Hugs and whoops of joy as our five Dragons’ Den winners are named

 
Fitness plan: Sam Walker is congratulated by his mother

They were scenes of joy never before witnessed within the grim walls of HMP Isis.

Prisoners whooped, mothers wept tears of happiness, fathers welled up. Even the otherwise composed prison governor, Grahame Hawkings, got caught up. He came charging across the hall, keys jangling, and bear-hugged an inmate like he was his own son.

The cause for this jubilation was that five prisoners had just won the opportunity of a lifetime. They had battled through several rounds of a unique competition that had been open to hundreds of inmates at two London prisons and, after presenting to a Dragons’ Den-style panel, had earned the chance to launch their own social business idea.

The day had begun with eight shortlisted prisoners — four young men from HMP Isis, four young women from HMP Holloway — being led from their locked cells dressed in their glad rags and nervously clutching their business plans. They had been preparing for this showdown inside Isis Prison in south-east London for four months.

Between them, the eight finalists were guilty of an array of crimes that included fraud, robbery, burglary, drug importation and intent to supply class-A drugs. Most were repeat offenders, part of the 60 per cent of young prisoners who re-offend within a year of release. This was their moment. With just five winning places available on our Frontline London social entrepreneur programme, the final eight knew they had to impress.

The plan was for men to pitch in the morning, women in the afternoon. At stake for each winner was an £8,000 start-up grant, a business mentor, and a 10-month programme beginning after their release in May with our campaign partner, the School for Social Entrepreneurs. The initiative costs £105,000 to implement and is funded by philanthropists Mark and Mo Constantine, co-founders of Lush Cosmetics.

Steely: Pablo Sharpe pitching

Serial offender Pablo Sharpe, 23, had taught himself to read in prison and had never done public speaking, and he began so softly that the judges strained forward to hear. “Hello, my name is Pablo, I have only had one birthday out of prison in eight years,” he said. “I have two young children now and I want to do right by them and I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Sorry it’s so late that I finally realised that.”

He paused to take in the six judges in a semi-circle in front of him. Like the other finalists, he had three minutes to pitch his idea followed by 10 minutes of grilling. Behind him were chairs for friends and family of the finalists. Pablo, alone, had nobody. He had been fostered as a teenager and nobody had come to support him.

Yet Pablo grew in confidence as he told the judges why they should back him. “This sentence has been long and hard and dark, but I have made excellent use of my time in prison and gained many cleaning qualifications,” he said. “My business idea is an ecologically friendly cleaning service that employs ex-offenders and won’t cost you the earth.” He smiled. “I won’t sell you a stake in my business, but I want you to take a stake in me.”

Panellist Gina Moffatt, herself a former offender who has since started her own florist Blooming Scent, was the first to respond: “You spoke from the heart, Pablo, I believe you can do this, I have three businesses now and I will be your first customer.”

Judge Stephen Barthorpe, head of community engagement at Mitie, said that specialising in forensic cleaning of blood spills, as Pablo’s business plan amplified, gave him a unique selling point. The other judges were Holloway governor Julia Killick, Alastair Wilson, CEO of the School for Social Entrepreneurs, Lush’s Mo Constantine and myself for the Evening Standard.

Innovative idea: Katie Crilly with David Cohen and other judges

Richard Grimwood, 22, a convicted burglar, told the panel he had become an avid gardener in prison and wanted to open a landscaping business that employed ex-offenders.

“I came in not knowing a rose from a lily,” he said. “I thought gardening was rubbish and I came here and I done it and I loved it.” He asked the judges to turn round in their seats. “Those colourful flowers in the beds behind you,” he gestured proudly, “I planted them four months ago.” We also heard from Derin Cag, 25, whose idea is an online business journal, and Sam Walker, 26, a convicted cocaine supplier whose idea is to run “brides to be” and family fitness boot camps in local parks.

After Sam’s pitch, his mother, Geraldine, 56, said: “Watching him, my hands were absolutely soaked. I couldn’t be more proud. Win or lose, I have noticed a big change in Sam.”

Next came the four women from Holloway. Single mother-of-three Derina Douglas, 30, imprisoned for importing drugs, said she wanted to set up a single mum’s support network for her community in Brixton, offering education as well as entertainment. “I thought coming to prison was the end of the world. My reputation as a mother had sunk so low. I’ve had to take a hard look at myself, pick myself up and start again. Please invest in me and help me help my community,” she said.

Committed: Derina Douglas with judges

There were solid pitches too by Georgia Wilsher, 25, for a mobile hair salon, and from a heavily pregnant Teresa John, 30, for a mums’ pushchair café, followed by chartered accountant Katie Crilly, 30, doing time for fraud, and seeking to open an academy offering mini-taster vocational courses. All were well researched, all well presented, all clever and credible ideas.

Then, after four hours, it was time for the judges to confer and select the top five. For the candidates and their families, it was sweaty palm time. The tension in the room was electric as, one by one, the winners were announced: “Sam Walker, Derina Douglas, Katie Crilly, Richard Grimwood. And finally … Pablo Sharpe.”

Sam’s mother hugged him and cried. Derina’s mother buried her head in Derina’s sister and wept. Katie embraced her fiancé. In the midst of the melee, Pablo stood alone, but beaming. Governor Hawkings threw his arms around him, lifting him off the ground. “I have watched this boy really change,” said Mr Hawkings. “All these youngsters who presented today, winners and losers, they absolutely nailed it.”

Pablo was ecstatic: “Two whole prisons applied and they chose me! People always said I had the potential to be a drug dealer or a robber, but this is the first time people have backed me for good. I feel like I’m flying. I don’t even feel like I’m in prison right now. It’s like I can walk through that wall. I don’t want this day to end. Now I can make my children proud of me.”

Sam draped his arm around his mother. “I have a confession,” he said. “Two weeks ago, I had a crisis of confidence and nearly pulled out, but my mother and the governor encouraged me to stay in, and my friends on the wing said: ‘You can’t quit now!’ Some people judge us as scum, but this programme can change the way the public view us.” He shook his head. “It’s still sinking in. I’m a businessman now. I’ve got to conduct myself as a businessman now. Thank you for the opportunity. I will make London proud.”

The winners are...

The Brides-to-Be Boot Camp Trainer

Sam Walker, 26, Chelmsford, Essex

A former trainee investment broker with 12 good GCSEs, Sam is a repeat offender who has been sentenced for intent to supply cocaine, dangerous driving and carrying an offensive weapon. He is finishing a 15-month term.

His idea: A family-friendly fitness boot camp called Unite aimed at parents and including a brides-to-be boot camp, monthly family days and one-to-one personal training to be held in parks, sports halls or playing fields.

Judges’ comments: “Articulate, poised, ready to change and with the focus, drive and passion to tap into this market and create a niche for himself.”

The Mums-Networker

Derina Douglas, 30, Brixton

A single mother of three, Derina is a first-time offender who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years for importation of cannabis as a “drug mule”.

Her idea: To set up a mothers’ support network in Brixton called Link ’N’ Mums with computer sessions, book clubs and tea mornings, mostly for single or co-habiting mothers up to age 30.

Judges’ comments: “Deeply committed with a track record of running events, she will go far but should think further about income streams.”

The Landscape Gardener

Richard Grimwood, 22, Newham

The son of a lorry driver, Richard was sentenced to 32 months for burglary. “I have used my time inside to address my issues with cannabis and alcohol, to be a peer mentor helping others, and to gain qualifications. I did my Level 1 in practical horticulture, Level 2 in trimmers and mowers and I do the prison gardens.”

His idea: A landscape gardening social enterprise called Green Pass, which would employ ex-offenders as well as former alcohol and drug users.

Judges’ comments: “Mature, confident and highly focused, he has the training to be up and running from day one and should change his life as well as others.”

The Industrial Cleaner

Pablo Sharpe, 23, Croydon

The son of a single mother, Pablo left mainstream school at eight and was later put into care. He has served four sentences for, among other things, robbery and public disorder. “I taught myself to read in prison and took English and maths to GCSE level,” he said.

His idea: An ecologically friendly industrial cleaning business called Green and Clean, employing ex-offenders and specialising in forensic cleaning, but also domestic and commercial spaces. Pablo completed his Level 2 British Industrial Cleaning Science qualification and Level 1 in biohazards inside prison and has been a “wing cleaner” at Isis.

Judges’ comments: “Quietly-spoken but steely and determined, could be a star.”

The Taster Course Entrepreneur

Katie Crilly, 30, Tottenham

A chartered accountant, Katie was imprisoned for four years for defrauding two employers of £595,000. “I was in denial but when I got to prison I started to engage with the terrible things I had done, how I lacked self-esteem and craved approval,” she said. “I have built my character: I teach other prisoners to read and I am a ‘listener’ supporting inmates.”

Her idea: To set up the Fearless Mini-Academy, offering taster vocational courses such as plumbing, knitting and cooking, ranging from one day to six weeks, and linked to apprenticeship placements.

Judges’ comments: “Superbly prepared, empathetic and clever. Hers is an innovative idea that needs sharpening but she has the ability to nail it.”

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