Asda launches employment package for Ukrainian refugees

Asda has announced it will offer Ukrainian refugees arriving in the UK a guaranteed job interview and provide specialist support to those who are recruited as Asda colleagues.

The supermarket currently has around 1,500 salaried and hourly-paid roles available in its stores, warehouses and within its sourcing and procurement arm IPL and said it will welcome applications from Ukrainian refugees to fill these roles.

Ukrainian nationals wishing to apply for a job with Asda, will simply need to tick a box confirming their nationality on the Asda job site, while IPL applicants will just have to provide their nationality when they apply.

According to the retailer, interviews will be guaranteed to candidates with the appropriate qualifications for the roles advertised – which include warehouse operatives, retail colleagues, delivery drivers, pharmacists and optometrists.

Asda has confirmed that it will make a colleague discount card and access to wellbeing support services immediately available to any Ukrainian refugees joining the business, with the intention of helping them establish themselves in their new community.

The supermarket also added it is producing Ukrainian-language welcome packs to highlight the support available and introducing badges for Ukrainian speaking colleagues to wear in stores to help customers from the country feel welcome.

Hayley Tatum, chief people officer, said: “We can’t imagine how difficult the last few weeks have been for those people who have been forced to abandon their homes and seek refuge abroad.

“We want to support those Ukrainian refugees who come to the UK by helping them find employment as this will give them the stability and security needed to help build a new life for themselves.”

This news follows the earlier announcement this month of a £1m package to support displaced Ukrainian families in Europe and the UK.