Smart Works

Who we are

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses and coaches unemployed women for success at their job interview. We empower each woman by giving her the clothes and the confidence she needs to succeed.

After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives. 

The Smart Works service is delivered in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading and Leeds. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 40,000 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre. 

Our culture and values

Our mission

We exist to help women break the cycle of hardship that results from being unemployed. We help women transition into employment by providing high-quality interview clothes and interview training, unlocking their confidence and self-belief.

The need for Smart Works has never been greater. The legacy of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has had a disproportionate impact on the women we exist to support. In the last year, 40% of our clients had been unemployed for over a year, and 12% had applied for over 100 jobs before coming to Smart Works. A significant proportion of our clients were single mothers and over half were from an ethnic minority.

We harness the power of clothing and coaching to unlock the confidence a woman needs to put her best foot forward at a crucial moment in her life, giving her the practical tools required to succeed at interview and transform her life.

Our impact

Over the past 10 years, we have helped over 35,000 women in 11 centres across the UK. We witness the tangible impact that our service has on a woman’s confidence every day across our centres.

It all begins when a client enters the dressing room and is attended to by our trained volunteers to find the perfect interview outfit. This is free of charge and hers to keep. Her self-belief and confidence begin to grow. She looks in the mirror and sees new possibilities for herself. This is followed by one-on-one interview coaching, after which 63% of our clients go on to get the job.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

Smart Works is a national charity based across the UK. Our HQ in North London powers the infrastructure of our charity and works closely with each local centre to deliver the Smart Works service.

In June 2023, Smart Works launched our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategy to align with our Three Year Plan. It is grounded in one of our core values – Accessible Aspiration, which is the promise that Smart Works will always be approachable and inclusive, empowering others to thrive and fulfil their potential. We are committed to removing any barriers and behaviours that prevent Smart Works from being truly diverse and inclusive.