A researcher from Kent Business School (KBS) is calling for participants to help him understand more about the role of local councils in improving refugee employability in the Southeast.<\/p>\n
For his research,\u00a0Joel Montgomery<\/a>, Lecturer in Management, would like to hear from the region\u2019s council employees, councillors, and charity workers who are directly involved in supporting refugees. His aim is to identify the on-the-ground realities they face, as well as the challenges and barriers that hinder refugee employment. He also aims to highlight successful strategies that can be shared across the Southeast.<\/p>\n Refugee integration is a pressing issue in the UK, and one of the most critical aspects of this process is employment. Despite various support systems, there remains a significant gap in employment rates between refugees and the general population. According to recent figures from the Home Office, refugees are 20% less likely to be employed compared to the wider UK population.<\/p>\n Joel said: \u2018I had the opportunity to discuss this topic at a recent KBS Business Soundbite event, where the audience asked thought-provoking questions that reinforced the importance of this work. However, to truly make an impact, I\u2019m currently seeking insights from those \u2013 council employees, councillors, charity workers \u2013 who have experience working on refugee employability across the Southeast.<\/p>\n \u2018By sharing their experiences and knowledge, they can help create a clearer picture of how local councils can better serve refugees in their communities. They can also contribute to making a real difference to the lives of refugees seeking to rebuild their careers in a new country, as well as help inform broader strategies for supporting refugee employment.\u2019<\/p>\n Anyone wishing to contribute to Joel\u2019s research by participating in a short interview should email him at\u00a0jjwm@kent.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n He added: \u2018Together, we can work towards closing the employment gap and ensuring that refugees are not just surviving but thriving in the UK.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"