What Smart Works Reading does

Smart Works Reading is a UK-registered charity (Charity number 1164723; Company number 09626510), founded in 2015 and headquartered at Enterprise House, 95 London Street, Reading RG1 4QA. It is one of 11 independently licensed centres under the national Smart Works Charity network and operates with approximately 25 staff supported by over 50 trained volunteers. Its mission is to help unemployed women in Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley secure employment by providing free, high-quality interview clothing (which clients keep) combined with one-to-one interview coaching and career coaching, complemented by a 'Second Dressing' capsule wardrobe for newly employed clients and a Zoom-based Virtual Service for remote access. Service is delivered on a referral-only basis through Job Centres, mental health charities, women's refuges, homeless shelters, the prison service, NHS providers, youth organisations, and the education system. Reported outcomes include 63–69% of clients securing employment within one month of appointment (rising to 67% at Reading in 2025), 94% reporting improved confidence, and an independent Frontier Economics evaluation showing approximately £8 of economic and social benefit per £1 invested.\n\nThe charity operates a donation-funded business model with multiple recurring and event-based revenue streams: the Friends of Smart Works Reading monthly giving programme (£10/£20/£50/£100 tiers), the Smart Works Fashion Club annual membership (£180 standard, £120 for under 35s), fashion sales of donated designer/sample/vintage pieces (100% of proceeds), corporate Charity-of-the-Year and skills-based volunteering partnerships (with named partners including Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Norton Rose Fulbright, Burberry, Bicester Village, Russell & Bromley, Phase Eight, and KPMG/Siemens at events), retail percentage-of-sale collaborations, and fundraising events such as the Step Up walking challenge and breakfasts with high-profile speakers. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led through physical appointments and Zoom-based virtual sessions, with the proprietary Smart Works Unemployment Index serving as the principal data/insight asset. The charity has won the Charity Awards 'Social Action Charity of the Year' (2017), Google's 'Charity of the Year' (2024), and was shortlisted for the 2025 Business Charity Award, and is governed by a board chaired by Helen Francis.

Name

Smart Works Reading

Legal name

Smart Works Reading

Website

https://reading.smartworks.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smart Works Reading is a UK charity, founded in 2015 and part of the 11-centre Smart Works national network, that provides free interview clothing, one-to-one coaching, and career support to unemployed women in Berkshire and the wider Thames Valley via referral-only access.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable employment support services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Job Placement, Matching & Career Navigation Services (EDAAAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE)

Keywords

• Charity employment services
• Interview coaching
• Interview clothing
• Women employability support
• Charitable career services

Headquarters

HQ city

Reading

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual donations: Monthly or one-off donations from individuals, with options ranging from £10 to £100 per month through the 'Friends of Smart Works Reading' programme
2. Corporate partnerships: Corporate donations, volunteering opportunities, employee engagement initiatives, and charity of the year partnerships with businesses
3. Fashion sales and retail partnerships: Proceeds from fashion sales where designer, sample and vintage pieces are sold, with 100% of proceeds coming to Smart Works. Also includes retail partnerships where brands donate portions of sales
4. Fashion Club membership: Annual membership at £180 per year (or £120 for under 35s) providing access to exclusive fashion events, early access to fashion sales, and discounts from partners
5. Fundraising events: Step Up for Smart Works walking challenge, corporate events, and community fundraising activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Smart Works Reading delivers a free Interview Dressing and Preparation Service to unemployed women in Berkshire, pairing a 60-minute high-quality clothing appointment (clothes are kept by the client) with a 60-minute personalised one-to-one interview coaching session. Complementary free services include Career Coaching for clients who do not yet have an interview scheduled and Second Dressing, a capsule working wardrobe for clients who have just secured employment. All services are provided at no cost and are accessed via referral from partner organisations.

Product overview

Smart Works Reading is a UK charity offering free employment support services to unemployed women. The core offering consists of two main services: an Interview Dressing and Preparation Service (combining a 60-minute clothing appointment with a 60-minute coaching session) and Career Coaching for women without scheduled interviews. Additional services include Second Dressing for newly employed clients and a Virtual Service for remote access. The organization is funded through various programs including the Smart Works Fashion Club membership (£180/year), Friends of Smart Works Reading recurring donations, Fashion Sales events, and corporate partnerships. The service is delivered at 11 UK centres with over 50 trained volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Fashion Club: A membership group for those who love fashion, style and supporting women back into the workplace. Members get exclusive access to 'in conversation events' with leading lights in the fashion industry at iconic locations across London.
• Friends of Smart Works Reading

Products and services

• Interview Dressing and Preparation Service A free service for unemployed women with a scheduled job interview, pairing a 60-minute dressing appointment (high-quality interview clothing, kept by the client) with a 60-minute one-to-one interview coaching session. Delivered at the Reading centre and accessed via referral from partner organisations.
• Career Coaching A free 60-minute career coaching session for unemployed women who need support securing a job interview but do not yet have one scheduled, covering CVs, cover letters and skills development.
• Second Dressing A free capsule working wardrobe provided to clients who have successfully secured employment, helping them get started at their new workplace until their first pay cheque.
• Virtual Service Remote access to Smart Works services via Zoom for clients who cannot visit a physical centre, including virtual dressing consultations and coaching sessions.
• Smart Works Fashion Club An annual membership club offering exclusive fashion industry events, VIP preview access to fashion sales, and perks from fashion and beauty partners. Standard membership is £180 per annum (£120 for under 35s).
• Friends of Smart Works Reading A monthly giving programme with tiered membership options (£10, £20, £50, £100 per month) providing benefits such as early bird tickets to fashion sales and supporter newsletters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 63-69% of clients secure employment within one month of their Smart Works appointment
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bobbi Brown CosmeticscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 201310-year 'Pretty Powerful' partnership where Bobbi Brown Cosmetics produces limited edition products with 100% of RRP donated to Smart Works. In 2023, the campaign celebrated its 10th anniversary and achieved a milestone of raising £1 million. Partnership includes year-round activities to support the charity.
• Norton Rose Fulbright LLPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partnership fundamental to firm's Responsible Business strategy. Partnership involves skills, time and resources across London and Newcastle centres. Long-term partnership demonstrating quality of service.
• BurberryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBurberry donated Heritage Trench Coats to Vestiaire Collective with 100% of sale price donated to Smart Works
• Vestiaire CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner platform for Burberry trench coat donations benefiting Smart Works
• KIT HEATHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration on special-edition Happiness Necklace with 100% of RRP donated to Smart Works, designed to signify happy personal connections
• Russell & BromleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonating 100% of retail selling price less VAT for each pair of Spotlight boots sold online to Smart Works
• Phase EightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStar Collection of matching necklace, bracelet and earrings with 10% of sales donated to Smart Works
• Never Fully DressedminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity Tee collaboration with £10 from each sale donated to Smart Works
• WAT THE BRANDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEMPOWERED candle partnership with 10% of retail price donated to Smart Works
• Bicester VillagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVIP breakfast events and exclusive shopping opportunities for Smart Works supporters, fashion sales events
• KPMGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAttended Smart Works Index 2025 launch event at Thames Valley corporate breakfast
• SiemensminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAttended Smart Works Index 2025 launch event at Thames Valley corporate breakfast
• Leander ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerously gifted event space for Smart Works Reading winter fundraising event, raising nearly £6,000
• Show StateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided complimentary audio-visual services for Smart Works Reading winter fundraising event

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Prince's Trust: Large UK youth-employment charity supporting 11-30 year-olds into work, education, and training. Broader in scope (age range, geographies, services) than Smart Works but addresses the same underlying employment-readiness mission, often receiving referrals from the same partner ecosystem.
• Catch22: UK social business delivering employability programmes, offender rehabilitation, and social support. Comparable as a referral-partner-style employment charity, though it operates a more diversified service portfolio and earned-income contracts.
• The Wise Group: UK social enterprise delivering employability, mental health, and housing services. Comparable on the workforce-development mission and on running contracted public-sector programmes that Smart Works could in future pursue.

Direct peers

• Dress for Success Worldwide: Global non-profit providing interview clothing and career support to women facing economic hardship. The international analogue of Smart Works, operating the same interview-dressing-plus-coaching model across affiliates worldwide.
• Smart Works Birmingham: Another sibling licensed Smart Works centre, operating the same interview clothing + coaching service. Comparable to Reading on staffing scale, regional corporate fundraising, and volunteer-led delivery.
• Suited for Success: US-based non-profit providing professional clothing and job-readiness support to individuals facing barriers to employment. Closest US analogue to Smart Works' interview-dressing-plus-coaching model for disadvantaged job seekers.
• Smart Works Scotland: Sibling Smart Works centre (Edinburgh and Glasgow) operating the same model under the national licensing agreement. Useful comparable for Reading on funding mix, volunteer base, and local corporate engagement patterns.
• Smart Works Charity (national): The national umbrella charity of which Smart Works Reading is an affiliated licensed centre. Operates the same interview-clothing-plus-coaching model across 11 UK centres, sharing brand, partnerships, and impact methodology — making it the most directly comparable entity.
• Smart Works London: Sibling Smart Works centre in London (Islington/Croydon) operating the identical service model and managing virtual appointments nationally. Direct comparable on operations, volunteer structure, and corporate partner engagement.

Emerging players

• Women Like Us / Women 1st: UK-focused organisations advancing women's progression into employment and leadership. Less direct on the clothing-plus-coaching model, but operates in the same women-into-work segment with overlapping corporate partner base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smartworkshq
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCx3jdUwRwFZXmWhAzprne_Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartworkscharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartworksreading
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartworkscharity/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Smart Works Reading