Rim and Rami’s stories

Rim and Rami are married Syrian refugees. This is their employment story:

We came to Cheltenham in 2018 from Lebanon having left Syria because of the war there.

We are each professionally qualified and we each wanted to gain long-term professional employment in the UK to provide a safe and secure future for ourselves and our children, to fully integrate into the community, and to contribute to the economy.

We arrived with our two children, who were both of early school age. Our son was two and a half years old and started attending nursery, while our daughter was four years old and joined the Reception Class at a local school.

At the same time, we were still in the early stages of settling into life in the UK. We had just begun learning English and spent a period attending college and training courses to improve our language skills and understanding of how life and systems work here. This adjustment period involved a lot of learning, trial and error, and some initial confusion as we navigated a new country, culture, and education system.

Alongside this, we had to manage childcare arrangements while gradually moving towards employment. Once our English improved and we felt more confident, we began actively looking for work that could realistically balance employment responsibilities with caring for our young children. Finding roles that allowed this balance required flexibility, patience, and careful planning.

This context helps explain not only the practical challenges we faced, but also the resilience and determination required to support our children’s education and well-being while building a new life and working towards employment.

Rami:

I came to the UK in 2018. Before arriving, I studied accounting in Syria and worked in managing a small supermarket, sales for an electrical appliances company, and supervising construction projects. After moving to Lebanon, I worked as a document controller for a large construction company.

In the UK, I focused on improving my English, enrolling in college and getting my UK driving licence. I worked in food delivery for three years, volunteered in computer repair, and then worked with DPD for five months. I have been at Royal Mail for two years. These experiences helped me develop communication, time management, and problem-solving skills, understand UK workplaces, and build confidence, helping me settle in Cheltenham.

Rim:

I studied English Literature in Syria and worked in a private school during my studies, then at Syriatel in the call centre, customer service, and later the finance department. Due to the war, I moved to Lebanon with my husband to find stability.

After arriving in the UK, I focused on gaining UK qualifications, completing Functional Skills Level 2, Business Administration Levels 1 and 2, and Teaching Assistant Level 2. I have been working for two years as a teaching assistant at Sand Academic, a special educational needs school for children with autism. My Arabic skills help me communicate with children who speak Arabic. I continue training in Makaton sign language and NHS medication courses to provide high-quality support to children with complex needs.

Challenges in Finding Employment:

One of the main challenges refugees face when arriving in the UK and looking for work is the language barrier. Limited English can make it difficult to communicate confidently, understand job requirements, and succeed in interviews. The second major challenge is lack of UK work experience, as many employers prefer candidates who are familiar with the UK workplace and its expectations. Another key difficulty is the need for UK-recognised qualifications, as many roles require certificates or training completed in the UK. These three factors—language, experience, and qualifications—can make finding employment challenging for newcomers, especially during their first period of settlement.