Marston’s has opened a groundbreaking hospitality training academy at HMP Styal, a women’s prison in Cheshire, marking a first for the UK prison system. The new facility, named The Hope & Anchor, will provide offenders with hands-on training and qualifications to help them secure employment in the hospitality industry upon release.
The academy, developed in partnership with Novus Education and the New Futures Network, will train up to 32 women each year for Line Chef roles. Participants will gain practical experience in a fully equipped, purpose-built kitchen and restaurant designed to mirror a professional pub environment.
Building on Marston’s existing Excel programme, which helps former offenders reintegrate into the workforce, the Hope & Anchor follows the success of similar initiatives in men’s prisons, including The Lock Inn at HMP Liverpool and The Crown & Key at HMP Stoke Heath. Since 2022, nearly 80 prison leavers have found employment through the Excel programme, achieving retention rates that exceed the hospitality industry average.
Marston’s now plans to increase the number of ex-offender graduates employed across its pubs by 25% over the next year, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive recruitment and social impact.
Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: “Getting former offenders into stable work is a sure way of cutting crime and making our streets safer. Hospitality partners like Marston’s are leading the way – helping prisoners gain the skills and confidence they need to turn their lives around and break the cycle of reoffending.”
The launch event at HMP Styal includes a guided tour of the academy, dishes prepared by the first cohort of trainees, and the official presentation of Marston’s chef uniforms. Attendees are also hearing directly from participants about how the training is shaping their plans for the future.
Todd Lockley, Senior Inclusion & Communities Manager at Marston’s, said: “The launch of The Hope and Anchor marks a significant milestone for Marston’s, as we expand our commitment to inclusive training and employment opportunities for all. Establishing the first hospitality academy within a women’s prison is not just about equipping individuals with practical skills and job opportunities. We’re also supporting rehabilitation through meaningful careers, reducing reoffending and empowering participants to build brighter futures within our industry.”
Cameron Fisher, an Excel graduate who now works for Marston’s, said: “Getting a second chance with Marston’s changed everything for me. The support, training, and belief in my potential gave me the confidence to rebuild my life and aim higher. Seeing this opportunity now extended to women at HMP Styal is inspiring and The Hope & Anchor will give others the same chance to prove themselves and start again. I know first-hand how much that means.”
The Hope & Anchor forms part of Marston’s wider inclusion strategy, which supports prison leavers, care leavers, veterans, and people with disabilities into long-term, sustainable employment. The initiative reflects the company’s commitment to using hospitality as a platform for rehabilitation, opportunity, and social progress.
