We invest in pensions. Why not our careers?

A community of experienced professionals shaping what comes next

Brave Starts is a non-profit community for experienced professionals who are rethinking their working lives.

We offer you practical, evidence-based career coaching workshops and events to make your options clearer, and a network of 1,000+ remarkable people to work it out with. Along the way you can take on pro bono projects with impressive organisations and meet employers and recruiters who value what you bring.

Try one of our meetings
As featured in multiple publications and parliament:
Our supporters and trusted partners:
Winners of the 2022 Community Award awarded by the ILC
Read our success stories
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2026

Best value for money career support and networking

Bravestarts runs some fantastic insightful sessions providing information, connections and experiences that I would never have accessed on my own! Best value of any career support service I have worked with.

Andrea
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2026

An amazing experience

Brave Starts is a supportive community that host events and workshops to help people navigate career change and transition. They’ve helped me realize that I don’t have to jump at every opportunity that presents itself. Instead, I can be discerning and go for the roles that match my skills and find a role where I will be happy.

CA
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2026

A vibrant community...

One of the most challenging aspects of job searching or career transition is the feeling of “you’re on your own”. Brave Starts not only lets you know that you’re not on your own, it also provides great webinars, content and group connections to help you with whatever transition you’re going through. Great value. Thoroughly recommended.

Andy Carr
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2026

On a career change journey?

The workshops are well structured, very informative & the delivery impressive. They will also challenge your thinking. Joining Brave Starts has helped me get over myself & focus on the change I want to make.

Mark Beavis
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2026

Well worth diving into

I wholeheartedly recommend Brave Starts to anyone who is in the midst of a career change or trying to figure out their 'why' in their 40's and beyond. It's incredibly good value and the workshops and community support were a real lifeline in what was a rollercoaster year for me".

Jon Davies
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2025

Absolutely worth the very reasonable registration fee!

Fantastic emphasis on building community and it's run by the loveliest people who take time to get to know you indiviudally. Highly recommend for anyone who is rethinking their career in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's!

Bella HR
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2024

Genuine, evidence based and all round excellent!

Genuine and excellent, delivering evidence based support to those over 45+. In a world of snake oil " cure all" weekend certificate NLP career coaches, Brave Starts is the real deal! The price is a bargain even for one workshop let alone an entire series! You will learn, network (not as bad as it sounds!) and get a far better handle on the " what next?" for your career.

C Hillman

The Problem we solve:


Most people in midlife have no structured guidance on how to manage career transitions. Recruitment systems often overlook older workers, and traditional career advice doesn’t reflect the realities of midlife or the rapidly changing nature of the work landscape. Brave Starts fills that gap.
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How are we different?
Brave Starts is built on occupational psychology, community insight and evidence-based methods and we are recognised widely for our impact on midlife careers.

As a non profit, we are free to focus on impact and making a difference. We cut through the fluff and focus on what actually works (not what sells or pleases a shareholder)  
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Learn more
  • Clarity on options: our structured programme of coaching workshops help you explore and prepare for different ways of working (portfolio, fractional etc.) whilst getting clear on next work steps

  • Confidence build via practical skill development: 20+ monthly interactive online and face to face workshops enable you to target specific areas at a time and pace to suit you.

  • Build your network: peers, employers, recruiters and experts: Each month,  employers and recruiters target our members for roles: they want to meet our proactive members.  Our community of 1000+ professionals are amazing: get support whilst building interesting connections. Read more about our members‍

MEET SOME OF OUR MEMBERS

An image from our new member welcome

Tony Evans

Brand Strategy director, now portfolio career including careers advisor for the Shaw trust:

"After being unemployed for several months, I joined Brave Starts. I've connected with people on similar journeys, learned from their experiences and received help as I explored different career options".

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An image to showcase what our first workshop in our coaching workshop series covers

Amy Barklam

Amy was MD at HSBC and is now a senior civil servant:

"In a sea of coaching/networking "suppliers" Brave Starts really stands out. Spot on, to the point - bringing in truly helpful experts that are also willing to give their own time. It provides the chance to network with great group of like-minded people across the careers and life spectrum"

We run linkedin masterclasses. This image shows a phone with the LinkedIn log and a coach who runs this class.

Trevor Walford

Trevor was out of work and is now full time with the Science Museum Group:

"Brave Starts is an excellent organisation aiming to support and inspire a generation of workers looking to pivot, re-enter or branch out into new options. They furnish you with the insights to deal with a changing commercial landscape for the older professional"

Cecelia Cheung

After an extended career break, Cecelia is retraining to become a machine learning engineer:

"Life events happen. Not everyone can have a straight career path. Having an organisation like Brave Starts to hold our hands, articulate our fears and build our confidence.. makes this midlife journey that much more bearable".

Graham Heddle

Graham was a Partner in a Private Equity business.  He now has a portfolio career:

"Brave Starts has been fantastic. I was going around in circles, I was unclear, frustrated and anxious. Now I’m excited and energised."

Jeremy Michaels

After working as a freelancer for a number of years, Jeremy is now working full time in a software development business

"Joining Brave Starts has been transformative in ways I couldn't even begun to expect. From the structured rigourously researched and practical coaching to meeting employers and exploring new paths it far exceeded my expectations".

UPCOMING ONE-OFF EVENTS

We run linkedin masterclasses. This image shows a phone with the LinkedIn log and a coach who runs this class.

Sweat Equity for talent investors

Many of our members put their blood, sweat and tears into new ventures. Negotiating your value when passion and energy is at stake is how people build sustainable side hustles.
We encourage all of our members to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and Judy is the UK leader in the market for crafting your own opportunities

Oct 5th 12.30pm
An image to showcase what our first workshop in our coaching workshop series covers

Volunteering Opportunities with GoodWork

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Zoë Morgan, Programme Manager at GoodWork — a charity dedicated to creating fairer employment opportunities for young people from underserved communities.​
GoodWork empowers young people with the confidence, skills and networks needed to launch meaningful careers.

Oct 9th 12.30 p.m
An image to showcase what our first workshop in our coaching workshop series covers

A career in politics?

IN PERSON EVENT
Join us at the Policy Exchange, where we will meet with Baroness Jenkin and former Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

Oct 13th 5.30pm
An image from our new member welcome

Calling the men

Nearly 50% of our members are men. Our experience and evidence shows men face specific challenges in adapting to changes to work and identity. Led by ex Marketing agency director (turned executive coach) these forums offer constructive opportunities to share experience.

Oct 21st 12.30pm
An image from our new member welcome

Brave Starts In Real Life: Member Stories & Connections

IN PERSON EVENT
Join us for a special Brave Starts in-person member meet-up in central London.​This is a chance to connect with fellow members face-to-face, hear real stories, and build meaningful relationships within the community.

Oct 28th 5.30pm
An image from our new member welcome

Expiry Date Never: Rethinking Retirement

At 71, Victoria Tomlinson is more ambitious than ever. After a career packed with reinvention – from engineering and international business to senior leadership at EY, founding an award-winning communications agency and launching ​Next-Up at 63 – Victoria has spent the last decade challenging conventional ideas about age, work and what comes next.

Nov 6th 12.30pm

Get inspired about what’s next.


In our popular newsletter we share insights, practical tips, curated opportunities and stories to help you navigate work in midlife.

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