Serhii, a 34-year-old from Mariupol, is building a new life in Denmark after fleeing the war in Ukraine. Thanks to an initiative by Randers Municipality and the Danish Board of Business Promotion, supported by the European Social Fund, Serhii has secured a stable job and is aiming to further his education in logistics. 

Serhii has big plans for the future. ‘When I have finished my education, I hope that I can work my way higher and higher, so that I get promoted and maybe become a manager one day, so I can have some more responsibility. I dream of that, and I believe that I can’, says Serhii.

His boss describes him as an employee with a strong work ethic, who is ambitious and extremely eager to learn Danish. Serhii dedicates 15 hours each week to learning the language, in addition to working full-time in a warehouse.

The effort to get Ukrainian war refugees into employment in Randers Municipality was part of the EU-funded project ‘Spacious Restart’, which also involved Silkeborg and Aarhus Municipalities.

A total of 59 Ukrainians participated in the programme, connecting them with local job opportunities; 20 of them, along with Serhii, have secured permanent jobs.

The initiatives have helped Ukrainian refugees integrate into the Danish labour market while also supporting the development of their skills during their stay in Denmark. The goal is to ensure that participants acquire high and relevant qualifications, which they can use both in Denmark and, eventually, in Ukraine upon their return.

Between 2014 and 2020, the EU Social Fund, the Regional Development Fund and Danish partners invested DKK 1 billion each year in activities aimed at creating growth and employment throughout the country.