Steplab x Unlocked Graduates - PD beyond the classroom

Unlocked Graduates recruits, trains and challenges outstanding individuals to lead prisoner rehabilitation with the aim of creating high-performing leaders who will break the cycles of reoffending in prisons and throughout society.

Since its formation in 2016, Unlocked's participants and Ambassadors have reached over 125,000 prisoners in England and Wales. They have changed perceptions of the prison officer role, putting it on the map as a career where ambitious graduates can develop outstanding leadership skills while making a real difference to people’s lives. Remarkably, 9 in 10 of their participants report never having considered a career in the prison service until hearing about Unlocked.

Unlocked's two-year Leadership Development Programme accelerates participants' development as inspirational and supportive leaders. They receive ongoing mentoring and support throughout their time on the programme, alongside a bespoke Master’s degree and a career that makes an impact.

From September 2025, Unlocked participants will be completing the Leadership Development Programme on Steplab's innovative professional development platform.

Steplab provides everything an organisation needs to deliver evidence-based, world-class professional development. From precise techniques and expert models to actionable insights and real-time coaching, we help professionals embed evidence-informed practices and improve every day.

Steplab will house a bespoke curriculum accompanied by video models, designed by the Unlocked team and built around 23 key techniques. Steplab's evidence-informed coaching framework will support the introduction of instructional coaching to the programme and enable powerful coaching conversations to take place between participants and their mentors.

Commenting on the partnership, Josh Goodrich, CEO and Co-Founder of Steplab, said:

“Steplab is delighted to be evolving outside of the education sector for the first time to partner with a charitable organisation that's having a huge social impact. We’re confident that Steplab’s customisable tools and coaching framework will enhance Unlocked Graduates’ already excellent Leadership Development Programme. We’re excited that Steplab’s tools and content can support all kinds of organisations - not just schools - to deliver professional development that really works.”

Natasha Porter OBE, CEO and Founder of Unlocked Graduates, said:

“Prison officers deserve world-leading, evidence-led professional development. We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Steplab to create a comprehensive suite of online, instructional coaching resources for our participants to hone their craft and, ultimately, to support them to become outstanding leaders on the landings, breaking cycles of reoffending.”

To find out more about Unlocked's incredible work, head over to their website.

Running professional development and want a fully customisable platform that'll take your offer to the next level? Get in touch: [email protected].