Workshop Instructor - Textiles & Manufacturing

The Role

Are you practical, organised, and passionate about supporting skill development? We're seeking a Workshop Instructor - Textile Workshop to lead a large prison-based textile manufacturing workshop producing essential items like quilt covers, towels, and bedding for use across the prison system.

This role offers the chance to develop prisoners' practical skills in a structured, supportive environment, helping prepare them for employment while contributing to the smooth running of prison service industries.

About the Role

You will manage the daily operations of the textile workshop, supervising prisoners engaged in the production and repair of a range of items for the wider prison estate.

You will set work schedules, manage quality control, ensure health and safety compliance, and work closely with Work & Skills Coaches to embed employability skills and support prisoners' personal development.

What You'll Be Doing

• Induct prisoners into workshop routines, health and safety, tool use, and production processes.
• Lead and motivate the team, managing productivity, discipline, and development.
• Set and monitor daily production targets and quality standards to meet contract obligations.
• Carry out risk assessments and maintain strict control of tools and materials in line with security procedures.
• Embed employability skills such as teamwork, time management, and quality assurance into daily tasks.
• Support delivery and assessment of relevant vocational qualifications where appropriate.
• Maintain accurate records of attendance, progress, and production outputs.
• Provide reports for sentence planning and security as required.
• Liaise closely with prison staff and other stakeholders to ensure workshop and prisoner needs are aligned.

What We're Looking For

You'll ideally have:

• Experience in textile production, manufacturing, or a related workshop environment.
• Strong supervisory and organisational skills.
• A focus on health and safety compliance.
• Good communication and collaboration skills.
• Awareness of security protocols in a custodial environment or a willingness to learn.
• Experience in training or assessing qualifications is desirable but not essential.

Why This Role Matters

This workshop plays a vital role in supporting the prison estate by producing essential textiles while offering prisoners meaningful work and skill development opportunities.

Who We Are

Here at People Plus, we make a positive difference to people's lives - every single day.

We use our experience to support hundreds of thousands of people each year. Our committed teams work across Britain to deliver a range of public services, including employment support, skills training, independent living, prison education, starting a business, and support to help employers grow.

To put it simply, we:

• Support people to find and keep jobs
• Help people to set up their own businesses
• Deliver skills training to further people's careers
• Work with employers to build a skilled and happy workforce
• Rehabilitate people with convictions
• Tackle the root causes of offending
• Help people to live independently
• Support carers

We are extremely proud to be a Silver accredited Investors in People organisation. This means that at PeoplePlus, the right principles are in place but more than that, it means our people and leaders are making active efforts to make sure that there's real consistency and everyone in the organisation can feel the effects.