IKEA UK marks a milestone in its ambition to support refugees to return to work on World Refugee Day, as the brand celebrates the strength and resilience of 140 forcibly displaced people who have successfully completed the UPPNÅ Skills for Employment programme.
Since April 2021, the UPPNÅ program has been offering training and 8-week paid work experience placement for refugees in local communities, opening up pathways to work by developing the skills required to find employment, both inside and outside the IKEA business. In 2023, 89% of UPPNÅ graduates have gone on to secure permanent roles at IKEA to date, and nearly half of all participants who have completed the program since its launch are still employed at IKEA UK today, in retail stores and distribution centers around the world. United kingdom.
In support of IKEA’s mission to create a better everyday life for the many people, the initiative has transformed the lives of refugees across the UK and Ireland, and the brand is firmly on track to meet its target of providing 180 placements in three years (FY21-23) by the end of August. IKEA also continues its work to ‘change the narrative’ around refugees, while highlighting its value to businesses, host communities and society at large by addressing common misconceptions.
IKEA works in partnership with Refugee Council centers across the UK to provide much-needed support, advice and a place to meet for refugees. Refugees seeking support can access a range of services including CV writing, job application support, interview techniques and customer service training, as well as an introduction to the UK job market.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide has risen dramatically to 108 million people at the end of 2022, including 36.5 million children and that the number will continue to rise. As of November 2022, there were 231,597 refugees, 127,421 pending asylum cases and 5,483 stateless people in the UK.
Darren Taylor, Director of Population and Culture at IKEA UK and the Global Education Foundation, said: “In the UK, we’ve been working to make positive change with and for refugees in our neighborhoods since 2016, through a range of local projects, donations and the IKEA OWN UPPNÅ Skills for Programme. Employment Opening doors for refugees to access the job market and build a better and brighter future here in the UK has never been more important than it is today.At IKEA, we believe that integrating refugees is good for both business and society, and that we have a responsibility to stand with all those in need – from By improving the long-term prospects of as many refugees as possible.”