A scheme helping prisoners to develop skills to become self-employed is to be rolled out across more prisons this month.

Bolton-based Entrepreneurs Unlocked, works with people in prison and on probation, providing specialist programmes, advice, and ongoing support, to help people on a new self-employed pathway.

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service awarded the contract to Entrepreneurs Unlocked, and the five prisons set to receive the Self-Employment Service are HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale, HMP Hindley, HMP Liverpool, and HMP Risley and HMP Thorn Cross in Warrington.

David Morgan, Director, and founder of Entrepreneurs Unlocked, said: “I am delighted to be working with these prisons and I am looking forward to helping the prisoners who get involved on the course, on their new self-employed pathway."

David is an ex-prison worker and has worked with people like John  Hastings, director of Recycle-IT CIC.

John left school at 15, with no qualification or formal skills and then had 17 convictions and seven custodial sentences.

Now, he supports the project and prisoners to rebuild their lives.

The Bolton News:

David said: “With re-offending rates still stubbornly high, it is essential that we provide people in prison with an opportunity to work on realistic employment pathways, including self-employed work, where they can become positive contributors to society, and they can begin to see a new future for themselves and their families."

The Entrepreneurs Unlocked Self-Employment Service will work with people in prison, working on their entrepreneurial skills exploration through group sessions and one-to-one activities, both in prison and upon release, with a varied programme of support and online coaching.

Nicola Thomas, Prison Employment Lead at HMP Buckley Hall, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, said: “HMP Buckley Hall has been fortunate to have had the support of Entrepreneurs Unlocked’ for over two years.

"David provides an invaluable support offer to those residing at HMP Buckley Hall who want to explore the different aspects of self-employment and starting your own business.

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“Working closely with myself, the Prison Employment Lead, and working from the Employment Hub David has been able to engage with a range of prisoners at HMP Buckley, including those who are due for release and those progressing onto Cat D, open conditions."

Sessions have already commenced, with very positive feedback from participants saying it has given them a sense of purpose to succeed,  strengths and where they need to develop, as well as to help understand the different options available to them.

To find out more about Entrepreneurs Unlocked visit here.