23 May 2022. Our series of job preparation support for those newly arrived in Portsmouth start with a session on CV writing. Many of those in our class are refugees and asylum seekers who have or will soon have the permission to work in the UK. 

They look forward to being part of our local economy, of bringing their skills and contributing to the social fabric of our community. They want to work towards having their skills recognised in the UK. This starts with CVs. 

Here, in our meeting room at Innovation Connect, we start with our second cohort, with individuals from Afghanistan, El Salvador,  Ethiopia, Nigeria, Turkey and Ukraine. Such a great group of individuals with so many skills and highly experienced in their fields. 

Their stories and aspirations are inspiring. Fantastic work by our collaborator City of Portsmouth College (formerly Highbury College and Portsmouth College) offering support to help our participants having their skills recognised in the UK. 

Do you remember working on your first CVs? Now, imagine starting all over in the UK and working on your CV in another language and wondering how others will judge your skills and previous experiences. 

We are grateful, at Work Better Innovations, to be able to offer a supporting hand through our community service arm, with the financial support from our consultancy work, to help newcomers integrate into the economic fabric of our communities.

Good luck, our Second Cohort.