From inmates to entrepreneurs

Last month, the Centre for Entreprenuers (CfE) published some brilliant research, From inmates to entreprenuers, looking at the role of setting up businesses and how they can help to break the cycle of reoffending.

We were pleased to support the research by carrying out a survey alongside the CfE which had 158 responses from people with convictions in the community.

As part of the research, 83% said that having a criminal record made it harder to start a business, with 89% saying it made it harder to get insurance for your business.

I was asked to provide a comment for the report. I explained how we know that people with convictions face significant stigma and discrimination from employers as a direct result of their criminal record. Although more work needs to be done on combating this, entrepreneurship is an important alternative that, for some, is the right path towards a productive life as a law-abiding member of society. This research is an important contribution to this area and makes recommendations at both a strategic and operational level to maximise the opportunity that entrepreneurship provides people in achieving their potential.

Written by Christopher Stacey, Co-director of Unlock