A consortium of business leaders from across the North have joined forces to provide employment opportunities and support to Ukrainians. 

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have shown their support for the United for Ukraine initiative. 

The scheme is a coalition brought together at the request of leaders from across the North, including the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT), with support from the NP11 group of Local Enterprise Partnerships. The initiative is focused around a digital platform, created by the Growth Company, which connects employers with evacuees.

Lord Inglewood, Chair of the Cumbria LEP said: "It is really important that all of us do everything practical that we can to support those affected by the war in Ukraine and one important way that we can make them feel welcome is by offering job opportunities.

"We also know that we have significant labour supply challenges so the United for Ukraine site will support both Ukranians and our local businesses, who want to provide good jobs to those coming to the UK."

For Ukrainian nationals, and other refugees who are eligible, the United For Ukraine website provides a searchable list of job vacancies with employers who have committed to providing good job opportunities in a supportive environment.

For employers, the free-to-use site provides an easy and direct way to communicate job opportunities and access the right support, to employ those coming here who wish to, and are able to, work.

Vacancies listed on the site will adhere to criteria such as the offer at least a real living wage, and disclosable salaries, to ensure the opportunities on offer are quality jobs.

The site, which is accessible in both English and Ukrainian, also provides signposting to support services and referral agencies for Ukrainian refugees, such as free English language courses and how to open a bank account, as well as services providing advice on issues including housing, work permits and childcare.

It follows the news that the UK Government ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme has seen more than 100,000 people sign up to provide Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country with accommodation.

Those refugees who enter under the scheme will be granted leave to remain in the UK for three years, during which time they will be able to work and access benefits and public services, including healthcare and state schooling.