The Hidden Entrepreneur (partner event)

The Hidden Entrepreneur event will highlight the entrepreneurial talent of people in prison as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

You will discover how Entrepreneurs Unlocked and HMP Thorn Cross have been helping people to change their lives and lead crime-free futures.

You will also get to network with other business attendees and those on the programme, hear from several business speakers and enjoy some speed networking.

All of the money raised by ticket sales will be used for a grant on release for the men who are pitching their ideas. Entrepreneurs Unlocked will match fund up to £1000.

Colony Offer:

This event runs in place of Colony Warrington’s standard monthly networking event. We invite you to attend this event to support the initiative as well as network. By way of thanks, anyone registering via this link will receive a credit (value up £10) towards a future Colony event.

The purpose of the event is:

• To promote the entrepreneurial talent of people in prison
• To highlight this pathway for a person to reduce the risk of re-offending
• To demonstrate the social and economic value of entrepreneurship
• To create networking opportunities for both business attendees and programme participants

Event highlights:

Guest speakers, some of which will be people with previous convictions who are now running their own businesses.

A pitching competition, with participants being selected from men at Thorn Cross who have been provided self-employment programmes and support from Entrepreneurs Unlocked, who need support upon release to realise their ambitions. There will be networking opportunities to find out more about the people who are pitching, and the support they have received through Entrepreneurs Unlocked.

Networking skills and activities session.

Lunch to be provided by HMP Pasties, a Bolton based business that employers people with convictions in its business, and the founder being a former prisoner.

Registration requirements:

Guests are asked to arrive from 8.30 for a 9.00 start.

Attendees will need to provide full name, email address, company name (if applicable), as well as date of birth and National Insurance Number. These details will need to be passed on by us to HMP Thorn Cross in order for them to allow access on the day. Attendees will need to bring photo ID (passport or driving license) on the day.

There are certain articles which cannot be taken into the event, a detailed list of forbidden articles will be emailed before the event. Articles can be left in lockers on site, which need a £1 to lock (money is returned).