New partnership to address refugee unemployment and digital skills gap in UK

Barclays LifeSkills, LinkedIn, and Microsoft have formed a unique partnership with Breaking Barriers, a refugee employment charity, to address refugee unemployment and the digital skills gap in the UK. The collaboration aims to equip refugees with the necessary skills to overcome employment barriers in the digital age. The initiative comes in response to a call made by Andy Haldane, the former chief economist of the Bank of England, to embrace migrant talent to boost the economy. 

The collaboration comes at the right time as refugees face higher unemployment rates and employers struggle to find individuals with the required digital skills. The program, called ‘Unlocking Refugee Talent’, will combine the resources of the partnering organisations to provide comprehensive support, including digital literacy training and job search programs. 

Program participants will be able to access various courses and resources to develop the skills needed for high-demand technology positions. These resources will also focus on enhancing essential employability skills that can be applied across different industries and incorporate technology.

The goal is to help refugees find meaningful employment and bridge the digital skills gap in the UK workforce. The program will run for 18 months and aims to support 250 individuals referred to Breaking Barriers.