Maximus has secured two contracts to deliver the new Refugee Employability Programme (REP), providing vital support to help refugees find work and settle in their local community.
The programme, which will be delivered by Maximus in the North West of England and West Midlands on behalf of the Home Office, will provide tailored and flexible employment support to an estimated 4,000 refugees who face significant barriers to work.
Utilising the relationships we have developed with employers, skills providers and local expert partners, refugees will be supported to access the tools they need to become fully independent as they adjust to life in England.
Maximus will also provide English language provision to those who need it, as well as wider integration support which can include signposting to community organisations, mental health services, local authorities, and other mainstream services.
The programme is designed to complement existing provision available through Jobcentre Plus and other agencies, and is due to launch later in the summer.
Gareth Parry, Programme Director for Employability at Maximus, said: “We’re proud to be delivering this new service, which will help refugees find their feet and access the support they need, during what we know can be an incredibly challenging time.
“Working in partnership will be critical to the success of the programme. We’re looking forward to collaborating with many of the fantastic organisations across the North West of England and West Midlands who already do incredible work supporting refugees and their families, complementing existing provision with our specialist employment and skills expertise. We’d encourage local organisations to get in touch with our teams for further information.”
