A practical education and mentoring programme for people in custody, on release and during resettlement. Built for HM Prisons, Probation Services and Rehabilitation Partners.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Beyond The Gate operates in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, bringing academic rigour, credentialled learning pathways and research-informed practice to every programme delivered in custody and during resettlement.
Many learners leave custody with good intentions, but without enough structure, confidence or practical support to turn those intentions into daily progress.
Beyond The Gate combines relatable mentoring with practical learning. Learners work on mindset, communication, employment preparation, enterprise awareness, financial responsibility and a personal action plan they can take into the next stage.
Lived Experience. Business Leadership. Practical Delivery.
Founder & CEO
Lived experience. Business leadership. Practical delivery.
Lee Orrell brings a unique combination of lived experience, resilience, and more than 20 years of business leadership to Beyond The Gate Training Academy. Having experienced the prison system firsthand as a former prisoner himself, Lee understands the challenges that serving prisoners face and the barriers many encounter when preparing for life after release.
Alongside this personal journey, Lee has built a successful career spanning over 20 years in senior management positions within blue-chip organisations, through to serving as Managing Director and CEO of his own successful businesses prior to his imprisonment.
Drawing on the lessons learned from both adversity and achievement, Lee is passionate about creating opportunities for others. Through Beyond The Gate Training Academy, he is committed to equipping serving prisoners with practical, industry-relevant skills, confidence, and the mindset needed to bring their business ideas to life upon release, and to help them reintegrate into society.
20+ years in senior business leadership and as a CEO, combined with firsthand experience of the prison system. Relatable to learners, credible to partners, practical outcomes.
Lived experience reduces defensiveness. Learners respond when the message comes from someone who has faced the same consequences, and rebuilt.
The programme brings credibility and structure: professional, evidence-informed and aligned to education, employability and resettlement goals.
Learners hear from someone who understands the reality of custody, release and rebuilding, without judgement.
20+ years in senior leadership and business ownership gives the programme real commercial credibility.
Delivery is built around clear modules, practical learner outputs and post-release follow-up.
Learners are more likely to engage when the person leading the session understands the reality of custody, release and rebuilding.
The delivery can be honest about responsibility, discipline and change without sounding distant or unrealistic.
Sessions stay focused on practical next steps: confidence, communication, employability, enterprise and accountability.
A structured model for education, mentoring and progression
The academy is designed to help learners understand themselves, communicate better, prepare for work and explore legitimate routes into enterprise or employment.
Classroom-based learning covering mindset, communication, enterprise, employability, digital confidence, money awareness and planning.
Guidance from someone with lived experience of custody, release and rebuilding life—direct, credible and grounded in real experience.
Learners explore work readiness, CVs, disclosure, interviews, business ideas, customers, branding and the realities of self-employment.
Follow-up mentoring keeps the programme connected to real life after release, helping learners maintain routine, focus and positive decision-making.
Each module is designed to be understandable, relevant and usable
Confidence, discipline, resilience, accountability, goal setting and challenging limiting beliefs.
Clear communication, listening, building trust, presenting yourself and negotiating positively.
Business ideas, customers, value, branding, service delivery and routes into self-employment.
Turning an idea into a realistic plan that can support progression, funding or mentoring discussions.
CVs, interviews, disclosure, confidence and preparing for conversations with employers.
Budgeting, money habits, basic business finance and responsible decisions from day one.
Using digital tools and social media positively for communication, work search and business presence.
Follow-up support, structure, check-ins and positive accountability in the critical period after release.
A clear learner journey from mindset through to actionable next steps
Learners explore confidence, discipline, emotional resilience, habits, beliefs and goal setting. The session challenges old patterns and starts building a stronger sense of personal responsibility.
Personal goals and barriers mapped into a simple plan
Learners practise communication, listening, professional behaviour, relationship building and basic sales principles that can be used in employment, enterprise and daily life.
Improved confidence speaking about skills, goals and past experience
Learners explore self-employment, business ideas, customers, service delivery, branding and what it takes to create value in a legal, sustainable and professional way.
Initial business or progression idea tested for realism
Learners build the foundations of a business or progression plan while covering budgeting, money habits, basic business finance and responsible decision-making.
Draft plan with costs, actions and support needs identified
The final day covers CV preparation, interview confidence, disclosure, digital confidence, positive social media use and the learner's next steps after the course.
Personal action plan for work, training, enterprise or further support
Motivational Speaking at HMPPS Authorised Events
Lee Orrell is available to attend HMPPS authorised events to speak motivationally about his personal journey, including:
Open and honest conversations about mental health challenges and recovery
Navigating personal identity and acceptance within challenging circumstances
The journey from addiction to recovery and rebuilding life
Moving beyond incarceration to entrepreneurship and success
Lee's talks provide real-world perspective, hope, and practical insight into the power of personal transformation. His authentic, relatable approach resonates with audiences and demonstrates that change is possible regardless of circumstances.
Interested in booking Lee for your HMPPS authorised event?
Contact us to discuss speaking opportunities and how Lee can inspire your audience.
Reducing reoffending through education, employment and mentoring
Free refurbished laptop support for qualifying learners, helping remove barriers to digital access and progression.
Post-release accountability meetings to help learners maintain focus, routine and motivation.
Support to explore education, training and development opportunities after the course.
Start-up advice and practical guidance for learners exploring legitimate self-employment.
Support with confidence, structure and positive steps back into the community.
A constructive peer community and ongoing encouragement beyond the initial classroom stage.
Download our detailed confidential proposal to learn more about the programme structure, evidence base and partnership opportunities.
May 2026 | In Partnership with Liverpool John Moores University
Bring a practical, credible and professionally structured rehabilitation programme into your education, resettlement or community pathway.