Member Article

MediaCom gets smart about helping women into work

A Smart Works suit drive hosted by MediaCom Manchester raised £593 for the charity which helps dress disadvantaged women for job interviews and a brighter future.

Nineteen sacks of clothing and four bags of unopened beauty products were donated by guests attending the event at MediaCom Manchester’s offices in Spinningfields.

They will be used by Smart Works to provide interview outfits to out-of-work women on low incomes.

Smart Works helps unemployed women prepare for job interviews by providing them with smart interview wear and a style consultation.

The charity also gives clients one-to-one interview training and the advice they need to become work-ready. Each client leaves Smart Works with a complete interview outfit, including shoes and a handbag.

Smart Works Manchester manager Georgia Walkden said: “Looking and feeling more confident provides a massive boost when it comes to a job interview and we’re incredibly grateful for MediaCom’s support in enabling us to help even more women.

“Since we opened last June, we’ve been able to support 250 women and have a 75% success rate in supporting them into work. The women we work with leave feeling like different people.”

The event was organised by Katy Leeson, Media Com North’s Head of New Business and Marketing, to gather donations of high quality ladies’ clothing, shoes, handbags, coats, unopened tights and unopened makeup.

She said: “As a woman in business I know that the clothes we wear have a huge impact on how we are perceived, by others, plus our own self-esteem and confidence. During an interview, first impressions really count.

“I was overwhelmed by the support shown by the people who attended the Smart Works event.

“Putting people first is at the heart of everything MediaCom does and it’s something we really do believe in. I’m so grateful to all of the people who supported our event and thrilled that we will potentially be able to make a difference to the lives of dozens more women.”

Hobbs clothing store set up a pop-up shop and gave out vouchers, whilst Bobbi Brown makeup provided advice and makeovers to those attending.

Smart Works liaises with over a hundred referral agencies, including Jobcentre Plus, Work Programme providers and other charities. Any female jobseeker can be referred to Smart Works as long as she has a confirmed job interview and needs help with interview clothes and confidence building. The service is free to all women who are referred.

Smart Works also provides a support network to the women they help, a six-week mentoring programme run by the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) and referrals into The Princes’ Trust. Almost 60% of Smart Works’ national clients succeed at interview.

Smart Works Manchester was the first Smart Works office to open outside of London and has been operational since 2015. This year the charity will dress more than 2,000 women in a complete outfit of stylish, high quality clothes donated by retailers and professionals.

For more information about Smart Works, please visit http://www.smartworks.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by MediaCom North .