Alma Economics was commissioned jointly with RAND Europe by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to evaluate the first phase of the STEP Ukraine programme, delivered between August 2023 and August 2024. Launched within six weeks of contract award in response to the Russia-Ukraine war, the programme offered Ukrainian visa holders 12 weeks of employment support and 10 weeks of intensive English language training, free of charge, reaching over 45,000 participants.

Our evaluation combined qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the programme's design, delivery, and impact. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with Ukrainian guests alongside stakeholder interviews to understand implementation and participant experience. On the quantitative side, we analysed pre- and post-programme English proficiency scores and compared employment outcomes against a counterfactual group of Ukrainian guests who did not take part, then calculated the programme's Value for Money.

The results were strong across all three areas we assessed. English proficiency scores improved by 17.6–25.9% beyond what time in the UK alone would predict. Participants were 6.6 percentage points more likely to be employed over the following 20 months, with earnings for those already working rising by around 10.7%. Every £1 invested generated £2.04 in public finance savings and £3.67 in broader social benefits. Our process evaluation also identified where the model strained - language and employment support often ran in silos, adviser caseloads were high, and staff felt under-equipped to handle participants' mental health needs - and we made recommendations accordingly, including more flexible scheduling, integrated holistic support, and the development of alumni networks. STEP Ukraine offers a valuable blueprint for future refugee integration policy, in the UK and abroad.

➥ The full report can be found here.