Zarah ChoudharyThe CIPD Trust has published guidance to support organisations and HR professionals to hire refugees.
The guide for people professionals on hiring refugees provides practical recommendations for recruiting and retaining refugees, outlining relevant legislation, and highlighting organisations who have successfully supported refugees into employment.
There are over 480,000 refugees in the UK, who have a broad range of experience and skills.
Research showed a third (33%) have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, while a quarter (26%) have a master’s degree or equivalent.
Refugees also often possess important skills such as adaptability, resilience and cross-cultural understanding.
According to CIPD, these skills can enrich teams, provide new insights and drive innovation.
The new guide outlines the business benefits of hiring refugees, including addressing skills shortages and gaps in the labour market, creating diverse workforces, and contributing to social responsibility.
Sally Eley, head of trust at the CIPD, said: “Following the success of our guide to recruiting, employing and retaining people with convictions, we’re very pleased to launch our second guide which is focused on supporting refugees into employment.
“This builds upon the work and findings of the CIPD Trust, to provide accessible and actionable advice for organisations of all sizes, who are looking to broaden their talent pool.
“At the CIPD Trust, we’re passionate about supporting those facing the biggest barriers into work.
“Refugees often need to completely rebuild their lives here in the UK, after fleeing their homes to escape conflict, climate catastrophe or persecution.”
Eley added: “Employment is one of the most important factors in their integration, and organisations can create meaningful change by helping them to start their lives again.”
Jen Stobart, director of Tent UK, a network of over 70 companies committed to connecting refugees to work across the country, said: “Hiring refugees is a win-win-win. For refugees, securing meaningful work is a vital step in rebuilding their lives and integrating into their new communities.
“For businesses, it means accessing a resilient and dedicated talent pool that brings fresh perspectives, a strong work ethic, and higher retention rates.
“For our country, hiring refugees means a stronger economy and a solution to labour shortages.”
Stobart continues: “Yet, as they seek to secure meaningful employment, refugees face many structural barriers that business can help tackle.
“HR professionals play a fundamental role in successfully recruiting and onboarding refugee talent.”
