People who have been displaced and have professional qualifications face unemployment rates up to three times the UK national average. The new programme, modelled on Aon’s award-winning UK Work Insights Programme, is delivered in collaboration with the Refugee Employment Network and helps individuals build their professional networks, hone their transferrable employability skills and navigate the corporate recruitment process.
LONDON:Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm, today announced the next phase of its Displaced Workforce Impact Programme. This new initiative is designed to support people displaced by war, violence and conflict in finding professional employment in the UK that is aligned with their skills and expertise.
People who have been displaced and have professional qualifications face unemployment rates up to three times the UK national average. The new programme, modelled on Aon’s award-winning UK Work Insights Programme, is delivered in collaboration with the Refugee Employment Network and helps individuals build their professional networks, hone their transferrable employability skills and navigate the corporate recruitment process.
The launch follows successful pilot programmes held in October 2025 and January 2026 attended by over 80 people. Feedback from session participants showed a marked increase in confidence navigating corporate recruitment, with levels rising from 28 percent to 70 percent.
These results indicate the programme’s potential to help displaced professionals to have a better understanding of the UK job market and to take practical steps toward professional employment.
Aon also hosted a panel event in March to bring together HR and business leaders to support the Refugee Employment Network’s efforts in helping businesses and to understand how they can tap into this talent pipeline.
The event highlighted barriers faced by displaced individuals and showed the business case for supporting highly skilled professionals in re-entering the workforce and demonstrating the potential for organisations to unlock the value of displaced talent.
Katherine Conway, head of Inclusion for Aon, said,“Aon is a global business, and we are keen that our talent should reflect that. By working alongside charities like the Refugee Employment Network, we can successfully translate our commitment to inclusion into real outcomes that are in line with our purpose to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world.
“We’re proud of the success of the pilot programmes – reflected in the doubling of participants in the second iteration of the series. We want to offer our support and expertise to displaced people who face disproportionate unemployment rates.”
Jenny Walton, chief executive officer of the Refugee Employment Network, said,“Employment plays a vital role in rebuilding a life for those displaced from their home country and the feedback attendees have shared shows how transformative this programme has been. Participants have left feeling motivated and welcomed into Aon and the UK workplace – something many are experiencing for the first time.”
“Working alongside Aon on this innovative programme, we have been pleased with the results so far and we look forward to inspiring more organisations to drive change across their workplaces. Removing barriers to meaningful work is a win-win for business and the professionals we work with – something which we are proud to facilitate.”