‘Now every woman in Yorkshire can find coaching and clothing to change her future’: Rebranded Smart Works Yorkshire expands across region

Smart Works Yorkshire is the new name for the women’s employment charity formerly known as Smart Works Leeds, marking its expansion into a larger centre and reflecting its growing reach across the region.

The name change comes as the charity moves into a larger centre at Mabgate Mills in Leeds, doubling its capacity and enabling Smart Works Yorkshire to support up to 100 women every week through four dedicated dressing and coaching rooms.

Since opening in 2019, the charity has supported more than 4,300 women across Yorkshire through free interview coaching, professional interview clothing, and confidence-building support.

In the last financial year alone, Smart Works Leeds supported 1,072 women.

Although founded in Leeds, the charity's work now extends across the region. Last year, 22 per cent of referrals came from North Yorkshire and 12 per cent from Bradford, while more than a third of appointments were delivered virtually, enabling interview coaching and professional clothing to reach women wherever they live in Yorkshire.

Tracy Fletcher, chair of Smart Works Yorkshire, said: "This isn't simply a new name. It's a statement about who we are and who we're here to serve.

“Our ambition was always bigger than one city. Too many talented women are being held back by circumstances rather than ability. Our new centre and our new identity will help us reach more women, build even stronger partnerships across the region and ensure that wherever a woman lives in Yorkshire, she can access the confidence, coaching and clothing that could help change her future."

Across the region, women supported by Smart Works spent an average of 23 hours every week searching for work before seeking support. Nearly half had been unemployed for more than a year and had submitted an average of 39 job applications. Two-thirds said the experience had damaged their confidence.

The charity has also expanded its presence through targeted outreach projects. Over the past year, it has established a dedicated team in Bradford and continued to grow its work across North Yorkshire, building referral partnerships and bringing its services closer to women who need them.

Smart Works’ expansion into Bradford was made possible by a grant from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation’s Building Bradford Skills Fund.

Erin Fuller, a trustee for Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, said: “Smart Works’ commitment to empowering local women by improving access to tailored employment support and confidence building services will not only make a difference to each client they work with, but will also play an important role in helping overcome wider barriers to employment across the county.”

The outreach project in North Yorkshire is funded by Beyondly. Melanie Harper, head of Brand, Marketing and Impact, said: “We look forward to seeing the positive impact this growth will have on women, families and communities across the county.”

Alice, 22, from York, who accessed support from Smart Works Yorkshire, said: “I’m excited to start work. I’m excited to have some level of financial control again, where I can work on myself and get the things I need. I can look after myself, get out of debt, and also go and do things with my friends again without worrying that I can’t afford to. Getting a job means being able to live life again.”