World Jewish Relief has partnered with Casual Dining Group (CDG) on a pioneering training course to help refugees gain the training and skills they need to get jobs in the hospitality industry. We are delighted that following the success of the course, CDG offered jobs to three of the refugees who took part with a further three participants being given provisional offers for when vacancies arise.

The initiative is the first of its kind for the hospitality industry and forms part of World Jewish Relief’s Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) which supports those who have come to Britain as part of the Home Office’s schemes for vulnerable resettled refugees.

Casual Dining Group is one of the UK’s largest independent restaurant companies with brands including Bella Italia, Café Rouge and Las Iguanas. Nine refugees took part in the 3 week course which combined theory and practice with first-hand industry experience of working at a Bella Italia or Cafe Rouge in Coventry. The training was run in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and SPS Training Solutions.

Claire Clarke, Group HR Director, Casual Dining Group said: “The hospitality industry is a phenomenal place to work that’s inundated with opportunities for driven people, regardless of background. We were delighted to work closely with the DWP, SBS, and World Jewish Relief to pass on our operational expertise and support this worthwhile and progressive initiative.

“As a business, we have created a sophisticated and robust series of training and development programmes to support with the progression of our employees. This programme is a great example of how we can utilise this experience as we look to support people with the necessary skillset to enter the industry.”

Janice Lopatkin, Programme Director UK for World Jewish Relief said: “This cohort of refugees can provide the hospitality industry with a highly skilled, extremely driven and talented group of new recruits. We’re proud that this programme is boosting British business by supplying such a high calibre of candidates whilst also supporting the refugees to become self-reliant, contributing and valued members of British society.”

Paul Scott from the DWP’s National Employer and Partnership Team, added: “I’m delighted that this initiative has been so successful”

STEP operates in Coventry and across Yorkshire and all programmes are tailored to each refugee individually, helping them to develop the skills and identify the opportunities they need to secure sustainable employment, helping them to integrate fully into British society.

The STEP programme is part-funded by the EU’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) making management of migration flows more efficient across the European Union.

It is also part funded by private donors from the Jewish community.