Smart Works is a charity that helps unemployed women into work by providing free interview clothing and coaching.
The project in Bradford will officially launch on 25 September with the city’s first Women Into Work jobs fair, hosted at Bradford City Football Club.
Research done by Smart Works with women in Bradford found that half said the most common barriers to employment were lack of confidence, along with limited work experience and language challenges also cited as issues.
The job fair will bring together major employers from sectors including retail, care, construction, hospitality, and the Civil Service.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore vacancies, receive application advice, and connect directly with hiring organisations.
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Smart Works will offer free interview outfits and one-to-one coaching to any woman invited to interview following the event.
Last year, the Leeds branch of Smart Works supported over 1,000 women across Yorkshire with its service. More than two thirds of these clients secured a job within one month of their appointment, gaining financial independence and transforming their lives.
The charity has helped over 35,000 women across the UK and has 11 centres across London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Newcastle, Reading and Leeds, and also offers virtual appointments to women outside of these areas.
Erin Fuller, trustee of Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, said: “We’re proud to support Smart Works’ expansion into Bradford through Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation’s Building Bradford Skills Fund.
“This £1m fund was created to help address challenges around skills and employment that many communities in Bradford face. By enabling established charities like Smart Works to deliver targeted support in the areas that need it most, we’re helping to build a stronger, more prosperous future for the district.
“Smart Works’ focus on empowering local women, by improving access to employment support and building confidence will not only help their individual clients, but help identify and overcome barriers to employment faced by many in our communities. We look forward to seeing the difference Smart Works will make in Bradford over the coming years.”
Lottie Roberts, outreach manager at Smart Works Leeds, said: “We are so proud and excited to launch our Bradford project with help from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation and host our Women Into Work Bradford Jobs Fair, an event to connect women to prospective employers directly.
“Our clients often tell us that job application processes are confusing, that they struggle to find opportunities, and that it is really hard to get in front of employers.
“Through this event, attendees will be able to find out more about the rich range of vacancies available in Bradford and surrounding areas and speak to top employers, to get advice about making applications and furthering their job search.
“It is an honour to do an event on this scale for the women of Bradford. As we build our outreach efforts across the district over the next three years, we are committed to working with women in Bradford to build their confidence, supporting them to secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives.”
