The Prison Leavers Innovation Challenge was run as a two-phased Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition. 9 successful bidders were selected to participate in the shortlisting phase. Successful suppliers selected for the second phase will continue to develop their solutions and prepare for deployment, ready to enter a steady state pilot by the first week of March 2022.

The programme followed a six stage structure: i) in-depth challenge definition to help the client design a set of challenge statements, ii) open calls to technology providers, iii) selection of 10 innovative providers, iv) proof of concept’ development, v) further selection of 4 final providers, vi) piloting and vii) final evaluation.

The challenge definition phase happened over a two month period during which PUBLIC:

i) carried out a thorough literature review of MoJ policy and technical documentation,

ii) ran an assessment of MoJ technical systems and data and compliance requirements,

iii) ran workshops with over 40 end users, 

iv) interviewed 75 stakeholders in policy, digital and frontline delivery roles across five different UK central government departments -including DHSC, MHCLG and DWP, 

v) provided a comprehensive map of existing providers in the justice space, vi) produced a set of supplier guidelines  and other relevant challenge documentations. 

Following the research Phase we had a fantastic response to the program with over 500 people attending our series of supplier webinars and 57 fantastic applicants which we shortlisted to 9 successful shortlisted candidates who are currently developing their solution alongside PUBLIC and the MoJ