deliver the CIWM (WAMITAB) Level 1 Award in Waste and Recycling in-house.

This qualification provides an introduction to key industry topics including identifying waste types, PPE, manual handling, legislation, and sustainability. It also builds in core English and Maths skills and is assessed via an end-of-course exam.

With an estimated 83,000 new roles needed in the waste sector by 2030, and around 1,200 prisoners already working in prison waste units, CIWM believes these qualifications could help fill skills gaps and support rehabilitation.

The training supports the MoJ’s Circular Economy Strategy, which includes targets to reduce waste, reach net zero by 2050, and build repair and reuse workshops within prisons.

CIWM is proud to support this forward-thinking initiative—giving prisoners the opportunity to contribute to a more sustainable future and build skills that lead to meaningful employment.