Employability for Ukrainians
Employment in the UK is an important part of migration and settling into your local community. Many Ukrainians wish to find work and want to find employment quickly to provide financial support for themselves and their family.
This webpage will provide lots of information about employment in the UK, in the hope that it will be beneficial for Ukrainians wishing to find employment, or for those already employed looking for further advice and support.
If there is a particular area of employment that you are interested in, such as local employment support, you can use the ‘table of contents’ above to take you to that section.
Job Searching Applications and Websites:
In an ever-growing digital world, there are increasingly more job opportunities being advertised online. Here are some of the most common platforms used in the UK to help you find a job, with links to their individual websites.
The indeed website can be visited via the button below
The Reed website can be visited via the button below
The Monster website can be visited via the button below
The Jobsite website can be visited via the button below
You can also apply for jobs directly on a company’s website; big companies such as the NHS and Amazon often list their own job vacancies. If you are interested in a particular company, go to their website and search for ‘vacancies.’
LinkedIn is also a useful tool when searching for work. It is a professional networking site, great for networking and career development, but also for researching companies and job searching. LinkedIn is free to use, you can sign up and create an account here.
Employment Rights in the UK
When you are working, you are entitled to the same employee rights as everyone else in the UK. When you get a job, you should also get a job contract or a job agreement. The terms and conditions of your work will be in your contract or agreement (this includes things like the number of hours you will work and how much you are paid). Make sure you read this carefully, with an interpreter, if necessary, before you sign.
In the UK there are three main types of employment status, these are:
- being self-employed
- being a worker
- or being an employee.
Employment laws are different for workers and employees, both are entitled to:
- a minimum wage of £10.42 an hour if you are over 23.
- entitlement to a minimum of a 20-minute break if you work for more than 6 hours a day.
- protection from illegal discrimination.
- to work a maximum of 48 hours on average in a week or to opt out of this right if you choose.
- protection against your employer taking money from your wages.
- being treated the same as someone who works full time if you work part-time.
- protection if you report wrongdoing in a workplace.
Workers get some specific employment rights but have more flexibility over when, how much, and where they work. Employees get full employment rights and may also get sick pay, maternity pay, paternity pay, shared parental pay, and adoption pay.
It is illegal in the UK to discriminate against anyone applying for a job or in the workplace because of gender, race, religion, being married or in a civil partnership, disability, age, sexual orientation or being pregnant.
Gov UK has produced guidance on employment rights, and guidance on moving to the UK, including how to access public services and correctly prove their right to work.
ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
ACAS offer free impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice to both employers and employees. They work with millions of people every year striving to improve workplace relationships and they have lots of helpful resources on their website, which can be accessed via the button below.
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
For those working or looking to work in the NHS it is helpful to know about the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which can be accessed by clicking the button below. The company independently investigates complaints about UK government departments, other public organisations and the NHS in England.
National Employment Support
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) offer support for many issues, for example: benefits, housing, debt, health immigration, education. The have produced guidance on work, pay, worker rights, redundancy, discrimination and more by clicking the button below. You can find your local citizens advice here.
National Careers Service
National Careers Service provides high quality, free and impartial information advice and guidance to help citizens make decisions on learning, training and work. It is available to all adults in England over the age of 13, you can access their website by clicking the button below.
Ukrainians Welcome
Ukrainians Welcome also has information on working in the UK, understanding your rights, and how to find work. For more information please click on the button below.
Just Good Work
Just Good Work is a free interactive mobile app, providing jobseekers and workers with information and advice on the journey to employment from recruitment.
Local Employment Support
Different local authorities across the North East offer support to help the people in their area get into work and lead fulfilling working lives. Each area will offer different support but it may include things like information, advice and guidance, coaching and mentoring and learning and skills opportunities. The buttons below will take you to each local authorities’ Employment Hub – however the local authority will only provide support to people that reside within their area. For example, if your local authority is Newcastle City Council, you would click on ‘Newcastle WorkandThrive.’
References, Volunteering and DBS
References
To work in the UK you need a reference. There are typically two types of reference-
- The best type of reference is from your previous employer (or from a Voluntary Sector Organisation.) It is very hard to get a job without an employer reference from a UK company.
- Another type of reference is a character reference from someone British. You could ask your sponsor, or another trusted person who knows you.
Volunteering
Volunteering has many benefits. One benefit is to get a reference to show to future employers. (Read about other benefits of volunteering.) However, most organisations will not accept you as a volunteer if you have no reference from an employer. It depends which role and which organisation.
How can volunteering help you?
If you do some volunteering (and if you show that you are reliable, punctual and helpful) then you could get a reference. You need to do enough hours or weeks of volunteering before they will agree to write you a reference. We recommend that you ask the organisation how much will be enough before you start volunteering, because it is different in different organisations.
Which volunteering roles require a reference?
Most voluntary organisations check your references before they let you volunteer. For example:
- in a charity shop
- in a cafe
- or gardening.
Some volunteering roles will probably require a reference AND a DBS for example, any roles in:
- a school
- hospice or hospital.
Where can you look for a volunteering opportunity if you have no reference?
Some organisations understand that it is hard for refugees to provide a reference, so they still help you to volunteer even if you don’t have one. If you live in the North East you can try these organisations-
- Volunteer Centres – talk to staff about your options to volunteer
- West End Refugee Service (Newcastle)
- North Tyneside VODA I Want to Volunteer – VODA
- South Tyneside inspire Inspire South Tyneside
- Gateshead – Our Gateshead Volunteering – ways to help in your community | OurGateshead
- Durham Community Action Durham Community Action – information for those who would like to volunteer
- Northumberland I Want to Volunteer – NCVA
- Sunderland Volunteering – Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance
- Middlesbrough – I want to volunteer | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency
DBS
What is a DBS check?
Employers can check the criminal record of someone applying for a role. This is known as getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. There are certain UK jobs which you cannot do if you have no DBS check. You can find examples of jobs which require a DBS check.
How to get a DBS?
It can be difficult to get a DBS check because:
- You need to show UK addresses for the last 5 years. (You can read the government guidelines here. If don’t have 5 years of UK addresses, follow these guidelines.)
- A DBS check can also be difficult to get because you need an organisation to submit your form, you can’t submit the form directly by yourself.
- You will also need to provide ID documents to confirm your identity
Here is some advice-
- Remember that not all jobs require you to have a DBS. Usually you will need a DBS check if you work or volunteer with vulnerable people..
- If you have questions you could make an appointment with Karen Watson or Matthew Brindley at Volunteer Centre Newcastle.
- Most Voluntary Sector Organisations will pay for you to get a DBS check so that you can volunteer with them.
- Every time you move to a new organisation (or a new employer) you need a new DBS.
- A DBS check expires after one year and must be renewed. The organisation where you are volunteering (or working) may invite you to sign up to the update service. This way the DBS does not expire.
Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Support
There are many regional Voluntary and Community Sector organisations that can help support your journey to employment.
IPC
IPC provides the following in Middlesbrough: English classes for Ukrainians, help with CVs and interview preparation, preparation for exams (healthcare-related and English-related, subject to waiting lists/pre-registration), opportunities for informal English practice.
ICOS
ICOS is based in Sunderland and provides support to Ukrainian people who are ready to move into employment with employability support, including help with CVs, job applications, accessing training and English Language opportunities.
JET
JET are based in Newcastle, they can help with planning future careers or looking at how to re-qualify in the UK, finding suitable training opportunities, improving employment seeking skills, job search, CV writing, interview tips, finding volunteering opportunities or work placements.
Darlington Assistance for Refugees (DAR)
DAR have weekly sessions in their Ukraine hub, offering community support and guidance and provide advice. They also offer informal support with English and form-filling.
United for Ukraine
United for Ukraine has been set up by businesses and other partners across the North of England to support Ukrainians coming to the region. They have worked with employers to provide an easy and direct way to communicate job opportunities to Ukrainian nationals coming to the UK.
The website includes a wide range of job vacancies published by employers who are committed to being supportive of Ukrainian nationals fulfilling these positions: current vacancies. These employers have also committed to providing contactable persons, rather than solely web-based recruitment and that the roles provided will be:
- Available for a minimum of three months
- Contains salary details
- Pay at least a Real Living wage of £10.90 per hour and the appropriate rate for the role
United for Ukraine can be contacted via an advice telephone line 0161 237 4131 or email robota@uniteforukraine.co.uk.
North East Migration Partnership (NEMP) Support
NEMP has a service directory where you can search for local support with job advice, volunteering, English classes, and more here. NEMP also has an ESOL and Employment Hub which includes information on ESOL services, employability services and volunteering.
NEMP has developed an Employment Routeway which is an online checklist for ‘progress to success’ measures in an individual’s employment journey. A printable version can be downloaded here.
Ask Hanna
Ask Hanna is a comprehensive support service for Ukrainian speaking refugees, offering information and guidance for several different areas including work-life services. This includes offering consultations, personalised research, and resources for a range of topics including financial advice, legal information, and daily living. The app includes information on an accomplished employee, career development, career transition, training and development, workplace diversity, workplace productivity, and workplace safety. Memberships are usually £120 but are offered for free because they are funded by NEMP.
Ask Hanna also offers the following:
- 24/7 First Language Advice Line
- Peer Support
- Podcasts
- iConnectYou app
- Discount Website
- Short-term Counselling for adults ages 18 and over
If you are interested in accessing the Ask Hanna service, contact your local authority or nemp@middlesbrough.gov.uk.
ESOL Resources
If you wish to increase your English ability and confidence in English first before looking at your employment options, click the button below to read more about our ESOL Resources for Ukrainians.
