Smart Works Greater Manchester have reached the finals in two categories for the North West Charity Awards 2017.
The charity has been shortlisted in the Small Charity, Big Impact category for charities with an income of less than £400,000 per year while founder of Smart Works Greater Manchester Louise Parrott-Bates has been shortlisted for Trustee of the Year.
Smart Works Greater Manchester is part of a UK wide charity that exists to help unemployed women in need, supporting some of the most vulnerable women in society and helping them to get back into the workplace. A team of willing volunteers use their skills and expertise to prepare the candidates for interview through coaching, confidence building and styling, providing the ideal outfit to help them to succeed.
Smart Works Greater Manchester set an aim to see 400 women in the 2016/17 financial year with 50% going on to secure paid employment.
Fiona Gunnion, Lead Manager at Smart Works Greater Manchester explained:
“Helping a woman back into the workplace will change the trajectory of her and her family’s life. Her livelihood will transform from one of dependence on the state to one of economic independence.
“Our strong brand holds together key strategic partnerships which mean that our clients receive clothing from top designers such as Hobbs and Whistles. This quality, profile and reach of support is one of the reasons our service has the results that it does.”
Smart Works was initially founded in London in one location. The charity opened a second centre in London in November 2013 and has since opened branches across the UK: Smart Works Edinburgh opened in 2014, Manchester and Reading in 2015 and Birmingham in 2016.
Louise Parrott-Bates, CEO of Stockport based Pure Innovations founded Smart Works Greater Manchester and has been shortlisted as Trustee of the Year.
Louise added:
“We are proud to have developed and built on a successful model that has such a tangible impact. A visit to Smart Works is an inspirational moment on a women’s journey back to employment. We know the difference that can make to so many aspects of a women’s life and aim to support as many women as possible across Greater Manchester”.
The winners of the North West Charity awards will be announced during the awards dinner and presentation ceremony taking place at the prestigious Midland Hotel Manchester on Wednesday 11th October 2017.