The tech industry should unite to help refugees

Amid the harrowing accounts of tragedy in Ukraine, organisations everywhere are offering humanitarian support that is so badly needed to those fleeing the conflict. We are all trying to do our bit and wondering how we go about it – FDM Group included.

Taking in refugees is not new to FDM. Over many years we have had and continue to have employees in the firm who have escaped from war-torn areas - but not at the level we are considering right now.

“In my position as Head of NA training, I have the privilege of leading individuals of all ethnicities and backgrounds. As an immigrant woman from Syria, I take great pride in the opportunities FDM provides, especially those from diverse backgrounds by opening the door of success through technical training, career growth and a positive mindset of success. Over the past seven years, my career at FDM continues to grow because FDM believes in me and recognise my strong technical skills and strong leadership skills.”

Rim Almaliki,

Head of North American Academy

at FDM Group

About two weeks ago, our CTO, Jonathan Young, approached the FDM Board and expressed to us what we were all feeling: “We need to help the people who have been displaced from their homes and their lives in Ukraine.”

The question, having made that statement, was how and what we can do to make a positive impact on their lives - whatever we do, it must put humanity first. Each conversation must begin with empathy and understanding.

Following observations from the ongoing dialogue in government about how Ukrainian refugees could (or could not) get access to the UK and the right to work here, our initial thought was to recognise that we have an FDM business in Poland from where we could offer jobs to those seeking refuge in the country. Eureka! I am delighted and proud to say, this week, we hired our first Ukrainian refugee in Poland.

However, as a proud British company, this was not enough.

Jonathan informed us of an initiative, being led by Emma Sinclair of ‘Enterprise Alumni’, who is putting together a consortium of like-minded FTSE companies that have agreed to offer jobs to displaced people. FDM Group is proud to have jumped on board. Very quickly, over forty companies, as reported in the Sunday Times, have found 10,000 roles which could be offered to Ukrainian refugees.

FDM is a professional services provider with a focus on technology and operations. Last year, we recruited over 2500 new joiners into our company and this year we want to open our doors more widely to formally welcome those leaving Ukraine to escape Russian invasion, along with other people who are displaced from their countries and separated from loved ones.

Under Jonathan’s directorship, a team was quickly put in place to manage our ‘Train Ukraine’ initiative.

Before the pandemic, all our skills-based training was held in our 115 classrooms by our equal number of trainers. But when the pandemic started, we switched to fully remote learning.

Two years on we can see the advantages – not only trainees don’t have to relocate to big cities, have more time at home,  and have greater flexibility, but we now also have  an abundance of empty classrooms available which we fully intend to use to deliver skills training to those fleeing areas of conflict.

Our training offering will suit individuals from all professional and academic backgrounds; the refugees will be able to choose whether they want to undertake a tech and business skills training with a secured job at the end of the training, degree apprenticeships, and internal roles within FDM Group, including IT tech roles.

Awareness of the language barriers and the trauma Ukrainian refugees are facing will be vital throughout the training process, inside and outside the classroom.

The UK tech sector is made of some of the most innovative companies in the world. Tech can provide solutions – for the economy, the planet, and importantly for society and people. We all have a responsibility to do our part to ease the challenges many Ukrainian citizens are facing right now.

Kindness is the best form of humanity!

Get in touch with [email protected] if you’d like to find out more on how your business can support refugees at this time of need.

This blog was originally authored by Sheila Flavell CBE, Deputy President at techUK and COO at FDM Group.