Businesses
The Fuse network brings together like-minded businesses to share best practice and collectively learn, grow and take action, to achieve more for refugees through employment in the UK.
What will Fuse achieve?
Fuse will unite like-minded businesses to create:
We will solve real barriers to employment for people from a refugee background, inform our programmes and enhance our impact.
We will amplify and celebrate the valuable contribution made by refugees, dispel myths and normalise the hiring of people from a refugee background.
We will advocate businesses to address the wider systemic barriers and open more employment
opportunities for people from a refugee background living in the UK.
Latest partnership news
Refugee Week 2021 – Awais’ story
This Refugee Week, we’re sharing the story of Awais, a Tax Assistant at Grant Thornton and a Breaking Barriers client. Awais shares his journey into employment and showcases the difference a business can make when they take action to support refugees into meaningful work. It all started with getting support from the Refugee Council based in London where I was involved in a CV and presentation skills workshop. My...
Now is the time for more inclusive and responsible business
Businesses often ask me what they can do to help refugees. While many businesses, like our corporate partners do a tremendous amount to support refugees, sometimes I hear questions such as; “we want to do something, our staff want us to do something, but we don’t know how to help.” Let’s be upfront about something. There is no national strategy or policy in place to support refugees to get...
The Fuse Action Plan is here!
With the launch of our Fuse business network, there has never been an easier or more important time to take action and unlock the potential of refugees. Fuse exists to unite businesses in common goals to improve the lives of refugees through meaningful and sustainable employment. At Breaking Barriers, we believe collaboration with businesses is vital to addressing the multitude of barriers people from a refugee background face...
Our corporate partners
We hosted our first ever refugee work placement helping someone who hadn’t worked in over 10 years to adapt to a fast paced business environment and stand a greater chance of finding meaningful employment. We have delivered further placements and heartily encourage other companies to do the same. Working with Breaking Barriers has allowed our people to develop their coaching skills to support others, and it has been hugely rewarding to see people leaving us with increases confidence and skills ready for the next stage of their employment journey.
Karen Higgins
Head of Sustainability, Grant Thornton UK LLP
Throughout our partnership, we have conducted lunch & learn sessions, workshops on employability, numerous employee briefings, and paid six-month work placements for refugees. We have also supported two Breaking Barriers photography exhibitions sharing the inspirational stories of refugees and asylum seekers, their journeys to the UK, their lives, and their roles in essential frontline services during the pandemic. Mayer Brown is extremely proud of our ongoing partnership with Breaking Barriers and staff engagement has been key to its success. We look forward to sharing our experiences and continuing to support refugees in a challenging economic climate and evolving digital workplace.
Mehreen Malik
Pro Bono and CSR Manager, Mayer Brown