Smart Works Greater Manchester has opened up a new centre! We sat down with our charity partner to learn more about the team and the important work they do to help women back into the workforce.

Hi! For anyone who doesn’t know, can you give us a bit of background about Smart Works?

Smart Works helps unemployed women with clothing and coaching to get the job and transform their lives. We are a national charity and have 11 centres across the UK. We give women the confidence, the self-belief, and the practical tools they require to succeed in securing a job and starting a new chapter in their life.

How do Smart Works help the women who come into your centres?

For unemployed women with a confirmed interview, they receive a complete outfit of clothes and accessories, theirs to keep, and we provide one-to-one preparation training so they feel more confident and start believing in their own ability to succeed. We also offer a Career Coaching appointment for women looking for work, helping them feel positive about their next steps. Our services can be transformative, and we’re proud to say that 69% of the women we see go on to get the job.

Why do you think feeling confident in your clothing is so important when it comes to interviewing for a job?

We all know that when you wear an outfit you love, you feel your best. It’s so important to feel that confidence when you’re going for an interview, something that can be quite daunting for most people, let alone anyone who faces barriers or has been out of work for some time. Having an outfit you feel great in makes the world of difference, and we see it instantaneously when our clients have had their appointments! They stand taller, they’re smiling, and it’s one less thing to worry about.

Fiona Coral Heart Print Blouse, Carly Coral Heart Print Dress

You’ve just celebrated your eighth birthday - that’s a huge milestone! How do you feel Smart Works has grown and developed over the years?

There has been a lot of change over the years, but our mission to support women has always stayed the same. We have gone from a team of two to a team of six, our volunteer network has grown massively, and we now have two centres where we deliver appointments. We’re proud to be able to offer our clients a huge variety of choice, from sizes 6-30, with different styles and colours to suit everyone’s preferences. This is something we have built up over the past eight years, as well as relationships with local retailers and corporate supporters who are passionate about Smart Works.

How did you get into working with Smart Works, and how can other people get involved and help out?

I started out as a Volunteer Stylist in 2015 and became a member of the staff team in 2019, so I’ve always been passionate about the work we do. You can get involved in several different ways - supporting with clothing donations, volunteering your time, or simply by coming along to one of our fundraising events! We hold these throughout the year, and they are a fantastic way of supporting us. Follow us on socials to keep up to date with everything we do, as well as seeing our uplifting client success stories: @smartworksgm.