Entrepreneurs Unlocked is celebrating its successful bid for a Winter Support Grant from Clinks to help prison leavers into a self-employed career in construction.

HM Prison and Probation Service have funded this initiative through Clinks’ Covid-19 winter support grants programme to deliver its new Smart Subcontracting Programme. The programme helps prison leavers pursue a self-employed construction career as a subcontractor. The Clinks grant is delivered to small and specialist organisations working in the criminal justice system across England and Wales.

David Morgan said: “The labour market will be challenging in the future, but with construction spending set to rise, self-employment can be a sustainable pathway for prison leavers.

“To prepare those leaving custody with the best chance possible, we have created the Smart Subcontracting Program. This program provides prison leavers with detailed knowledge of becoming legally registered subcontractors in the construction sector.

“Our initial target group will be men from HMP Hindley considering self-employment post-release, either by setting up a small business or being a subcontractor in the construction industry.”

“We are looking for construction businesses, initially in the North West, to work with us to provide opportunities for prison leavers who have completed our programme and to help give these men a chance to return to society with a new start and a new career in construction.”

Lucy Clayson, Learning and Skills Manager at HMP Hindley, said: “This route provides sustainable employment and career progression that combines an area of high interest amongst our population with a labour market set to see high growth in the area of construction. The Smart Subcontracting Programme provides an excellent opportunity for men to leave HMP Hindley equipped with the knowledge and skills to support successful self-employment within the construction sector. It will also reduce the risk of them reoffending.”

What Does The Smart Subcontracting Programme Include?

The Smart Subcontracting programme includes practical advice on where to look for work, how to stay at work, and how to manage money and comply with the requirements of HMRC. It will also provide essential CITB Health and Safety in a construction environment and learning resources to prepare participants for the necessary qualifications and their CSCS Labourer card. In addition, prison leavers who complete the programme will be given assistance in registering with the HMRC, access to online accountancy software and the support needed to start work as a self-employed subcontractor.