Building on the Routes to Employment research outcomes, the Routes team has developed a pilot project to explore innovative solutions to this pressing issue. By testing new ideas, we aim to open up new employment pathways for refugee women in London and potentially drive systemic change in addressing unemployment within this community.

During our first year of piloting, we explored apprenticeships as a new employment route for refugee women. Through the Pre-Apprenticeship course delivered by Routes, we worked with a group of refugee women, to work collaboratively on understanding apprenticeship application processes as viable pathways to employment.

Pre-Apprenticeship Course for Refugee Women in London

Empowering Women from Refugee Backgrounds

The pre-apprenticeship course is designed to enhance the skills, confidence, and career prospects of women from refugee backgrounds in London. By participating, participants gained an in-depth understanding of apprenticeship programmes as a gateway to employment, covering the application process, job roles, and workplace expectations. The course also provides an introduction to UK working culture, offering invaluable connections with experienced professionals in the local labour market.

Course Highlights

‘‘Through interactive, hands-on practice with volunteers from professional industries, you’ll build essential employment and interpersonal skills. The course is all about equipping refugee women with the knowledge and confidence needed to embark on successful careers.’’

Apprenticeship and Employment Opportunities

We piloted a dedicated mailing list sharing apprenticeship opportunities with our Pre-Apprenticeship Course alumni. Participants were also able to join the general Jobs List, which Routes curates together with a refugee sector partner organisation.

In the months following the Pre-Apprenticeship Course, we hosted drop-in sessions where course alumni came together to search and apply for relevant roles, receive tailored guidance, and stay connected to a supportive peer network. Alongside this, we continued our one-to-one check-ins with participants. All course participants were also invited to join Routes’ general alumni offering, giving them further opportunities to strengthen their employability skills.

As part of our ongoing learning and advocacy, we connected with refugee women beyond the course - both those who successfully secured apprenticeships, and those who faced significant barriers. This helped us to further understand the structural challenges contributing to refugee women’s unemployment, particularly in accessing apprenticeships.

Relevant barriers to accessing apprenticeships include annual reviews of government funding rules on apprenticeships (creating uncertainty amongst potential candidates, as well as providers and employers), restrictions based on visa duration, and a general lack of accurate information on who is able to access apprenticeships (and who is not). As such, individual refugee women and support organisations face a complex task in navigating eligibility rules to determine whether apprenticeships are accessible to them.

We continue our work with partner organisations, including refugee support organisations, and stakeholders across the employment and adult skills sectors, to refer participants to relevant support and advocate for better employment outcomes and apprenticeship ecosystems. We’ve also built and grown our organisational network, and have been able to share our knowledge on apprenticeships and employment outcomes at relevant (online) conferences and meetings.