The International Rescue Committee (IRC) offers services to support refugees and asylum seekers (with the right to work) into employment in the UK. This support includes one-to-one casework support and group training opportunities including access to a comprehensive Job Readiness course, which helps individuals find jobs, create excellent applications, build interview skills, and understand their legal rights in the workplace.

What we do

Refugee Employment Programme

**This programme is now closed to new referrals**

The Refugee Employability Programme (REP) is a UK government-funded programme to support refugees to integrate into life in the UK, contribute to the economy and build a sustainable and long-term future. 

The Refugee Employability Programme can help refugees in the South West with finding employment, settling in and learning English.

Find out more about the Refugee Employability Programme (REP) here.

Health and social care roles

IRC UK is supporting health and social care providers to diversify their talent pool by recruiting refugees, with support from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board.

More information about the support we offer in the region is available here.

Anxhela Gradeci ties her apron

Workforce Integration Nationwide (WIN)

Our WIN (Workforce Integration Nationwide) project provides employment support to refugees and asylum seekers (with the right to work). This support includes one-to one career coaching sessions, helping individuals to plan their next steps and find the right work. This often includes working together to find suitable roles, apply for roles (including CV, cover letter and application form support), prepare for interviews and support to navigate processes when successfully offered a role. We also run comprehensive group training  sessions which provide idividuals with key information about finding work in the UK. This includes our 12 hour Job Readiness Training course and in-person and online workshops.

WIN application form

A woman sitting at a desk in front of a laptop, and two children standing next to her
Afghan Journalist and single mum Zahra Shaheer works on a podcast about women’s rights. Zahra fled Afghanistan with her family in August 2021 and now lives in High Wycombe, England.
Photo: Elena Heatherwick for the IRC

Volunteer Connections

Refugees are able to benefit from the experience and insight of a range of volunteers through IRC. Employees from a range of organisations, such as American Express and Verizon, support refugees directly through special workshops and one-to-one coaching sessions, helping them with everything from English language support to tailoring their LinkedIn profile.  

Recruitment Pathways 

Through networks such as the Business Refugee Action Network (BRAN) IRC liaises with employers to find the best roles for refugees, and to support and advise them on best practise inclusive recruitment.  

Sharing Best Practise 

IRC offers free training to any organisation offering employment support to refugees in the UK. We also love to learn from and partner with local service providers to share ideas on what works, and we have benefitted from work with the Department of Work and Pensions, The Money Charity and The Skills Network. 

Maasom has been supported by the IRC UK's RISE programme which supports resettled refugees as they navigate their new life in the UK
Maasom and his wife Hiba have been supported by the IRC UK's RISE programme which supports resettled refugees as they navigate their new life in the UK. He volunteers at his local British Heart Foundation in Andover.
Photo: Elena Heatherwick for the IRC

Peer Mentoring & Leadership 

**This area of work is currently not open for referrals**

For new refugees arriving in the UK, having someone who can empathise with your situation is invaluable. The IRC matches refugee mentors who have already settled in the UK with new arrivals who they then support with practical advice, friendship and encouragement. 

Our other services for refugees 

Many of the above services also overlap with our other integration and education programmes. Go to an overview of IRC UK resettlement, asylum and integration (RAI) services. 

Donate now to help us continue our work supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the UK

Contact us

Contact our Economic Empowerment team for more information at [email protected]   

Our impact

37%

of clients receiving employment support from the IRC have reached an employment goal of receiving a job offer, being promoted, starting a volunteer placement or enrolling on a vocational training course.

The IRC provides Job Readiness Training to refugees who are keen to start their careers in the UK. The course covers every aspect of employment in the UK, from how to write a CV and cover letter to interview techniques.

2,100+

Educators reached since our Healing Classrooms programme launched in May 2022.

The Healing Classrooms programme offers free training to educators on how to offer children a safe and predictable place to learn and cope with the consequences of conflict and displacement.

80%

of Ukrainian clients who’ve completed the IRC's Cultural Orientation for Newcomers have improved their knowledge of how to access local services in the UK.

In Cultural Orientation for Newcomers, the IRC skills refugees with the knowledge they need to navigate their new community and beyond. We also work with local communities to help them be better equipped to support the integration of local refugees.