More than 120 people attended Work Avenue’s New Year New Career 2026 event, highlighting the growing need for employment support in the Jewish community.
A 50% increase on last year’s attendance, participants spanned the entire cross-section of the community – from secular to religious, from people seeking entry level jobs to those looking for senior roles, and from students starting to build a career to job seekers in their 60s and 70s.
Held in Central London, the flagship event featured a mix of talks, Q&As and workshops covering all aspects of the job search.
Opening the day, Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett spoke about the challenges people are facing. She said: “We are in a time when the economy is very challenging, the labour market has been cooling, vacancies are falling, graduate roles are tight, and finding employment and building a meaningful career at any stage of life can be tough.
“That’s why Work Avenue is here, firstly to smile and to tell you that it may be all doom and gloom out there, and then to provide a caring, listening ear alongside practical support to help you succeed. We are here to make things work and help our clients to earn a living.”
A very well received opening discussion, hosted by Charlotte Collins (Editor-in-Chief, Sheerluxe), saw employers share their practical advice on what they look for in candidates. The panel gave insights including how to identify transferable and soft skills, the need to customise a CV to a job description, and the importance of fully researching a company and its people before any interview.
In two of the breakout sessions that followed, attendees learned how to turn two common career concerns – the threat of AI and worries about age – to their advantage.
Work Avenue Employment Adviser Richard Linden, who is originally from Southend, looked at how to use AI tools in the job search, helping to research roles, craft CVs and cover letters, and prepare for interview.
Work Avenue Head of Employment Melanie Pearl guided a session on turning experience into employability. She said: “There is age bias out there, that’s just a fact. But how you present yourself makes a difference. It’s time to reframe the narrative and show the strengths organisations need in uncertain times – experience-based judgment, well-developed communication skills, professional maturity and the ability to handle pressure.”
The third session, for which there was standing-room-only, was Launch into Law: Early Careers Unlocked. Attendees were guided through the steps to break into the legal sector, covering trainee solicitor and paralegal pathways, building compelling applications, and positioning transferable skills effectively, even for those without a formal law degree.
After a series of skills taster sessions led by the Work Avenue team – covering career choice, CV, interviews and identifying transferable skills – Adam Taub hosted a final discussion entitled Because You Are Worth It.
Adam, one of the UK’s leading presentation coaches, focussed on how the greatest challenge in securing a job is often believing that you are the right person for it – giving advice on building confidence, creating a network and demonstrating personal strengths.
He concluded: “Getting the job is not just about being yourself… but being the best version of yourself. Employers need to feel you are somebody they want to work with, not just somebody who will be good at the job – but somebody they want to have in the office.”
The event also gave the Work Avenue team the opportunity to lay out the full range of courses and workshops they have in the months ahead. These included the brand-new Career Reboot for Women course, which will offer a mix of practical training, confidence-building and mentoring for women, and includes free Ofsted registered childcare.
Job seekers described New Year, New Career as “practical and inspiring”, “a real lift to my confidence”, and “what I needed to help me find a new job this year.”
On 1–2 February, Work Avenue will run a 36-hour fundraising campaign to ensure they can raise the £1.2million budget it costs to fund their employment and business services.
- Pictures by Leivi Saltman.
