Beazley chief executive calls on industry to hire former offenders

Beazley chief executive Adrian Cox has called on the insurance industry to employ more former offenders.

The call follows an event – hosted at Beazley’s London offices on 3 September 2026 – in which two formerly imprisoned businessmen were invited to “share their experiences of incarceration, rehabilitation and life after prison”.

Former inmate Sushovan Hussain, who served as chief financial officer at technology company Autonomy prior to his incarceration, and has since founded post-prison employment firm Liberatus, explained that “companies can benefit massively from the untapped talent pool in prisons”.

“Rehabilitation depends on employment and if you can give employment to prison leavers, they will have another chance to rebuild their lives,” he added.

Co-hosts of the event, charity Key4Life, said that the question of rehabilitating former offenders with gainful employment was particularly relevant today, with the government planning to offer early release to 4,500 prisoners between October 2026 and June 2027 to free up prison space.

Creating “effective rehabilitation and employment pathways for those leaving prison”, it added, has never been more urgent.

Recognising potential

Cox said: “I’m passionate about supporting Key4Life as I believe by looking beyond convictions and recognising potential, city employers can transform lives while strengthening their organisations’ access to committed and resilient talent.”

Eva Hamilton MBE, founder and chief executive at Key4Life, added: “Rehabilitation can’t stop at the prison gate – employment is one of the most powerful crime prevention tools we have.

“As the pressure on the UK prison system intensifies, I urge corporate Britain to provide more jobs and help turn rehabilitation into lasting change.”