KEY employers including Aldi, Asos and Marks & Spencer are keen to offer Ukrainian refugees a route back to work in Britain.
It’s not simply a charitable gesture, our businesses are experiencing staff shortages following Brexit and the Covid pandemic.
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Consequently there are thousands of vacancies.
Some companies, such as Tesco, are going further by helping refugees to organise visas and accommodation.
The United Nations says more than 12 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes since the Russian invasion.
While 100,000 visas have been issued for refugees to come here, many thousands of successful applicants are yet to arrive.
Hiring managers want the Government to make it easier for people from the war-torn country to enter the UK.
Recruiter reed.co.uk has found that four in five firms would welcome applications for jobs from Ukrainian workers — and 70 per cent believe they could help ease the nation’s staffing crisis.
The recruiting company’s boss James Reed said: “If Ukrainian refugees are to settle successfully, finding them employment will be crucial.
“The majority of UK employers are enthusiastic about hiring Ukrainians and have identified benefits they can bring to the workforce.”
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A third of firms believe that hiring Ukrainians will increase their workforce diversity, while more than 27 per cent said the main benefit to the company was access to skilled and qualified candidates.
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GET your teeth into a new role with BAKKAVOR.
The food production giant is serving up more than 280 jobs across the country.
Find out more at jobs.bakkavor.com.
WAYS TO HELP US SETTLE IN
FROM the language barrier to cultural differences, how can firms help Ukrainian staff settle in?
Here Ukrainian Olya Kosousova, a senior project manager on the News UK tech team, shares her top tips.
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Olya said: “Ukrainians are renowned for being adaptable, resilient and hardworking, but having a helping hand when you start work in a new country is wonderful.”
- PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES: Ask yourself, if you were a stranger in a new country, what would have helped you succeed in your workplace?
- HELP WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER: It’s not just a new language, it is a new alphabet too. Consider offering English courses, and speak clearly and slow down if needed, so it’s easier for people to understand you.
- SUPPORT WITH CULTURAL INTEGRATION: It is difficult to imagine anything more daunting than having to flee your home in wartime and start a new life in another country. Creating an internal information portal with links to charities and the essential services offered in the UK, such as schooling, nurseries, medical or financial support, all in one place, would be a huge help. It can be confusing to find it otherwise.
- ASSIST WITH SETTLING IN TO THE COMPANY: Buddy programmes, coffee mornings and social events will all help your Ukrainian staff feel welcomed.
- HOUSING HELP: UK housing is expensive and hard to come by. Consider aligning with local charities and housing groups to help your new staff.
TWO ROUTES APPLICANTS CAN FOLLOW
LOUISE Haycock, a partner at global immigration law firm Fragomen, explains the two schemes to bring Ukrainian workers here.
She said: “The routes have different requirements but a similar process, with individuals submitting online applications.
“There are no English language requirements, no government fees, and applications are automatically prioritised.
“Visas issued under both schemes are awarded for up to three years, providing immediate access to work.”
HOMES FOR UKRAINE: Individuals to sponsor applicants and provide suitable accommodation for a minimum of six months.
The scheme is open to Ukrainian nationals or their immediate family members, living in Ukraine on or immediately before January 1, 2022.
See gov.uk/register-interest-homes-ukraine.
UKRAINE FAMILY SCHEME: Applicants must be applying to join or accompany a UK-based immediate or extended family member.
The scheme is open to Ukrainian nationals or their immediate family members, living in Ukraine on or immediately before January 1, 2022.
No requirement for the sponsor to provide accommodation.
See gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-ukraine-family-scheme-visa.
THE Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a global, non-profit network for business founders, is helping Ukrainians into jobs in start-ups and small businesses.
Crucially, it is also raising funds to provide equipment for Ukrainian entrepreneurs to rebuild their own companies.
EO London member Vladimir Potapenko, currently living in Kyiv, said: “Ukrainian businesses are struggling, so if we can purchase and manufacture supplies within Ukraine, we are tackling two major crises at once – humanitarian and economic.”
For more information about the organisation see bit.ly/3yyofx7.
VIRGIN MEDIA WAR EFFORT
VIRGIN Media has launched a recruitment support package for refugees from Ukraine.
It includes an accelerated application process for more than 1,000 roles across the UK; specialist advisors to help place refugees into the right roles; free English lessons; and medical assistance as part of the firm’s employee benefits.
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The phone and broadband giant is making remote video interviews available, including 24-hour on-demand interview availability for some roles.
A Virgin spokesman said: “We will continue to monitor the ongoing situation in Ukraine and work closely with government to enhance and develop these initiatives.”
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CHARITIES across the UK urgently need staff to support Ukrainian refugees.
PROUD TO JOIN A SUPPORTIVE TEAM
BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge already employs dozens of Ukrainian staff and is looking to fill 700 more positions for the summer season.
There are 640 posts across its UK hotels, 40 head office roles in Oxfordshire and 20 Maintenance Engineer positions.
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Viktoriya Maksymets is from Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
The mum-of-one moved to the UK in 2011 with her husband to run a fish and chip shop.
Viktoriya, 40, now works as a member of the housekeeping team in the Leicester Markfield Travelodge.
She said: “Leaving my family and friends behind in Ukraine was immensely tough to deal with and I miss them every day but it was a choice that my husband and I had to make together.
“If I could give some advice to someone who has moved to the UK from another country it would be ‘Just go for it!’.
“It may be scary if you don’t speak the language but there are so many resources available to help you learn, and Britons are so helpful and extremely friendly.
“I absolutely love my role as a Housekeeper team member for Travelodge and I am so thrilled when I get compliments from customers on how perfect their room is – it fills me with pride.
“Not only am I proud to work at Travelodge but I am also incredibly proud to work in such a supportive and fun team.”
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ALDI is opening 8,000 roles to eligible Ukrainian refuges, including jobs in 950 of its stores nationwide.
GROUP AIDS TECHIES TO REBOOT CAREERS
UKRAINE is renowned as a tech hub – meaning many refugees have skills that will be useful to fast-growing businesses.
Industry initiative Fintech Without Frontiers is offering support by connecting refugees with top roles in the sector.
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Firms wishing to offer work must pledge to provide fair pay, undertake an appropriate recruitment process and work sensitively with candidates who may be interviewing in a second language or have endured trauma during the invasion.
Huw Davies, co-founder of Fintech Without Frontiers and chief commercial officer of Ozone API, explained: “We felt we could do something positive by creating a collective and working together to expose all of the growth opportunities in the industry to the displaced talent when they start to rebuild their lives.”
Sign up at fintechwithoutfrontiers.com/our-manifesto.
