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Upskill
Enhancing the regional economy by helping newly arrived people reach their potential
Research shows that despite the wealth of knowledge, skills and experience that refugees and migrants bring with them to the UK, they are are often to be found in work that is short term, low skilled and with few progression opportunities. For many, this leads to long-term impoverishment and social exclusion.
NIACE believes that given the opportunity to return to their fields of expertise, refugees and migrants have the potential to make a significant contribution to developing the prosperity and sophistication of regional economies by filling vacancies in skills shortage occupations, and offering their experience and global awareness to local companies.
In response, NIACE has developed a new development project, Upskill, which aims to assist refugees and migrants in the East Midlands to overcome barriers associated with accessing employment commensurate with their skills and experience in four occupational areas:
Personal Advisers will support participants in overcoming barriers to appropriate employment by offering a programme of activities including:
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Occupationally specific information, advice and guidance; |
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A general and occupational ESOL assessment; |
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A two-hour practical assessment of vocational skills; |
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Newly developed occupational ESOL provision tailored to the needs of participants and local employers; |
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Assistance in accessing mainstream vocational provision at an appropriate level to develop skills further; |
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Occupational re-orientation through work experience placements, job shadowing, introductory interviews etc. with local employers; |
Vacancy application assistance and interview preparation to help secure appropriate paid employment.
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Download project leaflet (PDF) (PDF file) |
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Download project flow diagram (Word file) |
Financial support will be available at all stages of the project to cover expenses associated with taking up these learning and development opportunities.
As part of the ESF Equal partnership Progress GB, Upskill is keen to pilot new approaches and methodologies. In addressing the under-employment of refugees and migrants we will be piloting:
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Best practices for occupationally specific personal advisor support from initial referral to the project to the securing of appropriate employment; |
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The development of four new occupational ESOL courses in collaboration with employers, the RDA and sector skills councils addressing skills shortage areas in the East Midlands region; |
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Cross college collaboration between IAG, ESOL and occupational specialists to streamline programme provision for participants. |
A further ESF Equal requirement is that we mainstream and disseminate our findings to international, national and regional audiences. Examples of the contribution that this work could make include:
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Identifying occupational barriers and the means to overcome them; |
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Informing the development of employment, economic and integration strategies; |
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Undertaking capacity building with East Midlands and UK based mainstream organisations. |
There are a number of ways that you can get involved with Upskill. Are you able to…
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Refer refugee and migrant participants? |
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Offer work experience or employment placements? |
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Provide practical support to participants? |
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Offer match funding? |
If you would like to offer assistance to the project or would like to find out more, please contact Robert Gray at robert.gray@niace.org.uk
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The UK Refugees and Migrants Developmental Partnership – Progress GB is part funded by the European Social Fund under the EQUAL Community Initiative Programme.
