For most of us, securing our first job is a significant life moment. It gives us the chance to build a CV, gain financial independence, take that first step toward our career goals, or a combination of all these things.
For forcibly displaced people who are building new lives, gaining that first work experience opportunity in the UK can also mean much more. Our clients tell us that working boosts their confidence, gives them the chance to practice their English and helps them feel part of a community. It also gives them insight into UK recruitment practices and workplace culture, which might be different to their country of origin.
Despite often being highly experienced and qualified, refugees are around three times more likely to be unemployed than people born in the UK. This is due to the complex range of challenges they face, from language barriers to gaps on CVs.
In response to these challenges, our team develops pathways to employment for forcibly displaced people, with the support of like-minded businesses. These pathways are practical programmes that guide our clients step-by-step through informative workshops, employment support and assessment days, helping to tackle employment barriers head-on, with the aim of achieving paid work placements that may lead to permanent roles.
Nurturing displaced talent in the retail sector
The IKEA Information Session was particularly inspiring… I was struck by how openly and generously the IKEA team shared their experiences. They spoke about teamwork, equality, and creating a better everyday life, not as slogans, but as lived values. For someone rebuilding life in a new country, seeing a company that genuinely welcomes diversity and gives opportunities to people from different backgrounds felt incredibly reassuring…
Cody
According to our 2024–25 impact report, wholesale and retail is the top sector of employment for our clients. We are therefore proud to have teamed up with global retailer IKEA again, to create new opportunities in this sector of interest for the people we serve.
Our new joint customer services employment pathway launched at the end of January, with 18 of our clients signing up to take part. The first phase of this programme introduced participants to working in the retail sector and prepared them for going through the recruitment process. Along with 1:1 guidance from one of our specialist Advisers, clients took part in four key programme events:
A customer services workshop providing information and guidance on working in the retail sector
An information session about IKEA, introducing the organisation and its values
A Jobs Club run by our Manchester team to prepare participants for the interview and assessment day
And the interview and assessment day itself
Sharing his experience of this first phase, one participant, Cody, told us: “The IKEA Information Session was particularly inspiring… I was struck by how openly and generously the IKEA team shared their experiences. They spoke about teamwork, equality, and creating a better everyday life, not as slogans, but as lived values.
“For someone rebuilding life in a new country, seeing a company that genuinely welcomes diversity and gives opportunities to people from different backgrounds felt incredibly reassuring…
“The assessment centre preparation session organised by Breaking Barriers helped me transform anxiety into readiness. The facilitators were patient, encouraging, and genuinely invested in our success. They helped us understand what IKEA looks for in candidates and how to present our strengths confidently. For many of us, this was more than interview preparation; it was about reclaiming our professional identity.
“I am grateful to Breaking Barriers for walking alongside us throughout this journey, not just as advisers, but as supporters who truly believe in our potential.”
This month will see the launch of phase two of the programme, with eight of our clients joining IKEA’s Manchester store on an eight-week paid work placement, gaining hands-on experience, skills and insight into the world of retail.
A history of collaboration
Among IKEA’s core values are togetherness and caring for people and planet. We know we are strongest when we bring people together and learn from one another, and we firmly believe that access to opportunity should not be limited by circumstance.
Alan Felstead, Equality Diversity & Inclusion Leader UK&IE at IKEA Group
We first teamed up with IKEA from 2017 until 2021 to develop a pilot refugee employment model that cemented IKEA’s 2021 global commitment to hire refugees in all its operating countries. This customer services employment pathway was run in the retailer’s Tottenham, Croydon, Wembley and Greenwich stores.
Around 150 refugee clients received tailored education courses, bespoke assessment centres, and career guidance. It resulted in 30 participants securing full-time roles and many advancing along clear career pathways. This included our client Samer, who began working at IKEA in 2017.
This was then followed by a co-produced programme in autumn 2024, when a further ten clients gained placements in IKEA’s Manchester store. Through the programme, seven were offered permanent positions at IKEA – including Thomas – and the other three went on to secure roles in other retail settings.
“The partnership with Breaking Barriers has been vital to what we do and vital to our global platform,” said Hiliary Jenkins, Sustainability Business Partner at IKEA UK & Ireland.
Alan Felstead, Equality Diversity & Inclusion Leader UK&IE at IKEA Group, added:“Among IKEA’s core values are togetherness and caring for people and planet. We know we are strongest when we bring people together and learn from one another, and we firmly believe that access to opportunity should not be limited by circumstance.
“That’s why supporting Breaking Barriers’ employment pathways for refugees is so important to us; it’s about caring for people in a very practical way. By working closely with expert partners, we’re helping refugees access meaningful, sustainable employment, while also strengthening our business through diverse perspectives, resilience, and untapped talent.
“I would encourage other businesses to think creatively about how they can collaborate in similar ways. When we work across sectors, we can break down barriers to employment and build a workforce that truly reflects the communities we are part of.”
Creating a talent pipeline
Inclusive hiring is about recognising that not everyone starts the recruitment process at the same point. It’s an undeniable fact that some people, including refugees and sanctuary seekers, face greater barriers to finding and securing work. To ensure that employers are reaching talent from diverse groups, more equitable hiring processes are needed. Employment pathways are the perfect example of this.
Louise Thomson, Director of Services at Breaking Barriers
Inclusive recruitment initiatives benefit businesses and communities alike. At its heart, our partnership with IKEA is about opening doors for forcibly displaced talent who are ready and motivated to work, while also creating a talent pipeline that responds to workforce needs.
Louise Thomson, Director of Services at Breaking Barriers explained: “Inclusive hiring is about recognising that not everyone starts the recruitment process at the same point. It’s an undeniable fact that some people, including refugees and sanctuary seekers, face greater barriers to finding and securing work. To ensure that employers are reaching talent from diverse groups, more equitable hiring processes are needed. Employment pathways are the perfect example of this.
“We’re really proud of our long history of working with IKEA and have great admiration for its progressive approach to focusing on potential and hiring new talent. Our clients are ambitious, capable and eager to contribute. With the right support and opportunity, they can thrive.”
As the programme continues in Manchester, we look forward to exploring opportunities to expand this model to additional locations, creating further routes into sustainable employment and building on the success of a partnership rooted in shared values and long-term impact.
