A Bristol-based software development firm is offering to employ Ukraine tech workers forced to flee the country due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Amdaris, which provides IT consultancy and application support services, opened an office in Ukraine’s southern port city Odesa last year.
Since the invasion in February the company, which is headquartered in the Aurora office building in Finzels Reach, said it had safely evacuated employees who wanted to leave along with their families.
Olga Snegur, centre director of Amdaris' Odesa operations, told BusinessLive a "significant number" of its staff had been relocated to its other offices, including in Romania, Moldova and a newly announced delivery centre in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Around 20 employees have decided to stay in the country.
Ms Snegur said: "It is no longer possible for those of them [who chose to stay] that are male to leave. We have done everything we can to support these colleagues still in Ukraine, such as increasing flexibility over working hours and offering compassionate support, including paid exceptional leave, daily wellbeing checks and ongoing pastoral care. All our Ukrainian team are safe, working hard and continuing to delight our clients.”
Amdaris said it had been “shocked and saddened” by the “horrifying” attack, and has pledged to return to Ukraine in the future to help it rebuild the country’s “thriving” software development sector.
In the meantime, the business - founded in Bristol by Andy Rogers and Vlad Nanu in 2009 - has said it will provide secure employment to displaced Ukrainian workers with relevant software or management skills.
Amdaris said, when circumstances allow, any workers it takes on would be able to return to their previous employers, with no obligation to continue working for them.
The company added it would also provide emergency support to companies with Russian, Belarussian or Ukrainian IT service suppliers currently unable to function.
Amdaris' new office in Bulgaria, its sixth worldwide, will help to support the company's pledges. The business is aiming to create more than 50 jobs by the end of the year in Sofia, which it called “one of the emerging IT capitals of Eastern Europe.”
Co-chief executive Mr Rogers said: “The software development industry in the region has continued to grow during the pandemic, but now with the region facing new challenges Amdaris is looking forward to building a creative, driven, and dynamic workplace for all talented technology specialists.
“It’s our pledge to support those who have been displaced to have employment security for as long as required, with no employment obligations, growing one of the best tech centres in the world.”
Entrepreneur Vesela Nikolova, who previously co-founded an e-commerce start-up and NGO 180 Degrees Consulting Sofia, has been appointed as the Bulgarian centre director of Amdaris.
Ms Nikolova said: “I joined Amdaris as after meeting with the company’s senior leadership team, I realised that this company was not like any other. I knew right away that Amdaris was an exceptional company to be a part of and serves as the perfect opportunity to put my passions into action.
“I am looking forward to building a pioneering office in Sofia and working together with the other five Amdaris offices to make a difference in not just the software development space but in the world around us as well.”
In 2020 Amdaris secured £6m from investment firm BGF to help support a growth strategy which includes the creation of 1,000 roles over three years.
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