A pair of businessmen who took big risks to set up an ‘Airbnb for schools’ have won the Jewish community’s biggest business prize.  

Lifelong friends Charlie Gothold and David Nevies created School Hire in 2015, an online platform which helps educational institutions bring in additional revenue by renting out their facilities outside of school hours. 

Now they have won Business of the Year at the prestigious Work Avenue Business Awards, held in Finchley.

Gothold, who spent six years working for the global law firm Dentons, described how the business struggled for many years. He said: “At first, people couldn’t see the advantages of doing this online – preferring the old more time-consuming methods. I began to think that we were mad to leave our jobs.

“Ironically it was Covid which turned our business around. Even though it put a complete stop to our work at the time, people became used to do everything online. It has been amazing to see all our hard work and dedication pay off.” 

Work Avenue team

Debbie Lebrett and the Work Avenue staff team (Credit: Leivi Saltman Photography)

David described how the help from Work Avenue – the Jewish community’s leading business and support organisation – has been invaluable. He said: “When we were a very small start-up – with no money and nowhere to work – Work Avenue gave both of us a space and the advice we needed to grow. We are so proud to have won this award.” 

Meanwhile, Joe Woolf and Nick Sunshine won the Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award for their Tasty Mates business, an environmentally conscious sweets company.

Woolf said: “I actually met my business partner Nick Sunshine here at Work Avenue. I was working at FZY and he was at UJS and it all started that week almost four years ago – so it feels amazing to be back winning this prize.” 

Another victor on the night was KLBD – the largest Kosher agency in Europe – which was named Employer of the Year. 

Director of KLBD, Rabbi Jeremy Conway said: “At KLBD, we promote kashrut in the community as best we can, but we never forget that we also share people’s simchas and help them when things are not so good. 

“I am reminded of Lord Sacks’ wonderful words about the hoarding in New York advertising Chase Manhattan Bank that said, ‘you have a friend at Chase Manhattan’ and some wag had scribbled on the bottom ‘…but at Bank Leumi you have mishpacha (family).’ 

“I want to thank my KLBD mishpacha, the United Synagogue who provide all the professional back-up which we need and, of course, Work Avenue for the wonderful job they do. Thank you all so much.” 

Work Avenue

Rabbi Jeremy Conway receives KLBD's award from Work Avenue chair Mark Morris (Credit: Leivi Saltman Photography)

There were also awards for Bernard Jacobson of the company Wasted, for Micro Business of the Year and Suzanne Benjamin, The Admin Guru, who was named Freelancer of the Year. 

Bernard Jacobson, accepting the award from his home in Gateshead via video link, said: “I am so honoured to receive the award and am so grateful to Work Avenue for all their help and support for my business and so many others in our community.” 

Benjamin said: “One of my first clients was Lady Jakobovits. If she knew someone was in trouble, or needed assistance, she would be on the phone at any time, even midnight.

"She knew that it was all about people and caring for each other. That is why, I feel very strongly about what Work Avenue do – giving people the ability to work for themselves.” 

More than 100 nominations were received for the Business Awards, which celebrate the hard work and dedication of the Jewish community’s wonderful entrepreneurs and small businesses. 

Introducing the evening, Work Avenue CEO Debbie Lebrett said: “This was my first Work Avenue Business Awards, and the entire process has been inspirational. From the high calibre of nominations, to the fantastic judging panel and finally the Awards evening, I understand why this is a staple in the communal diary.”