REN is proud to have delivered its 5th Refugee Jobs Fair supporting refugees in Leeds to gain access to meaningful employment, hosted in partnership with Migration Yorkshire, DWP and EY. We were excited to have been joined by over 230 attendees, including refugees, employers and support organisations.
The event was held at the Leeds Civic Hall which acted as a great space to bring together local authorities, employers and associated support networks to refugees. There was a great sense of community for all involved, and a great opportunity for refugees to building networks in their local area. 88% of attendees were able to speak to an employer in their field of interest and 74% of attendees expect to apply for at least one job at the employers present at the event*.
What were the benefits/support/help to refugees from attending the event?
• Refugees gained support and advice to navigate the barriers related to employment, benefits, education, housing and health from the respective exhibitors
• Support with language translation
• Opportunity to meet the contacts needed for multiple services in one session and build a relationship for future needs
We would like to express our thanks to all involved in making the event happen – we could not have done it without your positivity and effort!
Vicky, from DWP said ‘DWP worked in partnership with REN & Migration Yorkshire to deliver this event as we are passionate about supporting customers to gain employment or training opportunities. The event exceeded our expectations and we were honoured to be part of such a great event and forge closer working relationships with all the partners involved.’
Daisy, an EY employee volunteering at the event, said ‘It was great to take part in helping the local community and advising those of available opportunities. It was such a fulfilling day.’
We will be hosting our next Refugee Jobs Fair in Cardiff on 28 February 2024 – keep your eyes peeled for more info coming soon!
*based on results from 69 attendees