Shraga Zaltzman, the chief executive of an organisation dedicated to helping people in the Jewish community develop long-term sustainable incomes, has been honoured with an MBE.

In just nine years, Work Avenue (formerly TrainE–TraidE) has become the community’s primary business and employment charity, currently helping around 2,000 people a year. The opening of a Finchley-based Business and Employment hub in January has allowed the organisation to further expand its services, helping people to find jobs or start their own companies.

Speaking about his award, Mr Zaltzman, 40, said “I am humbled, yet delighted to have been awarded an MBE and feel very fortunate to have received it. I hope that this award will bring to the fore the essential work that Work Avenue does and the critical service it provides to so many people across the community.”

Councillor Daniel Thomas, deputy leader of Barnet Council, congratulated Mr Zaltzman and went on to call Work Avenue “a jewel in the crown of Barnet… an excellent example of how a community can work together, supporting each other to achieve greater good”.

As a non UK citizen, Mr Zaltzman received his honour via the Foreign Office Awards list rather than the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.