Member Article

PKF Cooper Parry manager appointed Smart Works Trustee

Emma Bryan, an audit manager in the Not for Profit team at PKF Cooper Parry’s West Midlands office, has been appointed Treasurer and Trustee of voluntary organisation, Smart Works Birmingham.

Smart Works Birmingham was launched in August 2016 to support unemployed women in the region through the Smart Works dressing and interview coaching service, which comprises of free two-hour core dressing and interview preparations services.

Ladies who are referred to the service receive a complete outfit of clothes and accessories, which are theirs to keep and receive one-to-one preparation training to improve their confidence and help them start believing in their own ability to succeed.

The service is delivered by a team of highly skilled, fully trained volunteers. All stock is donated through other working women or comes direct from the organisation’s retail partners, which include Hobbs, Whistles and Evans.

In her new role as Treasurer and Trustee, Emma will be supporting the existing Smart Works team to ensure the organisation is run effectively and is fulfilling its principal objectives.

Emma will also be organising regular donation drives, encouraging her PKF Cooper Parry colleagues to donate any of their unused suits or smart clothing to Smart Works.

Speaking of her new role at Smart Works Birmingham, Emma said:

“Being involved with charities daily, I see the invaluable input that trustees make and I have been wanting to give something back, but it had to be something that interested me. I think the concept of this charity is fantastic and the two hours our clients spend with us can be transformative.

“I have a lot of relevant skills that I hope Smart Works will find valuable. I’m super proud to have been appointed and can’t get wait to get involved.”

Joanne Penn, Smart Works Birmingham manager, added:

“We are delighted to welcome Emma to the board of Trustees here at Smart Works Birmingham.

“There are many support services available, but nowhere can they get the focused two-hour service to provide them with the right outfit for their job interview, combined with coaching to give them the confidence to succeed.

“Since launching in August 2016, we have supported over 70 women before their interview with 54% of them going on to be successful. We’re looking forward to an exciting year ahead.”

The Smart Works service is open to unemployed women in the Birmingham area who have confirmed job interviews for a paid position or year-long apprenticeship. More than 95% of their clients reported that a visit to Smart Works significantly increased their confidence in succeeding at job interviews.

The service relies on skilled and fully trained volunteer stylists and interview coaches, who work one-to-one with each client in a compassionate and supportive way to help them get back into work.

Smart Works Birmingham is open for appointments Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10am – 3pm. For further information, contact birmingham@smartworks.org.uk.

PKF Cooper Parry’s expert Not for Profit team provide high quality compliance, taxation and advisory services to UK and international charities and not for profit organisations.

Their clients include academies, independent schools, care charities, arts and culture, religious orders, conservation and grant making foundations.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Donna Hill .