Iryna stands out at Standing Order, after forced flee from Kyiv

When Iryna Chaika and her identical twin sister, Maryna, arrived in 2022 in the UK from their home in Kyiv, they were aged just 20 and a long way from their Ukrainian home.

A complete stranger sponsored the sisters, welcoming them into their home near Carlisle.

Iryna recalled: “She was a lovely lady and, apart from a telephone conversation with her, she was a total stranger yet welcomed us into her home.

“I was struggling to find a job and worked part time at a hotel, before starting as a bar associate at The William Rufus (Carlisle).”

Iryna said: “I had just basic school English and zero experience of bar work before I joined Wetherspoon in November 2022.

“It was a very busy time and especially hard. I didn’t drink alcohol and everything was unknown.”

Iryna spent six months at the pub in Carlisle before leaving for somewhere new.

She explained: “Carlisle is not big. We are from Kyiv, a capital city and, although we could stay as long as we wanted with our sponsor, because of her kindness and support, it was time to move on and progress.

“The choice was among Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh – and we chose Edinburgh.”

Iryna, now 24, said: “I was going to quit my job at The William Rufus, until I was told I could transfer.

“It was a great opportunity not to lose my job.”

Iryna joined the team at The Standing Order (Edinburgh), while Maryna works as a clothing store merchandiser, with a company she worked with at home in Kyiv.

Maryna continues to develop within the company and has also achieved promotion.

Iryna progressed to team leader and has now stepped up to shift-leader level.

She said: “I like customer service and people. I meet so many different people and improve my English every day.

“I really like working for Wetherspoon. I am just going with the flow and, if I have an opportunity, I will take it. With Wetherspoon, I can progress.

“I didn’t expect to become a shift leader, but my team is lovely, trusts me and I am grateful.”

Robert Drysdale, a regular customer, wrote: “The staff at The Standing Order are excellent and obviously very well trained.

“A stand-out member of the team is Iryna.

“Despite the language barrier and the distressing reasons for being here in Scotland from her home in Ukraine, she is a remarkably dedicated team member, immensely personable and vivacious, engaging eagerly and empathetically with customers and working so very hard.

“As with so many Ukrainians now living in the UK, she has a moving story to tell – and it seems to me that Wetherspoon has been an important part of her success in coping with the enforced move from home.