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This special issue of ‘Talisman’ features the Adult Learning Inspectorate’s (ALI’s) survey report ‘Recruitment with conviction’ (pp.2-7). Based on interviews with over 90 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it looks at the benefits SMEs bring to society by employing ex-offenders and re-integrating them into society. The report argues that if the government’s drive to reduce re-offending through skills and employment is to succeed, greater attention must be paid to the needs and perspectives of SMEs. It calls for the government to provide more support for employers, information about the legalities of employing ex-offenders, and improved skills provision in prison to address the needs of the UK economy. Case studies of SMEs which have successfully integrated ex-offenders are included. Other articles in this issue include: ALI calls for ‘action not rhetoric’ over training of offenders / Elizabeth Graney (p.1); Breaking the cycle of crime through learning and skills / Jon Gamble (p.8); Teaching offenders new skills is only one part of the solution / Phil Wheatley (p.9); Offender learning: making the leap from basic skills to level 2 / Liz Lawson (p.10); Trust’s support helps to unlock the potential of offenders / (p.11) Ann Creighton; Shining the light of inspection on learning in prisons / Suzy Powling (pp.12-13); The arts open up new worlds to imprisoned minds / Cecilia Mackay (pp.14-15); Design studio could be a ‘model’ for prison employment / Frances Crook (p.16); Latest government reforms are only the beginning / Jane Bateman (p.17); Alliances will encourage more businesses to employ ex-offenders / Helen Edwards (p.18); How learning and skills can be the way out of offending for young people / Robert Newman (p.19); Society needs the help of employers to reform offenders / Roger Hill (pp.20-21); Dedicated teams help rehabilitate persistent offenders / Suzy Powling (p.21); The arts give offenders ‘an alternative route’ to learning / Clive Hopwood (p.22); Reoffending ‘linked’ to unemployment / Paul Cavadino (p.24); Training in prisons must be ‘appropriate’ for female offenders / Cathy Stancer (p.25); Number of older prisoners set to rise / Bob Crowdrey (p.26).