Fedir Gains His First UK Work Experience with People Hub Support

Fedir is a 20-year-old who arrived in the UK three years ago through the Homes for Ukraine scheme and initially settled in Cornwall.

He is now studying at university in Manchester and returns to Cornwall during academic breaks to stay with his host family. Wanting to gain work experience while home for the summer, Fedir contacted the People Hub after hearing about the programme through the local Ukrainian community.

When he first joined the project Fedir faced several barriers to employment. Living in a rural area made travel to jobs and interviews difficult and expensive. He also had no UK work experience and felt low in confidence when navigating an unfamiliar job market.

Through regular one-to-one support sessions Fedir worked on building his confidence and preparing for employment. He took part in EDT workshops focused on CV writing, interview skills and confidence and motivation. He was supported to tailor his CV to specific roles and to search for suitable vacancies, helping him feel more prepared and confident when applying.

To remove financial barriers People Hub provided support with transport costs, covering bus fares for interviews and the first month of employment. This practical help made it possible for Fedir to attend interviews and start work without the added pressure of travel expenses.

As a result of the support Fedir secured a job over the summer, giving him his first work experience in the UK before returning to university. The role provided income, practical skills and a significant boost in confidence in a real workplace environment.

Looking ahead, Fedir plans to continue gaining work experience alongside his studies. Although he was unable to continue with the same employer immediately after returning to Manchester due to timetable clashes, he plans to resume work at ASDA Manchester in November. He now feels more confident applying for part-time roles during term time and is beginning to explore future career pathways linked to his degree.

Reflecting on his experience Fedir said:
“SPF did an awesome job preparing me for the interviews, explaining me different stages and tips/rules of application like psychometric tests, video interviews and assessment centres which I have never encountered before. Also, they provided necessary funds for me to commute to my job as I had limited funds to start and make it to my first payslip. In addition, staff always found ways to help even if they did not have any experience with these circumstances. All in all, I had a great experience working with this organisation and would like to thank them for the opportunities they provided for me and other people in need.”