# Onwards and Upwards: Business Description

Onwards and Upwards is a London-based social enterprise dedicated to breaking the cycle of reoffending by creating meaningful employment opportunities for ex-offenders. Operating from their Lewisham workshop, they tackle one of society's most pressing challenges: helping formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into the workforce.

The organisation runs multiple viable commercial ventures that serve as training grounds and employment hubs. Their flagship initiative, XO Bikes, is a recycled bike enterprise staffed by XO Fixers—trained bicycle mechanics who are themselves ex-offenders. This model proves that employing people with criminal records makes solid business sense, directly challenging employer prejudices and shifting attitudes across industries.

What sets Onwards and Upwards apart is their dual-track approach: they operate training workshops both inside prisons (currently HMP Pentonville with HMP High Down launching soon) and in their community workshop in Lewisham. This inside-and-outside strategy enables participants to develop practical skills, gain recognised qualifications, and secure genuine employment pathways before and after release.

Rather than relying solely on charity, they build profitable, sustainable businesses that require no long-term subsidy. Their philosophy is uncompromising: not every offence should result in a lifetime of unemployment and exclusion. By proving that ex-offenders become dedicated, skilled employees, they're systematically changing narratives and creating genuine second chances.