FROM ODESA TO OPPORTUNITY: YULIIA’S INSPIRING JOURNEY 

When war broke out in Ukraine, life for residents of Odesa, a vibrant port twinned with Liverpool, took an unexpected turn.

Among them was Yuliia Ozarynska, who made the difficult and heart-wrenching decision to leave her country, moving to the UK with her six-year-old son in search of peace and safety. When the pair arrived in Liverpool in July 2022, with just their suitcases and backpacks, they left behind them a home, a community, and Yuliia’s successful business career.

Read on to discover how, three years later, following a Liverpool City Region Skills Bootcamp, Yuliia launched her own community-interest company, which now helps other entrepreneurs launch their businesses. It is also laying the groundwork for a future platform for commercial collaboration between the UK and Ukraine.

Invaluable service for the community

When she first arrived in the UK, the Homes for Ukraine programme provided Yuliia and her son with a roof over their heads. When she obtained the right to live, work, and study in the UK, Yuliia immediately made an appointment with her local Jobcentre Plus, determined to improve her English and explore opportunities. One of the first things she did was offer her services as a volunteer when Liverpool hosted the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of Ukraine, organising events and meeting employers across the region. 

 “In Odesa, I was a consultant in finance and tax, and worked as a project manager for a non-profit organisation, helping entrepreneurs launch their ventures. After making connections whilst volunteering here in Liverpool, I realised I could offer a similar service to the community here, whilst forging a new professional identity for myself.”

A new life in Liverpool

Yuliia began fast-tracking her integration into the local professional scene. Through a business support group, Merseyside Expanding Horizons, she joined a development programme that took her to Barcelona at the end of 2023 to present a potential project about business education and support for the Ukrainian community. Whilst in Spain, her business idea began to take on more shape. Yuliia explains:

“Doing the programme alongside entrepreneurs from across Europe, I acquired skills I could pass on to others. This opened my eyes to what the future could look like for myself and other Ukrainians. I decided I would start my own business.”

The Digital Skills Bootcamp: a game-changer

After returning from Spain, Yuliia began to explore additional business resources. A turning point came when she enrolled in a 12-week Digital Boost Skills Bootcamp, delivered by Extraordinary Collective and funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. The intensive skills programme included modules on networking using LinkedIn, email marketing, AI-driven content creation, SEO & much more.

Yuliia developed invaluable knowledge thanks to the course. She met inspiring teachers and colleagues while building confidence and expertise in digital marketing.

“I acquired skills to support others, enabling me to begin helping aspiring entrepreneurs open doors and make connections. My new digital skills, alongside my previous finance experience, have helped enormously with this.”

Fast-track skills

Angela McClelland, director of Extraordinary Collective, explains:

“Learners who complete our Skills Bootcamps gain valuable, practical digital marketing skills which allow their businesses to grow and scale.

“Yuliia wishes to assist the local Ukrainian community with the knowledge and skills she has acquired while on our bootcamp. It was a privilege to have worked with her, knowing she will go on to utilise her new digital competencies to help Ukraine, its people and the business community.”

A vision for social entrepreneurship

The Skills Bootcamp inspired Yuliia’s big next step:

“It was the final piece of the puzzle, motivating me to establish a community interest company and achieve my dream of becoming a social entrepreneur.”

Yullia’s work today is paving the way for Ukrainians to integrate and contribute to the UK’s economic landscape whilst supporting their new communities. She is committed to making an impact on people and businesses in both Liverpool and Odesa, as well as throughout Ukraine and the UK.

Yuliia has established the Ukrainian Business Accelerator, a registered Community Interest Company, in spring 2025, which aims to:

• Build connections between Ukrainian and local businesses
• Support Ukrainian entrepreneurs and SMEs in the Liverpool City Region
• Help organisations access grants and support

One of the CIC’s first success stories is that of a Ukrainian lady who, under Yuliia’s guidance, has launched a yoga business and already expanded her network into the USA.

Using her CIC as a springboard, Yuliia is already making plans to:

• Launch commercial initiatives to strengthen post-war collaboration between the UK and Ukraine
• Expanding business networks across the North West to open up more opportunities for Ukrainian and local entrepreneurs
• Deliver business education, training, and mentorship

Yuliia says:

“I look forward to peace in Ukraine. In the meantime, I am laying the groundwork to bridge gaps between our nations and intend to launch international opportunities for as many people and communities as possible.”

Heather Shaw, Skills and Employer Broker with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, says:

“Yuliia is an example of how the Liverpool City Region Digital Skills Boost Bootcamp with Extraordinary Collective has helped unlock powerful potential to change lives. Her story demonstrates how funded initiatives like this can fuel someone’s drive, hope, and hard work, leading to extraordinary outcomes.  Yuliia is realising her vision that will benefit her Ukrainian community and our region as a whole.”

Find out more…

Find out more about Extraordinary Collective.

Find out more about Skills Bootcamps in the Liverpool City Region.