Self-Employment across Scotland's Prisons
July 20, 2026Posted by:
For many people leaving prison, the traditional job market can feel closed before they have even applied. Self-employment offers another route, one where a person’s own idea, effort and plan can open a door that a recruitment process might otherwise keep shut.
Over the past year, PeoplePlus has grown its self-employment offer across the Scottish prison estate, helping people prepare for a genuine route into work after release. We have delivered self-employment support for over 30 years in England, both to people in prison and through successful government contracts. Extending that offer into Scotland's prisons, where we already deliver the learning and education contract on behalf of the Scottish Prison Service, was a logical next step. The programmes take participants step by step, from an initial idea to a viable business, covering market research, financial planning, marketing, pricing and networking. Sessions are delivered in a relaxed, discussion-based setting that combines group learning with one-to-one support from our Business Advisors.
The impact is already visible across several establishments. In October 2025, working with Capital City Partnership, we supported eleven individuals at HMP Edinburgh. Every participant finished with a structured business plan and a clearer sense of how to create their own opportunities. On the final day, one participant, chosen by his group, pitched his business concept to staff and peers, later describing the workshop as the most worthwhile activity he had taken part in during his entire time in prison. Two participants started trading immediately on release, two more will trade once licence restrictions end, and at least four others plan to trade in future.
Building on this, we delivered the programme to a group of women at HMP Bella, where participants worked through financial forecasts and business plans before developing and presenting a joint business on the final day, with a visit from the then Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service and the prison Governor. At HMP Inverness, following productive discussions with Balfour Beatty, we delivered another self-employment programme in May. Six people took part across ten sessions, with five completing in full, and Balfour Beatty donated laptops so that each participant could produce a business plan and cashflow forecast tailored to their own idea.
We are now launching a new twelve-month pilot with Rift Social Enterprise, running across HMP Perth, HMP Castle Huntly and HMP Grampian. Participants will receive tailored one-to-one support in the final six months of their sentence, with the option of continued support after release, and 900 in-cell learning workbooks will be distributed across HMP Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Low Moss, Dumfries and Inverness. The pilot will test whether consistent, relationship-based support improves the likelihood of someone moving into and sustaining self-employment, with an independent evaluation led by the University of Westminster.
Self-employment will not be the right route for everyone. For those it does suit, the evidence from across Scotland is that a good idea, backed by the right support, can become a real plan for life after release.
July 20, 2026Posted by:
