Breaking Barriers is a specialist employment charity. We offer personalised, one-to-one employment support to Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders (HKBN(O)), helping you to build a new life in the UK.
We believe it’s not just about getting a job, it’s about finding meaning and purpose in the work that you do. That’s why we are here wherever you are in your journey – from finding your first job in the UK, to understanding how to ask for a promotion or move into your dream career.
How we work with you
You will have a dedicated employment advisor. They will work with you to understand your goal and break this down into achievable steps.
This might include:
- enrolling onto our English classes
- building digital skills
- creating your CV
- applying for jobs
- preparing for interviews
- understanding your employment rights
We may be able to find mentors who can help you to understand the steps you need to take to find a job in a specific sector or industry.
We also run workshops with our corporate partners. These cover employment essentials including how to build a CV, mock interviews, the UK working culture, or workshops in specific sectors such as law.
Finally, we may be able to help you with a grant, which can be used to apply for other courses, or we can help you access a digital device (when they are available).
Why Breaking Barriers works with HKBN(O)s
Breaking Barriers has traditionally been a charity that supports refugees in the UK. We know that most Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders aren’t refugees, but the barriers to employment that you face can be similar:
- A lack of professional networks in the UK
- A lack of UK work experience
- Having to learn a new language
- Learning a new approach to writing CVs, applying for jobs and job interview styles
- A new working culture to understand
- Your qualifications not being recognised
We are specialists in UK employment support. And we can help you to overcome these barriers.
