Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople in the Jewish community passed on advice to those hoping to follow in their footsteps at Work Avenue’s Start-Up Central event.
More than 100 delegates took part in the online conference, which had the theme of Innovate: Inform: Inspire.
Speakers shared their experiences and tips on everything from the basics of starting a business to being able to pivot and grow in tough situations such as the pandemic.
The keynote discussion was between Rachel Anticoni, COO of the NHS Royal Free Hospital, and Marc Southern, a member of Work Avenue’s WE Hub shared working space who went on to co-found bob.health to help health and social care staff tell their stories.
Marc spoke about the “leap of faith” he and his co-founder took in quitting their day jobs and cashing in their savings to launch the business. He discussed the challenges they faced, how they broke through and the four values they based their business on as they have grown and hired staff.
Marc said: “We launched last April, building our website in just three weeks so we could be online for the first wave of the pandemic, as we believed we really could help the NHS.
“We have faced many challenges along the way. The key to tackling them is resilience and always sticking to your values and culture even as you grow.”
Former BBC reporter and Virgin Atlantic executive Paul Charles gave advice on taking the leap from corporate life to starting your own business. He also spoke about how his travel consultancy The PC Agency survived the pandemic, including the very public Save Our Summer campaign he created to help the entire industry.
Paul said: “Like many businesses we had a rollercoaster of a pandemic but, after a very tough time and a dip, we’ve built back and I believe we are now stronger than ever.
“The lesson for me is something that applies to everyone in business – when a crisis occurs you need to act quickly and decisively and cut as hard and fast as you can, so that you can conserve your cash for when things get better.”
Other speakers at Start-Up Central included Kate Hofman, who co-founded sustainable food company Grow Up Farms, Pizza Hut Europe’s Head of Insights Nick Rabin and Sasha Frieze, who successfully pivoted her conference organising company The Business Narrative to develop online events during the pandemic.
The event ended with a chance for delegates to network with each other and make new contacts as they develop their own business journeys.
Work Avenue Interim CEO Emma May said: “As lockdowns have eased, we are seeing more people in the Jewish community approach us with regard to starting or growing their own small businesses. This event gave them the chance to hear from people who have done exactly that – giving a unique chance to learn from both the successes and the mistakes of others who were once in their position.”
ABOUT WORK AVENUE:
Work Avenue is the community’s leading employment and business support organisation, working across the Jewish community helping people to earn a living either through getting a job or starting a business, regardless of their age or life stage. We touch the lives of over 2,000 people each year. Work Avenue opened the community’s first Employment and Business Hub in 2016, comprising offices, meeting rooms, shared work-space, training rooms and a café. Work Avenue aims to put the importance of helping people into jobs and sustainable employment firmly on the map and at the forefront of our minds as a community.
For further information, contact Janice Shapiro on janice@theworkavenue.org.uk or 020 8371 3280.
