Welcome to the Refugee Employment Network website. Our organisation aims to strengthen employment support services for refugees across the UK. Refugee employment is the biggest factor in the successful integration of refugees, yet refugee unemployment rates are estimated at three times above the national average – up to 80% in some regions. Refugee underemployment and labour exploitation are also significant issues. We all know that refugees and displaced people arrive in the UK with a huge range of skills, qualifications and work experience.

REN is a membership organisation and we are honoured to have over 370 member organisations from local support refugee agencies to global employers who all share the aspiration for refugees in the UK to have access to suitable and sustainable employment and self-employment. The REN website is here to support this aspiration– please look at the information and guidance pages that have been developed with the amazing support of EY and the PBSC.

Janice Lopatkin (Chair, REN)
Janice Lopatkin (Chair, REN)

You can read more about a number of pilot projects which we aim to scale up to offer across the UK including mentoring in collaboration with Business in the Community and specialised recruitment support from Adecco. We hope these services will be available for case workers from all our member organisations very soon.

Over the last few years in response to the evacuation of Afghanistan and the war in Ukraine REN has received thousands of job offers to reach all refugees and displaced people fleeing persecution and war, whether they have come through the asylum route or the resettlement programmes. Take a look at our jobs board to view the range of opportunities on offer from both large employers and small businesses from across the country. REN is working in collaboration with the Department for Work and Pensions to elevate job opportunities.

Our aim is to work in collaboration with our members, so please let us know if we can help or support your organisation or business.

Thank you for your support.

Janice

Janice Lopatkin MBE
Chair, Refugee Employment Network

Refugee Employment Network (logo)