Greene King Releasing Potential programme wins WiHTL Inclusion award. November 6, 2026 Greene King has won the Most Impactful Collaboration Project award at the WiHTL Inclusion in Awards 2026 for its Releasing Potential programme, recognising its work with partner organisations to help prison leavers access employment and develop careers in hospitality. Presented on Tuesday 3 November, the award recognises the collaboration between Greene King, government departments, prisons, charities, education providers and other organisations working to address barriers to employment for people leaving custody. The WiHTL Inclusion in Awards celebrate organisations, teams and individuals making contributions to workplace inclusion across hospitality, travel, leisure and retail. Since its launch in 2019, Greene King's Releasing Potential programme has supported 373 prison leavers into employment with the pub company and brewer. More than 150 candidates have also participated in training through the company's four prison Training Academy kitchens across the UK, gaining practical hospitality experience and working towards accredited qualifications. The programme is delivered through partnerships with the Ministry of Justice, New Futures Network, Scottish Prison Service, Department for Work and Pensions, prison education providers Novus and PeoplePlus, Employment Advisory Boards and local councils. Charitable partners include Only A Pavement Away and Recruitment Junction, with the initiative also involving more than 75 prisons and Greene King suppliers. Through these partnerships, participants receive support with employability skills, practical training and the transition from custody into the workplace. Kat Harper, Director of Sustainability at Greene King, said: "This award is a reflection of the strength of the partnerships behind Releasing Potential. Our partners bring different expertise and support, and we share a common ambition to help people leaving prison overcome barriers to finding employment and build a positive future. "Stable employment can play an important role in helping people rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. By working together, we can give people the support they need to sustain employment and succeed." Only A Pavement Away is among the charity partners supporting the initiative, providing additional assistance to help prison leavers overcome practical challenges associated with returning to employment. This includes support with accommodation, travel arrangements and wellbeing, alongside ongoing guidance intended to help participants maintain employment and establish longer-term careers. Greg Mangham, CEO and Founder of Only A Pavement Away, said: "Partnerships like this show what can be achieved when charities, employers, prisons and government work together with a common purpose. Getting a job is a hugely important step for someone leaving prison, but we know that employment alone isn't always enough. Having the right support around that individual can make a real difference to helping them build confidence, overcome challenges and establish a sustainable future. "Our partnership with Greene King is about combining genuine employment opportunities with that wider support, and Releasing Potential demonstrates the role hospitality can play in giving people a second chance. We're delighted to see that collaboration recognised and hope it encourages even more employers across the sector to consider the talent and potential of people leaving prison." Releasing Potential forms part of Greene King's wider social mobility and employment strategy, which focuses on providing opportunities for individuals who may otherwise experience barriers to entering the workforce. The programme combines hospitality training with employment opportunities and support from external partners, providing a pathway into roles across Greene King's pub operations. The award recognises the contribution of these partnerships to the programme's development and its work in creating employment opportunities within the UK hospitality sector. Associated Articles Greene King Announces Expansion of 'Releasing Potential' Prison Leaver Employment Programme Greene King expanded its Releasing Potential initiative with additional prison training kitchens at HMP Onley and HMP Perth, providing practical hospitality training and employment opportunities. Greene King and Ministry of Justice Host Career Events in Female Prisons for International Women's Day Greene King worked with the Ministry of Justice and New Futures Network to introduce women in custody to employment opportunities and support available through its Releasing Potential programme. Only A Pavement Away Receives £6,000 Donation to Fund Employment Programme Only A Pavement Away secured funding for its Passport 2 Employment programme, helping people facing barriers to work, including prison leavers, develop the skills needed for careers in hospitality.

Greene King wins Most Impactful Collaboration Project at WiHTL Awards for its Releasing Potential programme. 1 hour ago Greene King has won the Most Impactful Collaboration Project award at the WiHTL Inclusion in Awards for its Releasing Potential programme, recognising the company's collective work with its partners to create sustainable employment opportunities for prison leavers. The WiHTL Inclusion in Awards recognise organisations, teams and individuals helping to advance inclusion and drive positive change across the hospitality, travel, leisure and retail sectors. The award, presented on Tuesday 3 November, celebrates the collaboration behind Releasing Potential, which brings together government, prisons, charities, education providers and other organisations to help people leaving prison overcome barriers to employment and build sustainable careers in hospitality. Greene King's Releasing Potential programme is delivered with the support of a wide network of partners including the Ministry of Justice, New Futures Network, Scottish Prison Service, Department for Work and Pensions, prison education providers Novus and PeoplePlus, Employment Advisory Boards, local councils and charities including Only A Pavement Away and Recruitment Junction, alongside more than 75 prisons and Greene King suppliers. Since its launch in 2019, Releasing Potential has supported 373 prison leavers into employment with Greene King. More than 150 candidates have also been supported through its four prison Training Academy kitchens across the UK, helping participants develop the skills they need for employment through practical training and accredited qualifications. Kat Harper, Director of Sustainability at Greene King, said: "This award is a reflection of the strength of the partnerships behind Releasing Potential. Its partners bring different expertise and support, and Beer Guild share a common ambition to help people leaving prison overcome barriers to finding employment and build a positive future. "Stable employment can play an important role in helping people rebuild their lives and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. By working together, we can give people the support they need to sustain employment and succeed." Only A Pavement Away is one of Greene King's charity partners, providing wraparound support, including practical help with accommodation and travel arrangements, alongside ongoing well-being support to help prison leavers make the transition from custody into employment. Greg Mangham, CEO and founder of Only A Pavement Away, said: "Partnerships like this show what can be achieved when charities, employers, prisons and government work together with a common purpose. Getting a job is a hugely important step for someone leaving prison, but Beer Guild know that employment alone isn't always enough. Having the right support around that individual can make a real difference to helping them build confidence, overcome challenges and establish a sustainable future. "Our partnership with Greene King is about combining genuine employment opportunities with that wider support, and Releasing Potential demonstrates the role hospitality can play in giving people a second chance. We're delighted to see that collaboration recognised and hope it encourages even more employers across the sector to consider the talent and potential of people leaving prison." Releasing Potential forms part of Greene King's wider approach to social mobility and creating opportunities for people who may face barriers to employment. Through its partnerships and programmes, the company aims to widen access to careers in hospitality and build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Notes to editors Greene King is the country's leading pub company and brewer trading c2,500 pubs, restaurants and hotels across England, Wales and Scotland. At Greene King Beer Guild is passionate about delivering its purpose of 'We Pour Happiness into Lives'. That's for its customers, its team, its pub partners, its suppliers and the communities in which Beer Guild live, operate and serve. Founded in 1799 with offices in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Burton on Trent in Staffordshire Beer Guild employ around 38,000 people across the group and operate three business areas including Managed Pubs, Pub Partners and Brewing & Brands. * Managed Pubs: Its Managed Pubs bring together its best-known pub and restaurant brands nationwide, including Greene King pubs, Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns and Flaming Grill. Beer Guild offer great service, quality and value for a wide range of eating and drinking occasions. Ventures includes Hickory's, Premium (Crafted Pubs & Metropolitan Pub Company) and Hotels, which operate independently of Greene King's managed pub brands. * Pub Partners: Pub Partners runs its tenanted and leased pubs business and Hive and Nest franchise pubs. These options combine entrepreneurial independence with practical support, enabling partners to run successful local businesses within a market-leading estate. Beer Guild has c.1,000 leased, tenanted and franchise pubs. * Brewing & Brands covers the brewing sides of the business. Quality ales are brewed at the Westgate brewery in Bury St Edmunds and the Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. Its industry-leading portfolio includes Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale, Ice Breaker and Belhaven Best and its premium beers, Level Head and Hazy Day, brewed for the modern-day drinker. For further information please contact Greene King Press Office via [email protected]. Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.