The Hardman Directory

Self-employment can involve risks as well as great opportunities. There is much to consider before deciding to commit time and energy to become self-employed. We have included, in the 'Funds' section, details on one or two funders that may be worth approaching to help on your path to self-employment. This section on self-employment contains the following:

a reference to an Access to Work grant, and to a social enterprise grant, to help with either a business or a social enterprise start-up
The Escape Route that gives away a range of free DVDs on setting up different types of small business
an article by the Chairman of a private equity partnership, relating to business start-up
an excerpt from a letter written by an entrepreneur to someone who wants to start a barbering business
two inspirational stories of people who have served prison sentences and have started their own small businesses
an article on where to look for grants

Before it merged with the Learning and Work Institute, NIACE produced an easy-to-read resource entitled ‘Let’s Talk about Self-Employment’. This can still be accessed by following this link: www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/24321175/lets-talk-about-self-employment-pdf-niace Perhaps you can ask someone on the 'outside' to download it for you, or you can do so yourself on a home leave.

Tapping into support in prison

You may be able to tap into support to develop your business idea whilst still in prison. Examples of business course providers include:

Learn Direct – www.learndirect.com Tel: 0800 101 901
ICS Learn – www.icslearn.co.uk Tel: 0333 920 6584
Stonebridge Associated Colleges – www.stonebridge.uk.com Tel: 0121 392 8288

Some prison education departments offer accredited business courses that may be useful to attend.

Enterprise Exchange: www.enterpriseexchange.org.uk – Have delivered self-employment courses in HMP Belmarsh.

Tapping into support in the outside community

If you are disabled you may get extra support with an Access to Work grant. For more information go to www.gov.uk/access-to-work speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 9344, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Another organisation that may be worth approaching for support in starting up a social enterprise is UnLtd – www.unltd.org.uk Tel: 0207 566 1100 or 0800 917 7113.

Entrepreneurs Unlocked – provide one-to-one self-employment support in the north west prisons. Contact david@entrepreneursunlocked.org for details.

National Enterprise Network (NEN) provides a directory of business start-up resources for people on release www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org

The following websites offer resources for self-employed people including practical advice, links to business services like bank accounts, and business mentoring.
Government advice for business and the self-employed – www.gov.uk/browse/business
Through the Gate – throughthegate.co.uk
Mentorsme – www.mentorsme.co.uk