The charity Smart Works exists to help women break out of the cycle of hardship caused by unemployment. The organisation helps women get into employment, providing high-quality interview training and clothes to unlock their self-belief and confidence.
Smart Work’s Mission
Launched in 2013, Smart Works empowers women to succeed in job interviews and positively transform their lives. Since opening its first centre in Islington, the charity has opened 11 more centres across England and Scotland, with women referred from refuges, job centres, homeless shelters, the prison system, mental health charities and other institutions. To date it has supported over 40,000 women, and in 2017 it was recognised at the Charity Awards as Social Action Charity of the Year. In 2024, Smart Works was named Google’s Charity of the Year.
How the Service Works
An Interview Dressing and Preparation service is at the heart of Smart Work’s offering, which is designed to help clients look and feel their best in job interviews. The charity’s team of volunteers is on hand to help those using the service feel confident, relaxed and ready to succeed. Once someone has been referred and accepted onto the programme they receive an hour-long, bespoke dressing consultation to choose a high-quality interview outfit – these clothes can be kept, for free, by the client. Next comes a one-to-one coaching session, with clients receiving advice on interview preparation, along with a free guide that can be taken home.
Around 67% of Smart Work’s clients secure a job within a month. Once they do, they are welcomed back to the centre for a Second Dressing session, where they are given a capsule working wardrobe designed to last until they receive their first pay cheque.
The Core of the Organisation
Its clients are at the centre of the organisation and are the reason Smart Works exists. One of these clients is Aymara, who was made redundant after a 13-year career in architectural interior design. With Smart Work’s dressing and coaching support, she reclaimed her confidence and secured a senior leadership role.
Meanwhile, Bethany found herself struggling after leaving a full-time position in retail and, following eight months of unemployment, became increasingly depressed. However, a week after her first appointment at Smart Works, she started a new job and credits the organisation’s help and advice as being instrumental to her success.
Percent for Good’s Social Mobility Portfolio
The charity Percent for Good, founded by Mark Lyttleton, has curated several Cause Portfolios to help doners easily give to the causes that matter to them most, either directly or via Payroll Giving. Smart Works is one of the charities in the Social Mobility Portfolio, along with Unseen, Ark Resettlement Services, Key4Life and upReach.