There is a common assumption that hiring someone with a criminal conviction is a risk. The evidence says otherwise.

Over 90% of UK businesses that employ ex-offenders rate them as motivated, reliable and trustworthy, according to a Ministry of Justice survey (Verian, 2023). That is not a charitable statistic. That is a business outcome measure from employers who have done it and been asked to rate the result.

The Skills Shortage Context

Construction, hospitality, logistics, retail and facilities management are all facing significant and well-documented skills shortages. At the same time, thousands of people leave the criminal justice system every year with exactly the skills those sectors need — and with a powerful motivation to make the most of a genuine opportunity.

The mismatch is not about capability. It is about access. Most mainstream employment support organisations will not engage with this population. Advance 2 Go exists to close that gap — and to stand beside people while they cross it.

The Social Value Argument

Hiring ex-offenders generates measurable social value that employers can use in ESG reporting, tender scoring and Corporate Social Responsibility frameworks. For businesses that bid for public sector contracts, demonstrating genuine social value is increasingly a commercial necessity, not just a nice-to-have.

Advance 2 Go provides formal social value documentation for every placement — giving employers a clear, evidenced record of their impact.

The Loyalty Factor

People who have worked hard to earn a second chance tend to value it. Turnover among ex-offender hires is consistently reported as lower than average. Someone who knows what is at stake does not take it for granted.

Getting Started

The process is simpler than most employers expect. Advance 2 Go handles everything — sourcing, vetting, legal compliance and post-placement support. To register as a partner employer, contact Michael directly at michael@advance2go.co.uk.

One of the most common mistakes ex-offenders make when applying for jobs is disclosing far more than they are legally required to. This is understandable — the anxiety around a conviction can make people want to be completely upfront. But it can work against you unnecessarily.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (the ROA) gives people with criminal convictions the right to move on. Under this Act, most convictions become "spent" after a rehabilitation period — and once spent, you generally do not have to declare them on a job application.

When an application form asks "do you have any criminal convictions?" and your conviction is spent, you can legally answer no. This is not dishonesty. It is the law.

What Makes a Conviction Spent?

The rehabilitation period depends on the sentence you received, not the offence. It starts from the date of conviction. For example, a custodial sentence of less than six months has a two-year rehabilitation period from the end of the sentence. A fine has a one-year rehabilitation period from conviction.

When You Do Have to Disclose

There are some roles — working with children, healthcare, education, certain financial roles — where full disclosure is required regardless of spent status. These are called excepted positions. For most jobs in construction, logistics, hospitality, retail and facilities, only unspent convictions need to be disclosed.

How We Can Help

At Advance 2 Go we provide free, confidential guidance on exactly where you stand — what is spent, what is not, and how to handle any disclosure conversation confidently. Contact us at michael@advance2go.co.uk or call 07377 770 133.

In Monopoly, the most feared card is Go To Jail. The most coveted instruction is Advance to Go.

That contrast is the entire philosophy of this business in six words.

Our clients have already been to jail

The people we work with have already received the worst card in the deck. They have served their sentence. They have paid their debt, as the saying goes. What they need now is not more punishment — it is the chance to advance to go. To move forward. To collect and start again.

Why a Monopoly reference?

Because it is universally understood. There is not a person in the UK who has not played Monopoly or does not know what those cards mean. The moment you hear "Advance 2 Go" and the penny drops, you understand this business completely. No mission statement required.

The name is memorable, explainable in thirty seconds and emotionally resonant — for the people we help, for the employers we work with and for the commissioners and funders who support us. That is a rare combination in a business name.

The founder's story

Advance 2 Go was founded by Michael Giles LLB (Hons), who served eight years in prison and earned a law degree behind bars. The name is not just clever. It is personal. Michael has lived the journey from the worst card to the best one. And he built this business so others can do the same.