Smart Works

Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women in need. We harness the power of clothes and confidence to allow a woman to be her best at a crucial moment in her life, giving her the confidence, the self-belief and the practical tools required to succeed at interview and transform her life.

Women are referred to us from organisations such as job centres, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities. Half have been unsuccessful in over 20 applications. A third have been turned down from over 50 jobs. All are suffering from a lack of confidence in their own abilities.

The tangible impact that our service has on a woman’s confidence is something we have the privilege to witness every day. The magic begins when she enters the dressing room and is styled into her interview outfit, hers to keep, by trained volunteers. She looks in the mirror and sees a new and impressive version of herself. This is followed by one-to-one interview coaching, after which 65% of our clients go on to get the job.

Named Social Action Charity of the Year 2017 at the National Charity Awards, it is our mission to ensure any woman who needs our help should be able to come to a Smart Works centre.

Smart Works Greater Manchester opened in June 2015 and since then, we have seen over 1800 women. We are very proud that out of those we have been able to contact, over 70% have succeeded at getting a job.