longer, sustainable working lives

So much more than career coaching...



Considering future work options? Wanting to future proof your career? Craving work that feels more purposeful?

Brave Starts helps experienced professionals get clearer and re-energised about their future career direction.

As a non-profit we focus on making a difference. For the significant outcomes and impact we achieve, our value is unmatched.

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

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
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2024

Hitting the reset button on my stalled career

After months with no prospect of employment, I'm now in a position to choose which of the three offers in front of me I prefer. Much of the credit goes to Brave Starts, and the positivity and focus they helped me find. The community aspect is wonderful -  others are facing the same problems, and offer support, encouragement, and useful advice.

Ken Pemberton

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.

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)  

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".

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

An image from our new member welcome

Excuse us whilst we take a short break

August is our month to upgrade tech and take a break - afterall, most of you are away yourselves enjoying some good R&R!

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

The Value Exchange

IN-PERSON EVENT
​We're excited to bring you another event in this series where we bring together start ups wanting to scale with members interested in the start up world and how to exchange mutual value.

Sept 7th
An image to showcase what our first workshop in our coaching workshop series covers

The Job Search Reset

If you've been applying for jobs and hearing very little back, it can be difficult to know what needs to change.
Career coach Sarah Bryer hosts an engaging and practical worksop.

Sept 9th
An image to showcase what our first workshop in our coaching workshop series covers

The Silver Economy

Longer lives are creating new growth opportunities. Fellow member Mike Fraser is coming to share the rise of the siver economy, and will open eyes and ignite ideas for future growth and potential.  

Sept 14th
We run linkedin masterclasses. This image shows a phone with the LinkedIn log and a coach who runs this class.

Midlife Pension Check-Up

Join Charlotte Gibson, Founder of Rewirement, EMCC Practitioner Coach and Pensions Actuary, for a practical, jargon-free workshop designed to help you better understand your pension and the choices available to you

Sept 17th

When Work Becomes Identity (2/4)

Dr Nick Earley, Clinical Psychologist & Executive Coach at NavoMind hosts a series of exclusive workshops. Designed to support professionals navigating career and life transitions with greater clarity and confidence.

Sept 21st

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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