Dressed for Success: Smart Works Newcastle

Can you tell us more about Smart Works and the role it plays in supporting women in the North East?

Smart Works exists to empower all women who need help getting into work. We use the power of high-quality clothing and one-to-one coaching to help unemployed women fulfil their potential, get the job and transform their lives.

Women across the North East are referred to us ahead of their interview by organisations like job centres, employment programmes and housing associations – anyone supporting the woman with their job search can refer.

They will come to us in our centre in the heart of Newcastle for a two hour appointment, to choose a full interview outfit – free and theirs to keep – then an hour of one to one coaching to help them prepare for the interview.

We cover things like how to explain gaps in CVs and how to answer those tricky questions such as strengths and weaknesses.

If clients cannot travel to us in Newcastle we can do a virtual appointment, where we can do the coaching element over the phone or zoom, chat to them about clothing preferences and send a parcel of clothing direct to their home.

What are some of the most significant barriers women in the North East face when looking for employment and how does your team help address these?

At Smart Works we always say one of the biggest barriers for women getting into work is lack of confidence!

More often than not, the women we see are more than qualified to do the role they are interviewing for, but they may feel after a long time out of work they don’t have the skills.

A great example of this is if women have been caring for children or relatives, they may not feel they have anything to offer, but what our coaches are great at is showing them they have a wealth of skills and experience from that time.

Organisation, budgeting and negotiation – all key skills employers look for – women do on a daily basis, but they may not see it.

With unemployment among women still an issue in the North East, what trends have you noticed in recent years regarding their employment opportunities?

We have certainly noticed a decline in women going for jobs in retail and hospitality since Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

There are fewer roles and more job seekers, so we often see two or three clients going for the same role.

Our data shows that our clients apply for an average of 33 jobs before they find work.

The application process for many roles can be over complicated. It can take hours to complete an application, to then not even get through to interview stage – it can be disheartening.

At Smart Works Newcastle we also offer a career coaching session for any women who is starting out on her employment journey and has not yet secured an interview.

We can help with creating a CV, online job applications or even just directing clients to places to look for work.

Smart Works offers interview clothing support, tell us a little bit about how this works?

We have a wonderful wardrobe of clothing stocked by retail partnerships and generous donations from women in the region.

We stock a vast array of sizes and styles so there is something for everyone.

The client will come in, have a cuppa and chat to our stylists about what they would like to wear for their interview – it’s not a makeover, it’s directed by what a client wants to wear.

Clients receive a full outfit including shoes, bag, coat and any other accessories they may need.

We have partnerships at national level with brands such as M&S, Nobody’s Child and Hobbs and locally, we work with Barbour and End.

We also receive preloved donations from local women, often with their own story, we once had a bag donated as someone had used it for their interview and they then wanted to pass it on so one of our clients could use it for their own journey.

Once clients get the job – and 63 per cent get a job within a month of visiting – they can return to get what we call a “second” dressing and get some additional items that will see them through until payday.

How do Smart Works’ services impact the local economy?

We know our clients want to work for financial independence and we know that working directly impacts the local economy.

According to ‘The Benefits of Tackling Worklessness and Low Pay’ by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, every time an out-of-work claimant moves into a job paid at the Living Wage, the government saves on average £6,897 annually, namely due to benefit savings, tax and national insurance revenue.

 

To find out more about Smart Works Newcastle’s vision visit: www.newcastle.smartworks.org.uk