Posted on Wednesday 7th August 2024
Hanna Zadushynska
A woman from Ukraine who fled her country after the Russian invasion has settled in Staffordshire and secured a job with the county council.
29-year-old Hanna Zadushynska was a retail manager and then worked as part of the Passport Office in Kyiv before coming to the UK.
Hanna with her husband Oleksandr and their 4-year-old daughter Solomiia arrived in Stafford in May 2022 where they quickly settled in with their host family. Keen to be an active part of the local community, Hanna put a plan in place to find full-time employment.
Having approached the council’s new Staffordshire Jobs and Careers Service for help, she secured a 12-week Open Door placement with the authority’s school transport team in February. Hanna knew this would be a good step to gaining valuable experience while brushing up on her English.
Hanna impressed her manager so much that when a job vacancy became available within the department, she was encouraged to apply. Armed with the knowledge of how to do the job and with her previous skills and experience in Ukraine she was successful in getting the job.
Hanna said:
“Since arriving in Stafford everyone has been so kind to us and we’ve settled in really well.
“Leaving Ukraine after the invasion was a difficult decision as I still have family over there but I knew it was best for our family, especially for our daughter.
“Working for the public good and being able to help people is important to me so I was pleased when the opportunity to do the work placement at the council came up. And then getting the job was brilliant.
“The team on the Open-Door programme and the Jobs and Careers Service were very helpful. Working with My adviser, we looked at my skills and what kind of work I could do. I was quite nervous before starting the placement as I didn’t know what to expect but the team talked me through everything I needed to do. I would definitely recommend the service to anyone looking for a career change or who needs help to find a job.
“I hope to return to Ukraine one day, when it’s safe to do so but for now, I’m loving life in Stafford and my job helping organise school transport for children. I’m very grateful for the warm welcome and help I’ve had and thank people for this.”
Philip White, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills said:
“Staffordshire has offered a generous welcome to refugees like Hanna who have had to flee Putin’s war on Ukraine.
“It is great to see that Staffordshire Jobs and Careers has been able to help her find a job that means she can support her family and help Staffordshire families to get their children to school.
“Staffordshire Jobs and Careers can help anyone to find the job, skills or training they need – at whatever stage of their career they are at.
“Many people want to get back into work after a break or are looking for a career change, but don’t know where to start. Our recruitment experts offer free one-to-one sessions that not only look at transferable skills, but also what training or development might be needed. It really is a win-win for both businesses and Staffordshire residents.”
With over 10,000 local jobs and opportunities and over 100 years of recruitment experience, Staffordshire Jobs and Careers is ready to help.
People can find out more at Staffordshire Job & Careers Brokerage for Residents for one to one support and explore the website of local opportunities at on the Staffordshire Jobs & Careers website.