On July 5, the cozy hall of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain hosted the first conference of the Ukrainian Employment Integration Project — HelpChain. This initiative may not make loud headlines, but it is quietly transforming lives through real action.
The event brought together project partners — UK-based companies that have already offered skilled jobs to Ukrainian participants — and Ukrainians eager to work in their professional fields.
Solomiya Baranets, co-founder of HelpChain, spoke about the project’s goals, upcoming plans, and how it’s shifting the way both Ukrainians and British employers perceive the job market:
“Our mission is simple and clear: to connect Ukrainian professionals with UK employers.
We’re building a chain of real integration — not on paper, but through real employment stories.
This isn’t about fame — it’s about purpose.
Because every day spent working in your profession is a step toward dignity, stability, and the future.
HelpChain is not just a platform — it’s a space for action.
Here, engineers, teachers, lawyers, artists, and builders aren’t waiting for opportunities — they are getting them, and using them.
HelpChain is a path back to yourself — to who you were, and who you want to become.
One of those stories belongs to Anastasiia Boyd-Gibb, the project’s coordinator. She once worked as an engineer in Ukraine and is now an accountant in the UK. Her personal journey — which began with cleaning jobs — inspires others just starting out. She understands how vital it is to receive a helping hand at the right moment.
So far, over 24 companies have joined HelpChain, opening 42 positions specifically for Ukrainians. It may not sound like much — but behind every number is a person, and many of them are now employed in their fields: lawyers, analysts, managers, teachers — all contributing to the UK workforce.
It wasn’t easy at first — many meetings, empty promises, and time lost.
But now, every meeting brings at least one job opportunity.
And we’re ready to hold 100,000 more if that’s what it takes.
One such company is Raklaw Solicitors, which has already opened vacancies for Ukrainian lawyers. Their Executive Director, Amin Chishti, notes that language is only the first step. The key is trust — and when Ukrainian specialists are given the chance to show their skills, they change everything around them.
The HelpChain team is also focusing on a new priority: education and certification. Grants are already being prepared for retraining and upskilling lawyers, healthcare professionals, and construction workers — with plans to support around 70 specialists in each field. These aren’t just dreams — these are real, actionable plans.
We’re building the future with the hands of those who are already here.
We’re not asking — we’re creating.
And our results prove that everything is possible.
HelpChain isn’t based on illusions. It focuses on real outcomes: jobs, language, legal status, documentation. These are tangible steps that change lives.
A larger event is planned for October, where successful employment stories, educational programs, and possibly even an investment project will be presented — such as a creative restaurant or café, initiated by Ukrainians in partnership with a UK investor.
The project also supports art and creativity. Two art exhibitions are in preparation, along with a social video project highlighting the war and civilian danger in Ukraine — aimed at raising awareness among those who still don’t grasp the full depth of the tragedy.
HelpChain is not just about help.
It’s about action together.
About choosing to be strong — together.
We don’t build illusions. We build pathways — side by side with those ready to move forward.
Join the Ukrainian Employment Integration Project.
Together, we’re not just looking for jobs.
We are restoring dignity, profession, and the future.
