Sharp rise in job seekers, employment charity reports

The head of an employment charity which supports the Jewish community has expressed concern over the sharp rise in clients due to job loss and the increasing cost of living.

Debbie Lebrett, the CEO of Work Avenue, told the JC that redundancies had “hit hard” in 2024 and that more families were facing financial struggles.

In 2024, Work Avenue reported a 26 per cent increase in use of its services from the previous year, with nearly 4,000 people seeking employment and business support.

Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett (Photo: photofabulous.co.uk)[Missing Credit]

Figures were reflected in the charity’s annual New Year, New Career event, which saw more than 90 job-seekers come through the door - a significantly higher number than in previous years, according to the charity.

Attendees, who ranged in age and synagogue affiliation, heard from motivational speakers, listened to panel discussions and attended interactive workshops at the offices of event sponsors Patron Capital.

There was also the opportunity to find out about live vacancies and sign up for training courses.

Lebrett said: “The sharp rise in numbers at this annual event echoes what we have seen in all areas of our work. Redundancies and job losses hit hard in 2024, along with the greater financial need many families have due to rising costs.”

The New Year New Career panel featuring employers, recruiters and experts (Photo: photofabulous.co.uk)[Missing Credit]

“What this inspiring day demonstrated is that the support is there to help people build confidence, find the right vacancy, prepare for interview and land their dream job.”

The day began with a panel discussion on “what it takes to succeed” chaired by Charlotte Collins – the editor-in-chief of SheerLuxe fashion magazine.

She advised: “The people who get through the door, and rise fastest, aren’t necessarily those with the right skills or ability – but the people with the best attitude, who go beyond the nine to five and show a true passion for the job and the company.”

Fashion editor Charlotte Collins sharing advice with attendees (Photo: photofabulous.co.uk)[Missing Credit]

Two motivational sessions were led by Nicky Simmons, founder of London Health Consult, and Dr Danny McGuigan, director of Business Development Centre, who used their own personal stories of overcoming adversity to help inspire their audience.

Nicky advised: “Life is unbelievably wonderful, but also unbelievably complicated. It’s okay to not be okay. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

The mix of speakers on the day – including Keith Breslauer, managing partner at Patron Capital, Amanda Reuben, a recruitment consultant, Neil Taub, co-founder of Zoomdoc, and Eszter Bobvos, head of people and culture at JW3 – gave a true insight into what employers and recruiters looked for across a range of sectors.

Lebrett said afterwards: "From those seeking entry-level jobs to those pursuing senior executive roles, there was a strong sense of unity at New Year, New Career, with everyone sharing the same struggles but also the same determination.”

Patron Capital's Keith Breslauer shares his tips for landing a dream job (Photo: photofabulous.co.uk)[Missing Credit]

She said the feedback from attendees had been highly positive, with one participant saying: “Looking for a job can be very lonely. To be with so many talented people, all in the same boat, was comforting and gave me hope.”

Another said: “It’s been a long time since I had to look for work, so to hear about what employers and recruiters look for – along with what they certainly don’t want – will greatly help me as I start applying for jobs again.”