Empowering women in Birmingham: How Smart Works transforms job searches and confidence

Written by Smart Works Birmingham

A Handheld, not a Handout, because every woman deserves the confidence to walk into her future.

When Amira* walked through the doors of Smart Works Birmingham, she hadn’t worked in more than two years.

A single mum, she had applied for over twenty jobs, each rejection chipping away at her confidence until she began to wonder if she’d ever find her place again. “I just don’t feel like myself anymore,” she told us quietly.

Amira’s story is one we hear every day.

 Across Birmingham and the West Midlands, hundreds of women are eager to work but face barriers that go far beyond the job market.

Many, like Amira, are raising children alone, trying to balance job hunting with the realities of childcare often without the financial security or support networks others take for granted.

Others are living with disabilities that make even the interview process daunting, where accessibility, confidence, or employer perceptions hold them back before they’ve had a chance to shine.

For many, these barriers are made even tougher by structural inequalities.

Many of the women we support come from ethnic minority backgrounds and, despite their skills and experience, are disproportionately affected by unemployment and low-paid, insecure work.

Behind every statistic is a woman who wants to provide for her family, regain her independence, and contribute her skills to her community.

What she lacks isn’t ability or ambition, its confidence, opportunity, and someone who believes in her potential.

That’s where Smart Works Birmingham comes in. Every woman we support receives a two-hour appointment designed to help her rediscover her confidence and potential.

First, she is welcomed by a volunteer stylist who helps her find the perfect high-quality interview outfit, free, and hers to keep.

Then, she spends an hour with a trained coach who helps her prepare for her interview, refine her answers, and believe in her ability to succeed.

It’s more than a makeover. It’s a moment of transformation.

The results speak for themselves: 69 per cent of the women we support get the job within one month, and 95 per cent leave feeling more confident and prepared.

Each success story is a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is someone to believe in you, to offer a handheld, not a handout.

A few weeks after her appointment, Amira returned with a smile that said everything. “I got the job,” she told us. “But more than that, I feel like me again.”

Your support makes this possible. Every £362 funds a complete Smart Works appointment, transforming a woman’s life and helping her take a step toward independence.

Will you give a woman like Amira the confidence to succeed?

Can you donate to the Christmas Big Give from 2 to 9 December and help more women across Birmingham find not just work, but hope, dignity, and a brighter future.

Every donation will be doubled by the Big Give, your £50 donation will mean £100 for Smart Works Birmingham. Click here to donate.

Ann Powell (pictured) from Smart Works Birmingham, said: “At Smart Works Birmingham, I see every day how a single act of kindness can change a woman’s life.

“Every donation helps her find her confidence and transform her future and in December during the Big Give, that kindness goes twice as far, doubling the impact and the hope.”  

*Amira’s story is based on the real experiences of many women we support at Smart Works Birmingham. While her name has been changed, her journey reflects the challenges and transformations we see every day.