2026: The Recruitment Junction Durham Launch

Year: 2026

Passion

Everyone deserves a fair chance to rebuild their life. But for people with convictions, the path back into employment is rarely straightforward and in many parts of the country, the specialist support needed to walk that path simply doesn’t exist.

Action

Award-winning charity The Recruitment Junction has opened a new office in Durham, bringing dedicated employment support to a region where it was previously absent. The launch event, held at The College of St Hild and St Bede at Durham University, was supported by Ian Baggett, Founder of Adderstone Foundation and Principal Professor Simon Forrest, and brought together partners from across the justice, education and employment sectors.

A panel discussion featuring Jonathan Kershaw (Director, Adderstone Construction), Emma-Louise Smith (Senior Site Manager, SUEZ), Jessica Mellor-Clark (formerly Be:Lendlease) and Jon Floyd (Co-Founder, Inside Job) explored how businesses can play an active role in creating opportunity and driving long-term change. The event also celebrated a landmark milestone- 976 people supported into work over the past five years.

Impact

The Recruitment Junction’s model is built on more than just job placements. With wraparound support and a 70% job retention rate at the six-month mark, the charity helps individuals not just find work, but sustain it – rebuilding confidence, stability and a sense of purpose along the way.

With its new Durham base, the charity aims to reach hundreds more individuals across County Durham, working alongside local employers to build stronger, more inclusive communities.

At Adderstone, we’re proud to count hundreds of people with past convictions among our colleagues and former colleagues. Giving people a genuine second chance isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s something that motivates and inspires everyone around them.