Bolton social enterprise to support “budding entrepreneurs” in five prisons in North West

Entrepreneurs Unlocked CIC is working with “budding entrepreneurs”, currently in custody across five prisons in the North West, to help them to explore a pathway to self-employment, and to earn a legitimate income post-release.

Bolton based Entrepreneurs Unlocked works with people in custody, ex-offenders, and armed forces veterans, to help them to become self-employed, through a combination of face-to-face workshops and online learning.

This contract sees the social enterprise providing a range of workshops and coaching sessions at HMP Thorn Cross, HMP Liverpool, HMP Risley, HMP Hindley, and HMP Buckley Hall, working with men in custody to develop their ideas for self-employment across a variety of sectors including construction, catering, and horticulture.

Entrepreneurs Unlocked founder, David Morgan, said: “I am delighted to be able to deliver our programmes to these men who wish to develop their entrepreneurial talent.

“I’m looking forward to working with them, helping them to develop their ideas, and to ultimately be able to support them on their journey to earning a legitimate income in the future.

“Enabling people to consider self-employment, whilst in custody or upon release, is an increasingly important and potentially stable pathway for people upon leaving prison. There is significant talent that, with the right support, can be nurtured and will enable the person to be a better version of themselves.”

Providing “high-quality” programmes in custody is said to have a positive impact on community reintegration. Previous studies conducted by the Ministry of Justice and the Prisoner Education Trust have indicated that those who have accessed distance learning programmes are more likely to be in employment during the first 12 months of release.

The hope is for the Entrepreneurs Unlocked initiative to reinforce this, and for the participants to join the 4.2 million people in the UK who are registered as self-employed.

Lisa Cheshire, head of learning, skills and employment, at HMP Thorn Cross added: “It is really important for our men to develop their own initiative and independence, so taking themselves into self-employment with the skills they have learnt for themselves in prison is huge for them, and it is really important to provide them with this new route to employment.”