Refugee Week 2025: How lived experiences shapes our support at Seetec

Refugee Week 2025 16th – 22nd June

Refugee Week 2025 is a time to celebrate the strength, resilience and contributions of people seeking safety.

At Seetec, we’re proud to stand alongside those rebuilding their lives in the UK – and to learn from their experiences.

One of our own Seetec colleagues, Oksana, brings lived experience of forced migration to her role as an Assistant Employment Adviser.

Her journey from Ukraine to the UK continues to inspire both her team and the people she now supports. By sharing her story, we recognise the value of lived experience in shaping more compassionate and effective services.

In her own words: Oksana’s journey from Ukraine to the UK

My name is Oksana, and I work as an Assistant Employment Adviser at Seetec.

Three years ago, I was a successful business owner in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

As a qualified English, German, and Spanish teacher with a passion for languages, I had built a life helping businesses grow and connect globally.

One night changed everything.

When the war began, Kharkiv – so close to the Russian border – was hit first.

I lost my home, my business, everything.

For two months, I lived in shelters and train stations in western Ukraine, uncertain if I’d ever return home.

My family remained in occupied territories, making the decision to leave even harder.

When I arrived in the UK, a wonderful British family welcomed me, becoming my second family.

Their support gave me strength to rebuild.

I know the struggles newcomers face: language barriers, unfamiliar systems, starting over with nothing, and the overwhelming feeling of displacement.

Now at Seetec, I help refugees and locals alike find employment and build career strategies.

My multiple qualifications and languages, earned through continuous learning even after arrival, help me connect with people from all backgrounds.

I understand because I’ve been there – and I’m here to help you rebuild too.

Oksana, reflecting on her experience

Seetec’s commitment to inclusive recruitment

At Seetec, our employee owners are at the core of who we are. We are committed to actively recruiting people with lived experience of the barriers our customers face; from long-term unemployment to resettling in a new country.

By building a workforce that reflects the diversity and challenges of the communities we serve, we ensure our teams have the empathy and insight needed to provide truly meaningful and effective support.

This approach enriches our organisation by bringing firsthand understanding of issues like language barriers, unfamiliar systems, and rebuilding confidence after trauma.

Welcoming colleagues who have personally navigated these challenges enables us to create services that are compassionate, culturally sensitive, and better tailored to meet the real needs of refugees and others seeking safety and a fresh start in the UK.

For many of our customers, especially those seeking refuge, improving spoken English is key to building confidence and accessing employment opportunities. That’s why Seetec offers tailored ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) support as part of our wider services.

Discover how we help customers strengthen their English language skills and unlock new possibilities in work and life, by watching the video below.