1. Omer I
Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer
Guest Speaker
26/02/2018
MY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & POINTS ABOUT EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH REFUGEE PROFESSIONALS IN THE UK JOBS MARKET

2. My own employment/professional development route
Sudan University for Science and Technology (Power Sector).
Training programs and internships
Samsung Sudan (Sales and Design engineer).
Coventry University.
Forced migration to UK 2013.
Westminster University.
Prince2 Practitioner certified.
Almond Media.
Transitions London Community Interest Company (CIC)
Arcadis U.K.

3. Refugee professionals and UK employers

4. Problems and Solutions for employers
Slow integration into the jobs market. Skills wastage.
Skilled refugees can help fill gaps in workforces & bring diverse problem- solving skills into teams
Skills, Experience and Qualifications Equivalencing - central obstacles to competitiveness
Employers offer work experience to assist in evidencing, accessing, assessing skills
Transitions helps through targeted guidance, Naric and Professional Bodies
Linguistic (English and other languages) and cross-culturally skilled teams
Courses, experience, mentorship – for refugees and all staff

5. Continued… . UK job application system familiarity
Coaching, mentoring, information for refugees is essential. Transitions holds regular workshops for refugees and employers. More employers can do them !
Refugee legal status for employment
Transitions helps employers get the right information
Need for more positive images of refugee workers.
Employers give refugee candidates with the right skills a chance to prove themselves.

6. Arcadis/ Transitions Placement

7. How is the placement assisting?
Significantly improving competitiveness
Possibility of offer of permanent employment
Applying theory and practice
Time to learn organizational, management and personal skills, and develop an awareness of the workplace culture.
Develops skills such as technical, social and communication skills.
My understanding and awareness of the UK construction industry has increased significantly.
Personal development and self-confidence increased significantly.
The business English workshops are very useful indeed.

8. Transitions’ services

9. Enabling employers to access and develop candidates’ skills and experience.
Levelling the playing field for refugees to access UK professional experience.

10. Transitions positive action placements
Co-developing role descriptions for 3-6 month paid positive action placements
Carefully matching of candidates and roles
Co-arrange interviews & provide interview support for candidates and employers
If the fit is good, the candidate is offered a placement.
Transitions supports the placement throughout, with:
Set-up of mutual candidate/manager objectives and workplan
Monthly scheduled meetings for staff and candidates
Facilitating written employer feedback on skills and achievements
Provision of guided reflective learning journal & support
Facilitating engagement with professional bodies
Intensive job search support if not retained by 6 weeks before the end of placement

11. Questions