M&S and Asos among firms trying to hire Ukraine refugees

Image source, Getty Images

When Ukrainian refugees arrive in the UK, major UK businesses are going to offer them jobs.

A group of more than 45 large businesses want the government to make it easier for people driven out by Russia to come to the UK.

Some of the firms involved are Marks and Spencer, Asos, and Robert Walters.

The government's response to the Ukraine refugee crisis has been criticized.

Emma Sinclair is the chief executive of Enterprise Alumni. She said it had gained ground quickly.

Many of the details about how the project will work in practice are not clear.

Ms Sinclair said that many of her ancestors were from Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.

The aim of the project is to help tens of thousands of refugees get jobs in the UK and gain language skills.

Many businesses in the UK have been facing labour shortages due to a combination of factors, and it is in their interests to fill vacancies.

Ms Sinclair said that the consortium was pure altruistic and not acting to promote any particular corporate agenda.

She said that the companies involved, especially the recruitment firms, have thousands of jobs to fill every day of the week.

She said that people are generally good and want to help.

The Sunday Times reported that the initiative wanted to create tens of thousands of jobs.

Ms Sinclair has been in contact with Number 10 Downing Street and is due to have a meeting with the Minister for Refugees on Monday.

Businesses want people, they need people, and they want to help, she said.

The current focus of the initiative is to help refugees from Ukraine rebuild their lives, but in an ideal world the scheme would be extended to all refugees.

The government has been criticized for not moving fast enough to help refugees from Ukraine.

Ms Sinclair said that the UK can do better than it is currently doing.

She said that they want to see the red tape burned.

Image source, Enterprise Alumni

The government made it easier for people with valid Ukrainian passports to come here. Changes to visas will ensure that Ukrainians can stay in the UK.

We have increased our visa application capacity to over 12,000 a week, with additional staff deployed across the EU, and a hotline in place to ensure those who need appointments can get them to come here.

This allows us to balance security risks with welcoming those in need.

Marks and Spencer, which is part of the consortium, said it was committed to supporting Ukrainian refugees both through humanitarian schemes and through jobs.

We are in discussion with the Home Office about the details.

Asos, which is also involved in the initiative, said that they are currently recruiting for many tech engineering roles in the UK and they know that Ukraine has a strong skill set in this area.

We are working with our partners to explore opportunities at our distribution centers in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

The business already has a Ukrainian workforce in Poland so opportunities for newly arrived refugees will exist there, according to Asos.

High street cosmetics business Lush said it was happy to consider refugees for any role, even those who would only be advertised for internal candidates.

The Refugee Council charity will be meeting with its recruiters next week to discuss potential opportunities.

From May and June, it was recruiting web developers and other tech roles, designers, spa therapists and warehouse and retail assistants, as well as temporary staff for the Christmas period.

Toby Fowlston, chief executive of Robert Walters, said the firm was committed to hiring displaced Ukrainians into its own business and would also represent them as potential employees.

He said that they would need government support to help expedite working visas.

Impellam Group, Unit4 and Portman Dental Group are part of the consortium.

Sara Nathan, co-founder of Refugees at Home, said the charity is ready to help the consortium place refugees in accommodation.

For a six-month placement, both the refugees and the people offering space in their houses need to be screened, otherwise it might be a little dangerous.

Ms Nathan said that the processes for dealing with Ukrainian refugees needed to be fair to refugees of other nationalities.

She asked what happened to Afghans.

The Home Office has contacted some of the companies that are not linked to the initiative to offer jobs to refugees.

More than 2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded, and European Union countries have allowed them to come in without a visa for three years.

Only Ukrainian refugees with family connections in the UK can apply for a visa under the Ukraine Family Scheme. The application centers in Ukraine are closed.

Under the new scheme, people will be able to nominate a named individual or family to stay with them rent-free or in another property for at least six months.

There will be no requirement for sponsors to know the refugees in advance and there will be no limit on the number of people who can come to the UK through this route.

Three years leave for refugees will allow them to work and access public services.