Foundation & Friends Podcast: Unlocking Hidden Refugee Talent with Jessica Ridgewell from Breaking Barriers

by Jun 19, 2024Awareness Raising, Charity partners, Lived Experience, Podcasts, Refugee support0 comments

How employers can harness the potential of refugee candidates

While many UK employers will be aware of the social value associated with supporting refugees, not all will be aware of how best to harness the talent and experience that refugees can bring to the workplace. In this podcast, host Lauren Roberts is joined by Jessica Ridgewell, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Breaking Barriers, who shares her experience of helping major UK businesses to access, integrate and benefit from refugee talent. Topics include:

  •  Recognising the obstacles faced by refugee candidates
  •  The role of the private sector in supporting refugees into employment
  •  Best practice for embedding refugee candidates into the workforce
  •  How modern tools and trends can be applied to support and upskill refugees
  •  How employers can advocate internally for policies which support refugee clients

For further information about the material quoted in this episode visit:

For more episodes from the series click here.

Want to be kept up to date?

Sign up to City & Guilds Foundation email alerts and newsletter

Previous posts

Foundation Newsletter: October 2026

October has been another busy month for the City & Guilds Foundation, with new partnerships, inspiring stories from the organisations we support and fresh insights into how we can create more opportunities for people and businesses to thrive. This month, we're...

City & Guilds Foundation supports Generation UK to help break down barriers to employment

The City & Guilds Foundation is delighted to announce £74,000 in funding for Generation UK, supporting an innovative project that will help more people facing barriers to employment gain the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to build sustainable careers....

Insights from Action: Skills in Place, or Skills in Time?

Finding new ways for people and industry to get the skills they need to thrive is front and centre of many conversations about the future right now. Unemployment and underemployment are issues seeping through every part of society – 1 million 16–24-year-olds, 1...

More than history: How Voyage is opening doors for the next generation

This Black History Month, we explore how City & Guilds Foundation funding is helping Voyage create opportunities for young people to discover their heritage, develop their confidence and explore new career pathways. For many young people, understanding their...

Update on Chief Executive appointment

The Board of Trustees of the City and Guilds of London Institute has decided not to proceed with the appointment of a new Chief Executive at this stage. The Institute is undertaking a wider review of its future strategy, organisational structure and operating model,...

Foundation Newsletter: September 2026

As we move into autumn, we’d like to share an update on some of the work we’ve been supporting to create greater access to skills, opportunity and progression. From investing in new pathways into work for young people, to supporting community organisations across the...

Skills on the doorstep: Local Community Skills Fund backs 25 organisations across all four UK nations

The City & Guilds Foundation has awarded almost £190,000 to 25 community organisations through the second round of its Local Community Skills Fund, supporting people across the UK to develop skills and take steps towards employment. The second funding round ran...

Fellowship in the City 2026: exploring the pathways that get young people into STEM

On Wednesday 16 September, we brought together Fellows, charity partners and key stakeholders at Mansion House for this year's Fellowship in the City, themed around Pathways to Progression, with a particular focus on STEM. Welcoming guests, Jessica Leigh Jones MBE...

£75,000 awarded to Youth Employment UK to help young people see the way into work and build Skills for the Future

The City & Guilds Foundation has awarded £75,000 to Youth Employment UK to launch Skills for the Future, a new strategic partnership designed to help young people better understand the opportunities, skills and routes into growing sectors of the economy. The...

Foundation Newsletter: August 2026

This month’s newsletter is a little different. With summer in full swing, we’re taking the opportunity to celebrate one of the highlights of our year: our annual 2026 Princess Royal Training Awards recipient announcement! Today, we’re delighted to announce 56...

Podcast episodes

Foundation & Friends Podcast (2024-)

​Green Skills Podcast in collaboration with Green Edge (2024-)

Hosted by Dr. Michael Cross and Fraser Harper, this podcast series explores the critical transition towards a sustainable planet and the pivotal role of green skills in shaping the economy.

Listen now

Share This