Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Right to workCIPDLatest NewsImmigration

CIPD launches guide for hiring refugees

by Rob Moss 19 Feb 2025
by Rob Moss 19 Feb 2025 The CIPD Trust's guide offers support with hiring and training refugees
Shutterstock
The CIPD Trust's guide offers support with hiring and training refugees
Shutterstock

The CIPD Trust has published guidance to support employers and HR professionals to recruit and retain refugees.

The guide outlines relevant legislation and highlights organisations that have successfully supported refugees into employment. It also examines the business benefits of hiring refugees, including addressing skills shortages and gaps in the labour market, creating diverse workforces, and contributing to social responsibility.

According to data from UNHCR last year, there are more than 480,000 refugees in the UK. Research by the Commission for Integration of Refugees suggests that 33% have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, while 26% have a master’s degree or equivalent.

Refugees often also possess important skills such as adaptability, resilience and cross-cultural understanding.

Hiring refugees

Job fair connects refugees with employment opportunities 

How employing refugees can help tackle the skills crisis 

Sally Eley, head of the CIPD Trust, said: “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.

“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 connecting refugees to work, 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.

“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.”

Starbucks began a refugee hiring programme in 2017 in partnership with the Refugee Council UK.

Russell Butcher, director of strategic programmes and partner resources at Starbucks EMEA said: “Refugees bring many of the winning attributes and skills we look for. However, it goes beyond what refugees bring to Starbucks, as we look to create new paths for them to thrive.

“In the UK we’re working in collaboration with the Refugee Council UK. We’ve built a programme that delivers training to help refugees rebuild their lives through employment, which over 400 refugees have joined.”

 

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


Browse more human resources jobs

 

Rob Moss

Rob Moss is a business journalist with more than 25 years' experience. He has been editor of Personnel Today since 2010. He joined the publication in 2006 as online editor of the award-winning website. Rob specialises in labour market economics, gender diversity and family-friendly working. He has hosted hundreds of webinar and podcasts. Before writing about HR and employment he ran news and feature desks on publications serving the global optical and eyewear market, the UK electrical industry, and energy markets in Asia and the Middle East.

previous post
Court hears case on whistleblowing protections for external job applicants
next post
Josh Bersin research: most HR leaders are now in C-suite

You may also like

CIPD links Employment Rights Bill with low business...

12 May 2025

CIPD appoints expert in AI to boost support...

8 May 2025

CIPD: Employment Rights Bill timetable needs clarity

25 Apr 2025

CIPD calls for Employment Rights Bill clarity

6 Mar 2025

CIPD appoints Chloe Smith as president

12 Feb 2025

What’s HR’s role in ethical AI adoption?

6 Feb 2025

CIPD to lead research into responsible AI adoption

4 Feb 2025

CIPD ACE 2024: HR must have role in...

6 Nov 2024

CIPD Trust helps more than 500 into work

6 Nov 2024

Are managers equipped to handle workplace conflict?

24 Sep 2024

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+