Smart Works Scotland give unemployed women (16+) high quality clothes, confidence and the practical advice needed to succeed at their upcoming job interviews. The women we support are at greatest risk of economic hardship and discrimination; in the last year, 34% of our clients had been unemployed for over a year and 16% had applied for over 50 jobs before coming to Smart Works Scotland. In addition, 29% were lone parents, 15% had a disability and 42% were from an ethnic minority.
At the heart of Smart Works Scotland sits a transformational dressing and coaching service designed to help our clients be the best version of themselves at a crucial moment in their lives. We are proud that 63% of our clients secure a job within a month of using our services. Once a woman gets the job, she is welcomed back for a Second Dressing where she receives a capsule working wardrobe to last until her first pay cheque. 95% of clients reported that they felt more confident that they would succeed at their interview following the service they received at Smart Works Scotland.
As a result of securing employment our clients' can gain financial security and feel empowered and hopeful for the future. in 2020, we launched a virtual service where clients benefit from online interview coaching, a virtual dressing consultation and a bespoke parcel of workwear items sent in the post; this means we can help any woman in Scotland, regardless of their physical location.
Smart Works Scotland have an enthusiastic team of Stylists, Coaches, Wardrobe and Outreach Volunteers all playing various roles in delivering our service, maintaining our wardrobe and spreading the word about the impactful work we do. We are proud to be a client driven organisation; informed by the voices of our clients through our advisory group. We are data led; committed to helping priority groups and maintaining our high success rate of positive employment outcomes.
Following the impact of the pandemic on female unemployment we identified the need for an additional appointment type and responded by launching a brand-new programme – Career Coaching – which helps unemployed women secure a job interview. In each session, trained coaches work with clients to identify tangible next steps to maximise their chances of securing an interview. This acts as a step before our core interview preparation service.
Coaches work one-on-one, providing individualised support to our unemployed clients who are either searching for work (Career Coaching) or...
