The Home Office recently introduced a new plan to support refugees in England arriving through their agreed routes to become more independent. Formerly known as the Enhanced Integration Package, the Home Office recently announced this will now be referred to as the Refugee Employability Programme. The Refugee Employability Programme (REP) has been launched across England.
REP, commissioned by the Home Office, aims to remove barriers faced by refugees that cannot be fully addressed by mainstream services when seeking employment and adjusting to life in the UK (England only).
REP will provide support for refugees and those granted protection who have arrived through safe and legal routes to fully integrate into life here, contribute to the economy and build a sustainable and long-term future for themselves and their communities.
The REP provides three types of support:
Employment support
Ensuring an appropriate level of support is provided to refugees to build their skills and talent in the workplace, including:
- CV writing classes
- Sector specific training
- Interview practice
English language
- English Language classes, including English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL)
- Invitations to formal and informal conversation clubs
- Lessons to support learning capacity such as literacy
Integration support
Helping refugees to integrate and settle into their local communities by signposting services such as:
- Community groups
- Healthcare
- Childcare
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for the Refugee Employability Programme if:
- You arrived at any time on one of the following:
- UK Resettlement Scheme
- Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme
- Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy
- You were granted Refugee Permission to Stay on or after 28 June 2022
- You arrived on or after 25 February 2021 on one of the following:
- Mandate Resettlement Scheme
- Community Sponsorship
- You arrived on the Refugee Family Reunion scheme and your sponsoring refugee is eligible
In addition, you must either:
- Have Indefinite Leave to Remain, also known as settled status, or be on the 5 year pathway to settled status
You do not need to fulfil any economic conditions. The REP is available to anyone who has come through the New Plan for Immigration.
How to apply
- Find the service provider for the area where you live.
- Fill in an Expression of Interest form to assess your suitability for the REP.
- The service provider will contact you.
REP is only available to those who are capable of and looking for work.
To contact Palladium or to make a referral: REPEnquiry@thepalladiumgroup.com
Or call Palladium at: 0800 002 5940