Grit to Gloss: How Danny Turned Setbacks into Shine
December 06, 2025Posted by:
When Danny walked into the first session of the Self-Employment Skills Academy at HMP Edinburgh, with PeoplePlus Business Advisor Gordon, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Self-employment was an idea he had toyed with, but never had the structure, confidence or support to explore properly. Over the next two weeks, however, that changed not just for his business idea, but for his outlook on life after release.
Danny attended the course every day, fully engaging in the group discussions and activities. Halfway through week two, he asked for a one-to-one session to dig deeper into his ambition to start a car detailing and retouching business. This conversation helped him shape his idea more clearly and left him feeling, for the first time, that it might genuinely be achievable.
One of the biggest turning points came on Day 9, when the group moved into the prison’s computer room. It was Danny’s first time using it. With support and a structured template, he produced his first-ever business plan and a full financial projection for his first year of trading. For someone who had never put his thoughts on paper in this way, the experience was transformative. It allowed him to organise his ideas, see a clear route forward and recognise that he had something worth building.
The final day brought another milestone. Split into groups, participants developed and pitched their own mock business concepts. Danny’s group selected him to present - a role he took on with confidence and clarity. Standing at the front of the room, speaking to staff and peers, he demonstrated not only what he had learnt, but how far he had come in such a short time. He later said that the experience strengthened his confidence ‘not just in the business side of things, but in himself.’
What stands out most in Danny’s story is the impact on his mindset. He shared openly with the group and the Deputy Governor that he had recently been up for parole. When it wasn’t granted, he felt disappointed - until he completed the programme. By the end of the two weeks, he said he was glad he hadn’t been released earlier! If he had, he explained, he would have missed the opportunity to take part, and he described the workshop as “the most worthwhile activity I’ve taken part in through my entire time in prison.”
Danny finished the course with newly built confidence, a sense of direction, and a structured plan he could take forward in preparation for his release in December 2025. More importantly, he left with a renewed belief that he can build a positive future for himself.
The Self-Employment Skills Academy didn’t just help Danny shape a business idea; it helped him reshape his self-perception. It gave him tools, clarity and hope. That, more than anything, is the measure of its impact.
This two-week self-employment skills course, with Capital City Partnerships in Edinburgh, supports people who want to explore self-employment as a genuine route into work, particularly those who may not see traditional employment as accessible. The programme offers a clear, step-by-step introduction to turning an idea into a viable business, covering essential areas such as an introduction to self-employment, market research and business status, financial planning, marketing and social media, pricing products and services, marketing strategy and planning, networking and business planning.
Sessions are delivered in a relaxed, discussion-based setting by experienced PeoplePlus Business Advisors who provide both group guidance and one-to-one support. By the end, participants leave with a structured business plan, greater confidence in their abilities and a clearer understanding of how they can create their own opportunities after release.
December 06, 2025Posted by:
