Refugee Employability Programme
The Refugee Employability Programme supports refugees to find work and settle into their local communities.
About the Refugee Employability Programme
The Refugee Employability Programme (REP) is a Home Office initiative for the specific needs of refugees, to give them the support they need to find work and build their lives in the England. We aim to remove barriers which cannot be fully addressed by mainstream services.
We provide three types of support:
Employment support
Ensuring an appropriate level of support is provided to refugees to build their skills and talent in the workplace, including:
- CV writing classes
- sector specific training
- interview practice
English language
- English Language classes, including English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL)
- invitations to formal and informal conversation clubs
- lessons to support learning capacity such as literacy
Integration support
Helping refugees to integrate and settle into their local communities by signposting services such as:
- community groups
- healthcare
- childcare
Who can apply
You are eligible to apply for the Refugee Employability Programme if:
- you arrived at any time on one of the following:
- UK Resettlement Scheme
- Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme
- Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
- you were granted Refugee Permission to Stay on or after 28 June 2022
- you arrived on or after 25 February 2021 on one of the following:
- Mandate Resettlement Scheme
- Community Sponsorship
- you arrived on the Refugee Family Reunion scheme and your sponsoring refugee is eligible
In addition, you must either:
- have Indefinite Leave to Remain, also known as settled status, or
- be on the 5 year pathway to settled status
You do not need to fulfil any economic conditions. The REP is available to anyone who has come through the New Plan for Immigration.
How to apply
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Find the service provider for the area where you live.
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Fill in an Expression of Interest form to assess your suitability for the REP.
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The service provider will contact you.
North West
Phone: 0800 138 1689
North East
Phone: 0808 175 6294
Yorkshire and Humber
Phone: 0800 368 0990
West Midlands
Phone: 0800 138 1689
East Midlands
Twin Training International Limited
Phone: 0800 410 1053
East of England
Get Skills Employment and Training Ltd
Phone: 0808 175 6868
London
Phone: 0808 175 6294
South West
International Rescue Committee
Phone: 0808 294 0124
South East
Phone: 0800 002 5940
Read our policy statement for more information about the REP.
Refugee integration support in Wales
The Welsh government’s Sanctuary website offers information about life in Wales and integration support for migrants in 120 languages.
Working Wales provide Wales-wide employability support. They can refer people to services to help them overcome barriers to employment and access English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and adult education if required. They can also assist with employment support. You can make a referral by completing their online form or by calling +44 800 0284 844.
The Welsh Refugee Council offers employment support, including employability workshops, support with CVs and job applications, funds for vocational training and programmes with employers. There are online and face-to-face workshops on finding work in Wales and Welsh work culture.
Refugee Employment Network have a jobs site for refugees to find work, with employers committed to employing refugees, which includes jobs in Wales.
Refugee integration support in Scotland
Positive Action In Housing, a Scottish charity, run several programmes to support refugee integration. The Digital Inclusion Project focuses on improving digital skills and access to key services.
The British Red Cross offers refugees aged between 15 and 25 support to develop their skills, secure employment and other services.
Refugee integration support in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland website lists organisations that support refugee integration.
Last updated 4 April 2024 + show all updates
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Updated details on Refugee integration support in Wales.
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Added information about refugee integration support in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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First published.