Debbie Sheldon, at The Blogs

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May 4, 2021, 2:22 PM

15 years of helping people into work, from boom to crash to pandemic

Debbie Sheldon at the Women in the Workplace event, 2020

When we set up Work Avenue in 2006, times were very different. The economy was booming, jobs were abundant and private colleges were a popular choice for training. In fact, my early years with the organisation focused on upskilling people with vocational qualifications which Work...

Mar 3, 2021, 6:03 PM

Has Rishi Sunak’s impossible balancing act delivered hope?

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak outside 11 Downing Street, London, before heading to the House of Commons to deliver his Budget. Picture date: Wednesday March 3, 2021. (Jewish News)

Boris Johnson spoke of the crocus of hope poking its way through the frost and spring being round the corner when he launched the roadmap to end lockdown a couple of weeks ago, but has Rishi Sunak delivered hope for small businesses in his budget...

Feb 12, 2021, 2:06 PM

Charity begins at home, and self-awareness must too

Mental health terms (Jewish News)

Something I’ve come across increasingly in recent years within the community is people whose mental health is suffering in the workplace. For employees, longer hours, extra workloads, the threat of furlough and redundancy due to the pandemic and an increasing need to balance work and...

Dec 2, 2020, 6:25 PM

With unemployment set to soar, there is help at hand for the community

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. via Jewish News

Last week’s statement by Chancellor Rishi Sunak contained some startling figures. Unemployment is expected to reach 7.5% next spring, with 2.6 million people out of work – which will include many members of our Jewish community. If you’re one of those currently unemployed – a...

Oct 28, 2020, 4:35 PM

Support scheme will be vital as we head into winter

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. via Jewish News

This year has been a torrid one for many businesses and employees. Just when it looked like things were getting better, a second wave of coronavirus hit, plunging us into yet more uncertainty. This is no less true for our Jewish community, many of who...

Sep 29, 2020, 4:51 PM

Ten tips if you are facing redundancy as furlough ends

Work Avenue (Jewish News)

With the furlough scheme coming to a close at the end of October, this is a worrying time for many. We have already seen many within our community who were on furlough, being made redundant while others are fearful of what may come next month....

Sep 25, 2020, 4:25 PM

Our community faces more job losses – but together we can get through it

Rishi Sunak.

Like those all across the country, many in our community were glued to their screens yesterday lunchtime as the Chancellor set out the support the Government will offer for employees and businesses as the country faces a predicted second wave of coronavirus. At Work Avenue...

Mar 18, 2020, 7:16 PM

Richard was my teacher, my mentor and my friend

Debbie with Richard (Blake Ezra Photography via Jewish News)

It is still hard for me to think of Richard in the past tense, so much was he a part of my life. Richard first became associated with Work Avenue in 2013 and as with all things Richard did, as soon as he heard more...

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About Me

Debbie Sheldon is CEO of Work Avenue