How Work Avenue helps rebuild careers and lives
AT WORK Avenue, we often meet people at their lowest point. As the community’s leading employment and business support organisation, people turn to us after they’ve lost a job, are experiencing business difficulties or just feel stuck in a role or career they no longer enjoy.
During this period, it can feel like all hope is lost. There are, of course, the financial concerns and struggles that come with the loss of income, especially in the current economic climate. In addition, worries about work and business can lead to anxiety, depression and a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Studies have shown that both physical and mental health can suffer. This is where Work Avenue comes in.
As a charity, we run a number of free services to help with all aspects of finding a job, changing careers or starting or growing a business.
If you’re looking for work, then your first stop should be with one of our experienced and professional employment advisers. Together, we will look at your career options, help to build confidence, identify roles to apply for and map your journey into work.
We offer hands-on practical support including helping you to create an upto-date and appealing CV, write compelling application letters/forms and take part in mock interviews.
Our experts will also look at your current skills and how best to use them to impress a potential employer, as well as exploring any gaps in your skillset and how those can be filled.
In addition, we run free workshops every week covering all aspects of the job search including sessions around CVs, networking, transferable skills and using LinkedIn. Not only will these boost your prospects; they are also a way to meet a range of new people in a similar situation.
For those looking to learn new skills, maybe with a view to changing careers, we offer hugely subsidised training courses in key areas — especially the digital abilities so essential to today’s workplace. What sets our training and development model apart is that it comes with opportunities for paid work projects during and after completion of your course. This provides the chance to gain the hands-on experience vital for any CV, as well as some income.
Finally, through our live jobs board, as well as our thriving WhatsApp and Facebook groups, we are able to bring you the very latest vacancies within the Jewish community and beyond. At any one time, we have around 100 jobs advertised with us — covering parttime and full-time roles in a wide range of sectors and at all salary, experience and job levels.
We also appreciate that many people feel low due to worries in the workplace, which is why we have developed an inwork support initiative, aimed at those starting a new job, as well as those who have been in work a while but may be facing a fresh challenge or thinking about next steps. Services include a soft skills training programme, one-to-one support and access to employment law advice on workplace issues.
On the business side, we know of the stresses and traumas that come with trying to start or grow your own company — especially when things aren’t going well. Again, your first port of call should be our team of wonderful business advisers. Their bespoke advice and support can help whatever stage you’re at in your business journey and especially if you’ve been caught up in the recent downturn.
They can help with creating and developing a brand, planning marketing and sales and thoroughly assessing the viability of a business or a new idea. They are also there to assist you with financial planning, processes and operations, development strategies and staffing. And all at no cost to you.
This one-to-one advice is again supported by workshops and webinars on all aspects of running a business. Topics being covered over the next two months will include sales, negotiation, pricing, AI, social media and networking.
On the first Thursday of every other month, we also hold our Sounding Board event — where up to 20 small business owners and entrepreneurs come together to engage, share issues, brainstorm ideas and collaborate. It’s a great way to meet new people, many of whom will share the same struggles you have, and receive unbiased advice and feedback from peers in a supportive and confidential framework.
For nearly two decades we have been helping people rebuild their careers, and often their lives, after the shock of a job loss or business challenge. If you’re in that position — or you just need general employment or business support and advice — please get in touch today via
We offer hands-on practical support