You are invited to join the ‘United for Ukraine’ webinar on Friday 24th February
- Monday, February 20, 2023
- Posted By The Growth Company
Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in the UK continue to need our help – because finding a job and accessing new skills in a different country can be a daunting experience.
That’s why United for Ukraine was formed in April 2022 by a coalition of business leaders and organisations across the north of England - including the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT), with support from the NP11 group of Local Enterprise Partnerships.
At the start, it wasn’t clear if the initiative would be needed for a few weeks, months – or longer. 10 months on, United for Ukraine continues to support evacuees coming to our region and its services are as relevant as ever.
The initiative offers a crucial point of contact through its two key workers - formerly from Ukraine - who help listen to and support queries from Ukrainian refugees. Their services and employment and education advice is truly making a difference – it’s a vital part in the refugees’ introduction to the UK.
We’re continuing to work with employers who offer good job opportunities to Ukrainian refugees in a supportive environment – jobs for a minimum of three months which contain salary details and pay at least the Real Living wage of £10.90 per hour. The website provides helpful information for refugees and a searchable list of jobs from employers who have committed to providing them.
Mariana Boichuk shares her story and how she used the United for Ukraine services to secure a job as a seamstress at a local business:
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“In partnership with employers across the region, we’re continuing to support Ukrainian people who have been displaced to settle in our region by helping them to find employment and education opportunities.
“Since United for Ukraine launched in April last year, over 140 employers from across the region have stepped up, advertising over 400 opportunities through the jobs board. We’ve had over 112 job starts through the initiative so far.
“This is a fantastic achievement, but there is still more we can do. We need to go further and encourage more partners to come on board. We are appealing to all employers – in any sector and across the North – to advertise jobs on the United for Ukraine site.”
Hear more from Andy Burnham in this short video where he praises the United for Ukraine initiative for supporting over 100 refugees into work:
Emma Degg, Chief Executive of the North West Business Leadership Team, said:
"United for Ukraine demonstrates what a small and committed group of northerners can achieve through common endeavour. Business leaders and our public sector partners – led by the Growth Company - have provided meaningful and practical support to those fleeing violence who are now our neighbours.
“It has delivered much needed jobs and support for evacuees – and brilliant new employees for businesses across the region. We remain committed to supporting the initiative for as long as it is needed – and call upon other businesses to get involved too.”
The refugee crisis created by the conflict hasn’t gone away. We need more employers to support United for Ukraine as we continue to widen our reach across the North into Yorkshire and the North East. To mark the one-year anniversary, we invite you to hear about the initiative’s story so far… its achievements, its future ambitions, and the challenges we face – and how you and your business can help.
Click here to reserve a spot on the United for Ukraine webinar on Friday 24 February: 11am until midday.
To find out more about United for Ukraine – and what support and jobs are currently available, visit the website, call 0161 237 4130, or email jobs@unitedforukraine.org.uk Ukrainian refugees can visit the website, call 0161 237 4131, or email robota@unitedforukraine.org.uk