Tell us about yourself and your journey to co-founding Tempus Novo
After nearly 30 years working in some of the UK’s toughest prisons — including the notorious HMP Wormwood Scrubs in London — I drew on that experience to design a rehabilitation model that would become a trusted and safe platform for businesses to recruit people with criminal convictions. I began by listening to employers, understanding their needs, and assessing what support already existed. Then I made bold — some might say reckless — decisions, such as keeping most prisons, including HMP Leeds where I’d spent over two decades, at arm’s length. But that distance was essential. Tempus Novo needed a culture and mindset that stood apart from the civil service — one free from red tape and bureaucracy, where innovation could thrive.
What is your company mission?
Tempus Novo is breaking with tradition and reshaping the criminal justice landscape. We envision a system that embraces change, takes bold but measured risks, and recognises sustainable employment as a powerful route to lasting rehabilitation and a life free from crime.
How are you transforming the employment landscape?
We are recognised as world leaders in this field, with global companies like Amazon, GXO Logistics, Maersk, and Ibstock among our partners. By connecting businesses with hardworking, loyal employees—around 15% of whom go on to earn promotions—we’re not only helping to reduce crime, but also strengthening our partners’ bottom line. For ethical employers, it’s a win-win: they gain dedicated staff while making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Working with TempusNovo enhances their ESG credentials.
What makes your model unique?
Tempus Novo offers a distinctive approach built on real-world experience and proven outcomes:
- A dedicated team with over 100 years of combined experience working within UK prisons.
- Trusted relationships with key partners across the criminal justice system — including police, probation, and prisons.
- 12 months of wraparound support for both employers and employees.
- Deep understanding of business operations and the ability to adapt to varying workplace cultures.
- A zero-bureaucracy, people-centred model focused entirely on outcomes.
What value do you bring to organizations?
Employment is one of the most powerful tools in breaking the cycle of reoffending. The benefits of our work ripple across the system:
- Prisons: Fewer people returning behind bars, and real hope for those preparing for release
- Probation: A clear pathway to a stable, crime-free future for their clients
- Police & Courts: A reduction in reoffending and fewer individuals coming back through the system
- Businesses: Access to hardworking, loyal employees who often boost productivity and bring lasting value to the workforce
We don’t just reduce crime — we unlock potential and help build stronger, safer communities.
What has been your biggest success as a company?
There have been many milestones, but a few standout achievements include:
- Developing a service that’s not only trusted by employers but seen as a true value-add — now operating on a commercial basis with fee-paying partners.
- Receiving the prestigious Centre for Social Justice Award in recognition of our impact.
- Being hailed by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire as the best in the business.
How are you incorporating sustainability initiatives at Tempus Novo?
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to ensuring that every individual we place into employment has a personalised support network tailored to their journey. Our model is built with a long-term vision—empowering participants not just to find work, but to thrive and succeed well into the future.
We’ve also introduced E-Bikes for serving prisoners in the open estate, making it easier for them to travel to and from work as they prepare for reintegration.
Why is sustainability so important for businesses right now?
Since the introduction of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), companies have been encouraged to think more consciously about their environmental impact and long-term sustainability. Ethical business practices that prioritise people—not just profit—have become key to driving higher standards and gaining a competitive edge. Today, social investors increasingly assess a company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policies and tangible impact before deciding where to invest.
How have you grown the company?
Our growth has been organic, driven largely by word of mouth.
We’ve focused on quality over quantity, sharing powerful, life-changing case studies across social media and proudly amplifying the voices of a group that society often overlooks.
It’s taken relentless hard work, bold and sometimes unpopular decisions, and a clear commitment to putting our business partners’ reputations at the heart of everything we do.
Crucially, we’ve built a team of people who are genuinely passionate about supporting individuals with convictions and helping them build a better future.
What motivates you in your role as CEO on a daily basis?
Turning the impossible into reality and transforming lives for the better — especially for those I saw year after year in prison, stuck in a cycle with no hope before Tempus Novo existed — is what drives me.
Knowing we’ve built a proven model that’s on the brink of scaling nationwide and in a sustainable way is incredibly rewarding.
Working with a team of people who are passionate about TN and never fail to impress me with their stories of how they are changing lives.
But most powerful of all is witnessing the ripple effect: the positive change not just in the individuals we support, but in their families, their communities, and society as a whole.
What are your goals for the next 5 years and beyond?
· Grow our impact by increasing the number of people we place into sustainable employment by 20% year on year.
· Expand internationally by establishing Tempus Novo operations in other countries.
· Introduce a robust social value impact tool to measure outcomes—enabling our business partners to showcase meaningful results in the ESG sections of their annual reports.
· Achieve national recognition by being honoured with The King’s Award for Enterprise.
Where can we find out more about you and Tempus Novo?
