UK businesses unite to offer 10,000 jobs to Ukranian refugees

Major UK businesses have signed up to an initiative to offer jobs to Ukranians fleeing Russia’s invasion.

The group, led by the entrepreneur Emma Sinclair, includes M&S and Lush and is increasing calls for the government to make it easier for Ukranians to come to the UK.

Many businesses have been facing labour shortages due to Covid and Brexit but Ms Sinclair said the consortium did not intend to promote any particular corporate agenda.

It comes after the Government faced a public backlash and criticism from MPs for not moving quickly enough to help Ukrainian refugees.

Ms Sinclair, chief executive of multinational software business EnterpriseAlumni, told the BBC: “We [businesses] want people, we need people – and we want to help.

“We want to see movement on rising numbers of refugees.”

She said the focus of the initiative is to help refugees from Ukraine rebuild their lives, but that in an ideal world the scheme would be extended to all refugees.

She says the businesses who have signed up to help include recruitment firm Robert Walters, Lush, Marks & Spencer and Asos. It has told the government it has around 10,000 jobs available for Ukrainians. 

Further details of how the project would work are still unclear as none of the businesses mentioned have commented on the plans.

Labour leader Kier Starmer told Sky’s Sophy Ridge programme he did not think there should be a cap on Ukrainian refugees entering the UK.