News and Updates

For the latest news and updates please follow The Right Course on X (formerly Twitter): @TheRightCourse_UK and Instagram @rightcourse_uk

August 2026

HMP Hindley: Connecting Learners with Employers

We were delighted to welcome a selection of employers to The Old Mess at HMP Hindley, giving them the opportunity to see our learners in action. The learners took centre stage, preparing and serving a traditional afternoon tea, demonstrating their food preparation, customer service, barista and hospitality skills throughout the event. Alongside serving guests coffee and afternoon tea, learners had the chance to meet and network directly with employers, building confidence and making valuable connections for future employment. It was a great opportunity to showcase not only the skills our learners are developing, but the potential, professionalism and talent they can bring to the hospitality industry.

Hilton help at HMP Drake Hall

At HMP Drake Hall, I had the pleasure of supporting the Painting Party event alongside Hilton Hotels. The Hilton team were fantastic, fully engaging with The Right Course's mission and demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting learners through meaningful work opportunities and employment pathways upon release. Thanks to the team from Hilton Birmingham Metropole the new restaurant has been painted a vibrant new colour ready for opening in September. The staff at Drake Hall have been exceptionally supportive, and I am looking forward to meeting new learners and supporting them throughout their journey. With the new restaurant project progressing, I am excited to be involved from the outset and to contribute to its development and future success. Ongoing learner support will continue throughout the pre-opening phase and beyond.

HMP Hindley Update

My first visit to HMP Hindley was extremely positive. I met several learners working within The Old Mess, all of whom engaged well and demonstrated great enthusiasm for learning and personal development. One learner shared that he was a care leaver and lacked confidence in cooking and catering skills due to never been thought basic cookery skills growing up in care. Through his involvement with The Right Course and support from the HMP Hindley instructors, he has developed a strong interest in hospitality and now hopes to pursue a career as a chef upon release. His willingness to learn and embrace new opportunities is a fantastic example of the positive impact these programmes can have. The Old Mess also hosted an employer engagement event, where employers and supporting providers were invited to attend an afternoon tea prepared entirely by the learners under the guidance of the instructors. The learners demonstrated exceptional teamwork, delivering front-of-house service, welcoming guests, serving refreshments, and networking with attendees. Feedback from both employers and learners was overwhelmingly positive. The event created valuable networking opportunities and potential employment prospects, while also boosting learners' confidence and reinforcing the message that meaningful employment opportunities are available following release.

HMP Sudbury Update

I am currently developing strong working relationships with staff and community partners at HMP Sudbury. During my visits, I have updated learner CVs and disclosure letters for those working within The Secret Diner and am looking forward to supporting them further following release. One particularly rewarding experience was speaking with members of the public who regularly dine at The Secret Diner. The feedback about the learners was extremely positive. Customers described the atmosphere as welcoming and professional and praised the learners for their friendly, approachable manner and excellent customer service skills. Several guests shared that they visit the restaurant multiple times each week because of the quality, value, and overall dining experience. Hearing such positive feedback was incredibly encouraging and provided a real confidence boost for the learners who work so hard to deliver outstanding service.

My First Few Weeks with The Right Course

Firstly, I would like to thank The Right Course team for making me feel so welcome. I was also delighted to read the introduction published on the website and greatly appreciated the kind and complimentary words. It has been a fantastic start to my journey with the organisation. A special thank you goes to Victoria, who has been incredibly supportive in introducing me to new departments, employers, learners, and colleagues involved with The Right Course. Her guidance has made my transition into the role both enjoyable and rewarding. What stands out most about The Right Course is its genuine passion for supporting learners and prison leavers into sustainable employment upon release, helping to reduce reoffending and create positive futures. This is a passion that I wholeheartedly share, and I am excited to contribute to this important work. During my first two weeks, I had the opportunity to visit and meet teams and learners at HMP Sudbury, HMP Drake Hall, HMP Hindley, HMP Lincoln, and HMP Berwyn. At every establishment I received a warm welcome, and it has been inspiring to see the enthusiasm and commitment of both learners and staff. My goal is to visit each establishment twice a month, providing support with employability skills, including CV development, disclosure letters, interview preparation, and job search techniques. I will also be supporting learners through the gate and into the community, ensuring they can access ongoing guidance, employment opportunities, and referrals to probation services, providers, and employers to help them secure and sustain meaningful employment.

July 2026

Welcome

We are delighted to welcome Sarah to The Right Course as our new Training and Employment Assistant Manager, joining the team in July. Sarah brings valuable experience from her previous role within a prison resettlement team, where she supported individuals preparing for life after custody. Her knowledge of the challenges people face on release, combined with her passion for helping others achieve positive outcomes, makes her a fantastic addition to our team. In her new role, Sarah will work closely with our learners, employer partners and colleagues to help create pathways into sustainable employment, ensuring individuals receive the support, guidance and opportunities they need to build successful careers in hospitality. We are confident that Sarah's experience, enthusiasm and commitment to rehabilitation through employment will make a real difference, and we are excited to have her join The Right Course as we continue changing lives through hospitality. Welcome to the team, Sarah!

June 2026

The Talent Table

On 11th June 2026, The Right Course proudly hosted The Talent Table, bringing together HMP Sudbury, The Secret Diner, Alex Bond and Evie Calcutt from Alchemilla Restaurant, and our valued sponsors Lidl GB to showcase the power of hospitality to change lives. The event began the day before with a visit to Lidl GB to source ingredients before cooking alongside the team at The Secret Diner. Alex and Evie inspired participants by sharing their career journeys, building confidence and demonstrating the opportunities a career in hospitality can offer. The Talent Table also brought together employers, organisations supporting people in custody and through-the-gate services to explore how collaboration can create more pathways into employment. The event highlighted the importance of partnerships in addressing hospitality workforce shortages while helping reduce reoffending through meaningful work. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event. Together, we continue to prove that hospitality has the power to change lives.

May 2026

A prison restaurant. Real work experience. A pathway to employment.

We're open! We're delighted to have opened our sixth training restaurant at HMP Hindley. The Old Mess restaurant is now helping people develop practical hospitality skills, confidence and aspirations for the future. Supported by a grant from the Department for Business and Trade's Hospitality Support Fund, and an Academies Grant from New Futures Network, The Old Mess has been transformed to provide a real restaurant environment where participants can gain hands-on experience and develop skills valued by employers. By helping people build the confidence, experience and capabilities needed to secure jobs after release, initiatives like this support both the hospitality sector's workforce needs and the creation of better employment outcomes. Our thanks to the team at HMP Hindley, the Ministry of Justice UK, the Department of Business and Trade, Novus, and the New Futures Network, and everyone who contributed to the project.

LincLivesNatters Podcast

Watch or listen to our CEO, Simon Sheehan chat with LincLivesNatter about our work at HMP Lincoln in partnership with PeoplePlus, what our learners are achieving and our impact on offending rates. Links below

April 2026

Strengthening our partnership with Hilton

The Right Course was delighted to welcome Executive Head Chef Jophy and Sous Chef Selama from Hilton London Kensington to The Escape Restaurant at HMP Wormwood Scrubs for an inspiring day of culinary learning. Learners took part in an exclusive Gyoza and Vietnamese Spring Roll Masterclass, gaining hands-on experience while learning the techniques, precision and creativity behind these popular dishes. The session also gave participants the opportunity to hear directly from experienced hospitality professionals, building confidence and inspiring future careers in the industry. The event is another fantastic example of The Right Course's long-standing partnership with Hilton, which has supported our mission since the organisation was founded. Over the years, Hilton has generously shared its expertise, helping people in custody develop industry-ready skills, build confidence and prepare for employment on release. A huge thank you to the Hilton London Kensington team and everyone at The Escape who made the day such a success. Together, we continue to demonstrate how hospitality can inspire, educate and change lives.

March 2026

Sharing Knowledge Ahead of The Old Mess Launch

As preparations continue for the opening of The Old Mess, we were delighted to welcome the Novus team, who will be delivering the NVQ qualifications and overseeing the day-to-day operation of our newest restaurant, to Bwyty Cyfle at HMP Berwyn. The visit provided a valuable opportunity for the Novus team to meet colleagues from Novus Cambria who already delivering the hospitality model, gain first-hand insight into the daily running of the restaurant, and ask questions about everything from operational processes and customer service to learner support and kitchen standards. Spending time in a live working environment allowed the team to see how our values are embedded into every aspect of the operation. It also gave them a deeper understanding of the high standards we strive to achieve, the collaborative approach that underpins our work, and the positive culture we create for both learners and guests. Visits like these are an important part of ensuring consistency across our venues. By sharing knowledge, best practice and lived experience, we can build confidence within new teams while maintaining the quality, professionalism and ethos that The Right Course is known for. As we look ahead to opening The Old Mess, this collaboration marks another important milestone in ensuring everyone involved shares a common vision: delivering exceptional hospitality, creating meaningful training opportunities, and supporting individuals to develop the skills and confidence they need for successful futures.

February 2026

Sharing the Impact of Prison Training at the Only A Pavement Away Annual Conference

Our Training and Operations Manager, Tori, was invited to join an expert panel at the Only A Pavement Away Annual Conference, held at the Strand Palace Hotel in London. The conference brought together hospitality leaders, employers and charity partners to explore how collaboration can create meaningful employment opportunities and transform lives. During the panel discussion, Tori shared insights into The Right Course's award-winning training model, explaining how our programmes equip learners with the practical skills, industry knowledge and confidence they need to build successful careers on release. She highlighted the importance of delivering training that reflects the realities of the hospitality industry, ensuring learners leave with recognised qualifications, valuable workplace experience and the professional behaviours employers are looking for. Tori also spoke passionately about the benefits of employing prison leavers, challenging common misconceptions and demonstrating the positive impact that giving someone a second chance can have on both individuals and businesses. By investing in people with potential, employers gain committed, loyal team members while helping to reduce reoffending and strengthen communities. Being invited to speak alongside leaders from across the hospitality sector was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the work of The Right Course, share best practice, and reinforce our commitment to creating pathways into sustainable employment through high-quality training, industry partnerships and belief in people's ability to succeed.

January 2026

Chefs Unlocked

Chefs Unlocked, created by Fred Sirieix's The Right Course, launched at HMP Wormwood Scrubs with prisoners preparing three-course meals for a distinguished panel. The initiative, in partnership with New futures Network, connects prisoners with hospitality employment, showcasing their talent while addressing workforce needs and reducing reoffending through professional culinary training. Three teams of prisoners prepared three-course meals for an expert judging panel including celebrity hospitality professional and Right Course Trustee, Fred Sirieix, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson, Right Course CEO Simon Sheehan, Chief Operating Officer from UK Hospitality Jackie Marlow, Governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs Amy Frost, and Development Chef for Hilton, Florence Cornish. This even, the first in a series to he held at different prisons with different employers across the coming months, showcased what our learners are achieving and the impact of working in partnership with the MOJ, prisons, and employers can achieve. When prison leavers secure employment, reoffending drops up to by nine percentage points, a measurable outcome that strengthens both public safety and workforce development. Chefs Unlocked is part of wider government efforts to get prisoners into work, including: Employment Councils bringing together probation, prisons, employers and job centres; and Employment Advisory Boards connecting business leaders with prisons to match training to real jobs. The launch demonstrated that rehabilitation through employment isn't just policy, it's practical, effective, and benefits everyone.

October 2025

Choosing a new path

The Right Course had the privilege of attending the East Midlands Regional Reducing Reoffending Event at Bishop Grosseteste University on 9th October, alongside the Prison Employment Lead from HMP Lincoln. We were joined by a fantastic group of partners and organisations all working towards reducing reoffending and creating brighter futures, including representatives from the prison service, probation, MOJ, new futures network, education and employment providers, and more. A real highlight of the day was hearing from our lived experience graduate, Paul Davies. Paul bravely shared his powerful journey, from his time at HMP Lincoln, to building a successful career with Wagamama. He spoke about the vital support he received from the employment department at HMP Lincoln, The Right Course, and Bridging the Gap, showing just how life-changing collaboration and opportunity can be. We were also honoured to join the panel discussion, answering questions and sharing insights on how strong partnerships can help people rebuild their lives through training and employment. Huge thanks to everyone who took part. Together, we’re helping to create real second chances and stronger communities.

August 2025

A new start

Huge congratulations to S, one of our amazing Right Course graduates, on landing a job with Marston's! S has shown incredible determination and drive, and we're beyond proud to see him step confidently into employment after release. His success is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people are given the right tools and support. At The Right Course, we transform prison staff restaurants into training hubs that mirror real high-street hospitality venues. Participants gain hands-on experience in cooking, front of house, and customer service — all while working toward industry-recognised qualifications. And the results speak for themselves: 90% of our 2024 released graduates from Bertie's (our training restaurant at HMP Lincoln with @peopleplusuk) have secured employment Good luck to S as he starts his new role. And thank you so much to our employer partners, @marstonsontap for giving him a chance.

July 2025

Time for Pizza

Big thanks to @pizzapilgrims for delivering an incredible pizza masterclass at The Escape, HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Our learners got hands-on in the kitchen, explored employment pathways & built confidence in hospitality. Proud to grow partnerships with @apavementaway

June 2025

It's ready

Very excited to report we have been busy behind the scenes working on a recipe book for the last few months. This new step by step kitchen manual is based on my very own catering education and apprenticeship through the various cooking techniques. These are the very basics and foundations of cooking. These delicious recipes and seasonal dishes will help us maintain and improve consistency as well as drive standards up in all our training restaurants. Big thank you to the chef tutors and learners in all our prison restaurants who helped us test the recipes.

May 2025

A new start

There’s no better feeling than seeing someone succeed. Huge congratulations to “S”, one of our amazing graduates, who just started his new job with @StarbucksUK Progress like this makes everything worth it! #therightcourse #training4employment #secondchance

April 2025

Building firm foundations

Good restaurants are all about the experience. The right feel, welcome, warmth and care. This starts from the design and build, but is brought alive by people. Although we are working hard on the design of our new training restaurant at @HMPChanWood , our main focus is on the team & culture. This is the art of hospitality.

January 2025

Flying Start

We are proud to share that 11 graduates from The Right Course secured employment upon their release between the end of 2024 and the start of 2025, with 7 entering roles within the hospitality industry. Notable placements include:

• Hilton Park Lane, London

• Lansdown Bistro, Southport

• Seven Dials Market, Covent Garden

• Prezzo, Woodbridge, Suffolk

December 2024

New Partnerships

We are thrilled to announce several exciting new partnerships that came out of 2024, expanding opportunities for our learners: The Inn Collection, Bespoke Hotels, Ottolenghi, Club Soda, Restaurant Lovage, Prism Start, and Cumbria Tourism. These collaborations will help us continue to provide high-quality training and career opportunities for individuals in the hospitality industry.

September 2024

showcase event with Lovage and Club Soda

In September 2024, we hosted a highly successful showcase at The Secret Diner, the onsite restaurant at HMP Sudbury. The event was organized in partnership with PeoplePlus, Restaurant Lovage, and Club Soda, with The Right Course Trustees Fred Sirieix and Francesco Messinas in attendance. The Secret Diner team, comprised almost entirely of inmates, flawlessly hosted 60 employers despite the challenges of a wet autumn evening. Some guests braved nearly five-hour journeys through heavy rain, highlighting the significance and appeal of the event.

April 2024

Coffee shop to support training offering at HMP Berwyn.

Caffi Cyfle opened its doors at the wellbeing hub at HMP Berwyn, alongside our training restaurant Bwyty Cyfle. Aptly named ‘Cafe Opportunity’ in Welsh, the training cafe boasts a fresh sandwich making servery and state of the art Costa Coffee machine. The high street giants are also giving training on the machine, setting the team up for potential employment opportunities upon release.

Masterclasses to educate and enrich.

Many of the prisoners who enrol onto a course at one of our training sites can still be unsure if hospitality is the industry they want to go into. In keeping with The Right Course’s aim of reducing re-offending and bridging the gap in hospitality recruitment, we introduce the learners to different cooking and service styles, to open their minds and their options for employment upon release.

Masterclasses are a fantastic compliment to the NVQ training, with chefs and hospitality professionals volunteering their time to teach the learners at their training sites. So far we have had masterclasses hosted by Hilton, Richmond Hill Hotel, Cafe Amisha, The Ritz, Green King and The Ivy, with many more in the pipeline.

New Team Member

In April we welcomed the newest member of our team, Tori van Rooyen, to The Right Course. Tori is our Operations and Training Manager and will be ensuring The Right Course vision, standards and SOP are implemented in each of our training sites. Tori brings with her over 13 years professional hospitality experience in the restaurant and special events sector, specialising in event management, staff training and business development.

January 2024

New prison training restaurant in the wellbeing hub at HMP Berwyn.

Bwyty Cyfle officially began operating in January 2024 following the successful launch of their wellbeing hub in October 2023. Bwyty Cyfle - or ‘Restaurant Opportunity’ - is The Right Course’s 4th training restaurant and supports the prison’s successful training programme delivered in partnership with NOVUS Cambria.

Novus have worked in prison education for 30 years and have supported 3875 learners to achieve 9539 qualifications. Between 2022 and 2023, 21% of HMP Berwyn prison leavers went straight into employment, the national average for this is 19%.

May 2023

Opening Event Coverage

BBC Coverage from opening event

Watch Now

Part of our sector

“I was delighted to attend the launch of the Right Course at HMP Lincoln. This charity is a fantastic example of the variety and innovation that exists in the sector, and highlights the important role played by charities in the rehabilitation of prisoners. I was also pleased to see such hands-on effort from this charity’s trustees and wider team. The Right Course is already helping 80 prisoners through its growing programme, all while maintaining a spend of under £50,000. Organisations who work with relatively little but have a tremendous impact are a valued part of our sector and rightly give the public confidence to support causes like this.” Orlando Fraser, Chair of the Charity Commission 22 May 2023 at opening of Berties’ at HMP Lincoln

New Training Restaurant Open – 22 May
New prison training restaurant at HMP Lincoln where offenders will gain vocational qualifications in the hospitality industry. ‘Bertie’s’, named after the long-standing deputy governor, will be the first prison restaurant where prisoners will be both staff and customers by allowing offenders to be joined by their families to share a meal during visiting hours. The project is the result of a close partnership between Mr Sirieix’s charity, The Right Course, training provider, PeoplePlus, and the Ministry of Justice. By helping prisoners secure good jobs on release and remain close with their families, the initiative will protect the public and tackle the £18 billion annual cost of reoffending.

56% of those trained and released at The Right Course’s ‘Escape’ Restaurant in HMP Wormwood Scrubs have since found employment, demonstrating the value of these initiatives to the local community and wider society, while helping the hospitality sector to fill its 132,000 vacancies.
“Giving prisoners a better chance of getting a job works – it cuts crime, saves taxpayer money and protects the public. Our work with The Right Course and Fred Sirieix is helping prisoners learn skills from the best in the industry that will help them find work when released.” Prisons Minister Damian Hinds

February 2023

Opening Doors – The Caterer Feb 2023
As the Right Course charity prepares to expand, its founder Fred Sirieix explains to Rosalind Mullen how and why the industry should support serving prisoners training in hospitality skills as a source of talent

Read the full article

October 2021

Thank you to Lightspeed
Thank you to our partners at Lightspeed, who’s generosity enabled us to implement a contactless payment system into our Escape restaurant and cafe at HMP Wormwood Scrubs.

Launch of Escape Restaurant & Cafe
Launch of the Escape restaurant at HMP Wormwood Scrubs with the mayor of London

Press Release

“Without the dedication of our partners, PeoplePlus and Only a Pavement Away, as well as the generosity of our contacts in the hospitality sector: Bunzl, Design LSM, LightSpeed, Gauchos, The Hawksmoor, Greene King and Hilton, we would not have been able to amplify Bertie’s into an inspiring learning environment that offers real opportunities to turn lives around”

Fred SirieixFounder and Trustee of The Right Course.

“Giving prisoners a better chance of getting a job works – it cuts crime, saves taxpayer money and protects the public. Our work with The Right Course and Fred Sirieix is helping prisoners learn skills from the best in the industry that will help them find work when released.”

Damian HindsPrisons Minister

“Our learners play their part by using their sentencing to reskill, but we also need to give them the right support and opportunities so that they can make the right steps upon release.”

Simon SheehanCEO of The Right Course

Want to join us?

Get Involved

April 2024