Novus

We’re looking for an experienced and passionate Education Manager to lead our education provision at HMP Holme House in Stockton-on-Tees.

This is an opportunity to shape the strategic direction of prison education within a Category C men’s prison, leading a dedicated team to deliver high-quality learning that supports rehabilitation, progression, and positive futures.

We’re looking for someone who can:
• Inspire and lead teams to deliver educational excellence
• Drive quality improvement and curriculum development
• Build strong partnerships and create meaningful learner outcomes
• Champion innovative teaching and learning practices within prison education

If you’re a strategic education leader ready to make a genuine impact through rehabilitation and learning, we’d love to hear from you. For more information visit the link below.

Job profile Are you a strategic, forward-thinking leader with a passion for driving educational excellence? We’re searching for an exceptional Local Education Manager to lead our innovative and dedicated team! If you’re ready to shape the future of education, inspire staff, and create a transformative learn...

We’re proud to celebrate two Novus colleagues at HMP Rye Hill who have been recognised with the Tom Shannon Award for their outstanding contribution to literacy learning at the prison.

Olivia and Michael have gone above and beyond to support learners, peer mentors, and volunteer facilitator Julian, helping to create a positive and inclusive learning culture across the prison.

Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to education have strengthened literacy and numeracy support, empowered mentors to build confidence, and ensured learners feel welcomed, respected, and encouraged throughout their educational journey.

This award is a testament to the impact they make every day through partnership, professionalism, and a shared belief in the power of learning to transform lives.

Congratulations Olivia and Michael on this well-deserved recognition. https://www.novus.ac.uk/homepage/news/staff-receive-award-for-outstanding-literacy-support/

Looking for a role where you can make a real difference in the lives of learners?

We’re recruiting for an exciting Learning and Skills Worker role to join our Novus Transforming Lives team at HMP Forest Bank.

This is the chance to be part of a passionate team, helping individuals build confidence, gain valuable skills, and move towards brighter, more positive futures.

What makes this role stand out:
✔ The opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day
✔ A supportive and collaborative team environment
✔ Excellent annual leave
✔ Competitive pension scheme
✔ Dedicated wellbeing and personal development support.

You’ll be working with learners from a wide range of backgrounds, helping them overcome barriers and unlock their potential through education and training.

Apply here: https://ow.ly/Gme350Z2En3

Yesterday we were proud to attend the launch of The Old Mess training kitchen at HMP/YOI Hindley.

This brilliant initiative is a fantastic collaboration from HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), The Right Course, New Futures Network, Department for Business and Trade, and Novus to create a real-life hospitality environment where prison learners can build valuable skills, gain hands-on experience, and be supported into employment on release.

We’re delighted to be part of this project, delivering education within The Old Mess that leads to hospitality and training qualifications that ultimately lead to successful careers within the industry on release.

We’ve already seen some fantastic outcomes through the Novus Cambria partnership with The Right Course at HMP Berwyn, and we’re excited to see the same positive impact at HMP/YOI Hindley.

Yesterday, the learners served a delicious afternoon tea, showcasing the skills they’ve already developed. They were understandably really nervous before the event, but it was amazing to see their confidence grow throughout the service. By the end, they were openly proud of what they had achieved.

A huge thank you to everyone involved. Projects like this really do make a difference, helping learners build confidence, develop new skills, and create brighter opportunities for the future.

We’re incredibly proud to share that our collaborative project with The Bowes Museum has been Highly Commended at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026 in the Community Engagement Programme of the Year category.

“Unheard Voices” brought together Novus learners at HMP Deerbolt, artist Jonah York, and The Bowes Museum to explore powerful themes including identity, childhood, travel, illusion, and our shared human desire to create meaning and connection.

As part of the project, more than 80 objects from the museum’s collection were taken into the prison, where learners discussed, interpreted, and reimagined them through open conversation and collaboration. Together, they selected objects for display and helped shape how their stories would be shared with visitors.

The final co-creation can now be seen on the Conversation Wall at The Bowes Museum, giving visitors the chance to reflect on both the themes explored and the creative journey behind the project.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this project so meaningful, and congratulations to all the winners, highly commended, and shortlisted organisations recognised this year.

You can read more about the awards here:

Museums + Heritage Awards - Museums + Heritage Awards At a glittering ceremony the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards, sponsored by Altair Media, have celebrated brilliant projects, trailblazing teams, and inspiring individuals who are truly raising the bar for our sector.

At Novus, we know that successful rehabilitation is about more than securing employment on release - it’s about creating sustainable careers, purpose and long-term opportunities.

Recently, a learner from the business class at HMP Thorn Cross secured a Release on Temporary Licence (RoTL) placement with Cheshire Pub Co, where he has been able to showcase his artistic talent in a live working environment.

Supported by Novus Business Tutor, John Dooley, he has been developing his portfolio while continuing to follow his chosen creative pathway during his time at Thorn Cross. His work has included artwork inspired by the town’s history and the pub’s Italian theme, alongside sign writing for menus and notice boards.

Reflecting on the impact of the opportunity, John shared:
“He’s a different man now - absolutely buzzing with a renewed sense of purpose.”

Opportunities like this can play a vital role in helping learners rebuild confidence, develop industry experience and progress towards meaningful, sustainable futures after release.

Thank you to Cheshire Pub Co. for supporting rehabilitation through opportunity and creativity.

Could you inspire the next generation of skilled tradespeople to build something extraordinary?

At Novus, we see every day how creativity, practical skills, and encouragement can transform lives. From impressive workshop projects like full-scale Tardis builds created by learners in our prison education environments, to developing real-world construction skills that lead to employment opportunities, no two days are the same.

We’re looking for a creative, dedicated, and enthusiastic Construction Teacher to join Novus at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham on a 6-month fixed-term contract, working full-time (37 hours per week).

You’ll deliver engaging vocational lessons in joinery, bricklaying, and painting & decorating, helping learners develop practical trade skills, confidence, and a sense of achievement while working on inspiring hands-on projects.

What we offer:
✔ Competitive salary
✔ Teachers’ Pension scheme
✔ 40 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
✔ Wellbeing and personal development time
✔ Retail discounts and Employee Assistance Programme

📍 HMP Deerbolt, County Durham
📅 Closing date: 8 June 2026

At Novus, we believe education changes lives. We’ve been helping learners across the UK take new directions for over 30 years through prison skills training. If you’re ready to help learners build brighter futures, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply here: https://recruitment.ltegroup.co.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=826980Snyf&WVID=678774035F

At Novus, innovation is central to how we are evolving teaching and learning across our prison education settings.

Our latest article explores how AI and digital learning can support both teachers and learners in secure environments, improving classroom engagement, building essential skills, and helping prepare people for life beyond custody.

This is about more than new tools - it reflects new ways of working. We are committed to becoming a technology driven leader in education, embedding digital solutions that enhance outcomes, support staff, and reduce barriers to learning.

Digital exclusion remains a key challenge. Through innovative approaches and responsible use of technology, we are helping to bridge that gap and create stronger progression routes into employment and further learning.

This May we are also celebrating Digital Awareness Month across the organisation to help share best practice and build confidence in digital capability across our teams.

Read more:

AI and Digital Learning in Prison Education at HMP Featherstone Discover how Novus is using AI and digital learning tools at HMP Featherstone to improve prison education, increase learner engagement and build essential digital skills for release and rehabilitation.

We’re proud to launch Portraits Through Time, a new exhibition created by Novus learners from prisons across the North of England in partnership with Shakespeare North Playhouse.

The exhibition brings together artwork from eight prison sites, with Novus learners exploring identity, family, and personal experiences through art, pattern, and creative writing.

Projects like this show how creative education can help build confidence, support wellbeing, encourage self-expression, and strengthen connections with others.

📍 Portraits Through Time
📅 12 May - 31 May
📌 Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prospero Place, Prescot, L34 3AB

If you’re in the area, we’d really encourage you to visit and see the exhibition for yourself. The work on display is thoughtful, personal, and a powerful reflection of creativity across our learning community.

Read more about the project here: www.novus.ac.uk/homepage/news/creativity-and-rehabilitation-through-prison-education/

We’re currently recruiting a Cleaning Instructor to join the Novus Gower | Novus Gŵyr education team at HMP Parc, Bridgend.

If you're looking for a role where you can make a real difference, teaching practical, work-based cleaning skills to learners in custody, supporting them to gain qualifications and build pathways into employment after release, then this could be the role for you.

What you can expect from the role:
✔ Small teaching groups, usually fewer than 12 learners
✔ No requirement to complete marking or planning in your own time
✔ Holiday entitlement that isn’t restricted to term dates
✔ Ongoing training and professional development support

You’ll be working with learners who may have had difficult or disrupted educational journeys, so your ability to engage, support, and build confidence through practical learning really matters.

For more information and to apply, visit our website: https://recruitment.ltegroup.co.uk/tlive_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=798611SWYu&WVID=678774035F