A social housing and training provider is calling on employers to help reinforce its commitment to providing refugees and migrants with the support they need to thrive and succeed.

Bristol-based ACH organisation is currently developing an employer pledge, which is aimed at encouraging companies to make sure their recruitment and selection processes are better geared towards selecting and retaining refugees and migrants.

Set to be officially launched as a pilot programme this spring, The Welcome Pledge will be co-produced with employers across the South West. ACH aims to align the pledge with the regional Good Employment Charter and Living Wage Foundation.

Fuad Mahamed, CEO of ACH, said: “By developing The Welcome Pledge, we are highlighting an extremely important message – refugees and migrants are people with potential, not deficit.

“Providing equitable employment for refugees and migrants empowers them to not just exist within the community but thrive and contribute. For some, this involves continuing the careers they started back in their home countries, while for others, this means embarking on new career paths.

“We hope that The Welcome Pledge will become a universal signal of organisations’ commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace where refugees and migrants feel valued, respected and supported in their professional growth.”

Plans for the pledge were shared by ACH at a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons in December. The event, which focused on the impact of tailored support for refugees and migrants, shared powerful examples of the positive outcomes co-produced employment initiatives can have on refugees’ lives. This includes the story of brothers, Khalid and Mazin, who came to the UK from Sudan in January last year unable to speak conversational English. They described how taking English courses at ACH and later participating in its joint training programme with Bristol Waste Company led to them securing jobs with the company within just four months of arriving in the UK.

Fuad added: “Refugees and migrants bring a wealth of skills and talent and are eager to participate and contribute to their communities. Partnership working and tailored services are key to unlocking their full potential which, in turn, helps drive local economies and foster growth.

“Investing in refugee integration benefits everyone. It strengthens communities, boosts the economy and enables refugees to thrive as independent contributors. Reviewing and enhancing recruitment and selection processes is not just the right thing to do – it is a smart economic strategy for a more inclusive and prosperous future.”

More information about The Welcome Pledge will be shared via ACH’s website in the spring. In the meantime, organisations interested in finding out more should email [email protected]