Our impact

The women we support are at high risk of economic hardship, often struggling with confidence and self-belief in the face of repeated rejection and real barriers to employment.

A large proportion of the women who come to us have applied for over 50 jobs with no success. Over half of our clients are from ethnic minorities and around 30% are lone mothers. By delivering our service at our 11 centres across the UK, we have been able to support over 37,000 women into employment over the past decade.

40,000

women supported into secure employment over the past 10 years

67%

got the job within a month of their first appointment at Smart Works

94%

felt more confident about their livelihood and career

11

centres across the UK to serve local communities

International Women's Day with Smart Works and Mary Portas: Get Your Ticket

We are delighted to be hosting a very special IWD event -- In Conversation with Mary Portas and Emma Barnett. This year, the IWD theme is Give to Gain, and the global UN theme for IWD is Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.

To mark the occasion, we are thrilled to be hosting an In Conversation evening with Mary Portas, one of the UK’s most influential retail and business thinkers and a leading voice on purpose-driven leadership. The conversation will be moderated by Smart Works Patron Emma Barnett, award-winning journalist and broadcaster, best known for Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4 and The Emma Barnett Show on BBC Radio 5 Live. This will be a moment to connect with fellow supporters who value creativity, leadership, style and social impact, and who believe in taking action to create lasting change for women.

Get your ticket

The Smart Works Index 2025: The Gendered Reality of Job Seeking

The latest report from the Smart Works Unemployment Index ‘The Gendered Reality of Job-Seeking’ was launched today at the House of Lords.

Findings reveal how modern recruitment systems are increasingly shutting women out of work, damaging confidence and narrowing employer talent pools.

However, Smart Works’ human centred support is proving vital in helping women back into employment.

Explore the Smart Works Index 2025

Make a donation

Transform a woman's life

Join our mission to support unemployed women across the UK who need help getting into work. Every donation helps us to deliver our service to be able to provide free high-quality interview-appropriate clothing and interview coaching to women who need it the most.

Donate clothes

Donate your pre-loved work-appropriate clothing to support our clients in feeling and looking confident at their job interview.

Donate clothes

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Donate clothes

Donate your pre-loved work-appropriate clothing to support our clients in feeling and looking their best to secure employment

Donate clothes

Keen to help?

Join our community and get involved

Asha

“I had to leave my last job because of the impact it was having on my mental health. I was really struggling – suffering from anxiety and depression. I was having a very hard time.

My appointment was fantastic…Now I see myself and what I've done as being valuable. I know skills that I have are going to help me in the future. I'm in a really good place."

Katie

"I’d been in the same job for 14 years when I decided to make a change. I needed to earn money quickly, I had a mortgage to pay and children to feed.

When it came to looking for a new job, I was in a bad place mentally. I felt ashamed. I didn't know what I was going to do.. It was the Smart Works team that showed me what I could do. I’m in a great place now and that is totally down to Smart Works. I'm just so grateful for the experience that I've been given."

Stephanie

"After college, I worked in a nail salon for a while. The people were lovely there and they wanted me to stay on, but because of personal reasons, I had to leave. That led me to have a long gap in my employment. I was helping my mum care for my dad, and it was quite a difficult time for me.

The clothes and the coaching helped me change my mind set to be more positive. From before I walked into Smart Works, to when I came out, I was like a different person.”