Breaking Barriers

Breaking Barriers was founded in 2015 by our CEO Matthew Powell in response to the extremely high unemployment rate of people of refugee background, which is over four times that of the national average. Our mission is to help refugees acquire the knowledge, confidence, and experience they need to gain sustainable, fulfilling employment.

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Calling UK businesses - we need you to get behind refugees!

As the refugee crisis in Afghanistan continues to unfold, 20,000 Afghan refugees are set to arrive in the UK over the next five years, and approximately 7000 are already here and in need of direct support.

Breaking Barriers and our Fuse network, a coalition of businesses committed to achieving more for refugees through employment in the UK, are calling on 100 businesses to get behind refugees by committing to hiring or supporting refugees in the UK over the next 12 months.

Business Behind Refugees is calling on the business community. We know that refugees make valuable contributions to society – and that finding a job is a crucial step in rebuilding their lives. And that’s where you come in.

For businesses, hiring refugees brings huge value, addressing skills gaps, nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, and enhancing social impact by solving real barriers to employment.

By joining Business Behind Refugees, you’ll become part of the biggest business community supporting refugees into employment.

Our Fuse Network is backing the commitment and includes Big Yellow Storage, BARBRI Global, Cummins Inc, Grant Thornton LLP UK, Herbert Smith Freehills, Ipsos MORI, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose Fulbright, Reward Gateway, Stephenson Harwood and TD Securities.

There has never been a greater need for genuine collaboration across the business community to address refugee unemployment. And by making a commitment to hire or support refugees in the next 12 months, you’ll get the support of Breaking Barriers and a community of like-minded businesses.

We know businesses want to step-up and play their part, but we also recognise that navigating the support and hiring of refugees can be complex – so we’re here to help.

The team at Breaking Barriers will work with you to identify the right opportunities, but here’s where to start to get your Business Behind Refugees:

Donate – invest in our work so we can scale up, respond, and expand our employment and education programmes to the incoming Afghan community and to address the growing need and challenges refugees face.

Hire refugees – offer recruitment pathways and job opportunities to unlock refugee potential. You can join our refugee work placement programme and access our diverse talent pool. The Fuse Action Plan will help guide you through this.

Volunteer – we are actively seeking to increase the number of Pashto, Dari and Farsi speaking volunteers who support our work, as well as those who can offer their skills and expertise to skills and sector-based volunteers.

Join Business Behind Refugees today by contacting partnerships@breaking-barriers.co.uk for more information, and become part of the biggest business community supporting refugees into employment.

About us

The UK is home to approximately 374,000 people of a refugee background, who have fled their home countries in fear of war, violence, and persecution. Upon arriving in the UK, refugees face significant barriers in trying to start their new life.

Refugees can and do make valuable contributions to society, and the vast majority have a desire to give back to the country that has given them refuge. Securing employment is the single most important factor in helping refugees integrate into their new home. However, the UK has no national strategy to aid the integration of refugees into the labour market. This forces refugees to navigate a new country, culture, and job market with little support.

Although many refugees are highly qualified and experienced in work, they face many barriers to employment in the UK including: racism, gaps on CVs caused by lengthy asylum process, low English language and digital skills, unfamiliarity with UK workplace culture and recruitment processes, employer misconceptions about hiring refugees, and difficulties getting overseas experience and qualifications recognised. These barriers mean the unemployment rate for refugees is over 4x higher than the national average.

Breaking Barriers enables refugees in London to acquire the knowledge, confidence and experience they need to secure stable and fulfilling employment. Our refugee clients receive tailored support and guidance from our Employment and Integration Advisers, access English language and I.T. training classes, and attend workshops on employability and UK working culture. Our individualised support provides essential training for success in the modern job market. Breaking Barriers are proud to have supported over 1000 refugees from 57 different countries on their employment journeys.

Breaking Barriers are a young and growing charity with an entrepreneurial spirit. We pride ourselves on our bespoke approach to both our refugee clients and our corporate partners. We are passionate about the role of the private sector in empowering and furthering our mission, no matter the size of the organisation.