Stylist Gemma Sheppard announced as Ambassador for Smart Works Greater Manchester

Award winning stylist unveiled as new Ambassador for women’s charity, in commitment to raise awareness of its services supporting unemployed women to succeed in getting a job   

A leading women’s unemployment charity has announced Gemma Sheppard – award winning international fashion stylist, star of TV’s 10 Years Younger in 10 Days, brand advisor and journalist – as an Ambassador, with the aim to reach and to support thousands more women through their unique dressing and coaching services.

Gemma, a long-standing champion for the power of finding confidence through clothes, will undertake her first event for Smart Works Greater Manchester at the charity’s annual Fashion & Fizz evening at Mottram Hall on 14 November 2024. Joined by current Ambassador, TV broadcaster Michelle Ackerley, Gemma hopes her passion for fashion will encourage others to support the charity through much needed clothing and donations, enabling them to help more women in need.

Smart Works supports unemployed women across the country to achieve interview and job success through a dressing and coaching service. Over two thirds of women who use the Smart Works service find employment within a month of their appointment. Last year, across Greater Manchester,  Smart Works helped more than 833 women; nationally, the charity aims to support 10,000 women this year.

Gemma Sheppard said: “I am incredibly honoured to become an ambassador for Smart Works Greater Manchester, a charity that truly embodies the spirit of empowering women. Smart Works is the ultimate in lifting women up, providing kindness, guidance, and unwavering support at every step as they embark on their journey back to work. Through tailored coaching and professional styling, they offer women not only the tools they need but the confidence to succeed. I am proud to stand alongside such a transformative organisation”.

Jan Iceton, Chair of Smart Works Greater Manchester, said: “Our clients are strongly motivated to get a job to gain a sense of purpose and identity, and to secure financial security for themselves and for their family. It gives us a great sense of accomplishment and pride to play our part in their journey, helping them build the skills and the self-confidence they need to succeed at upcoming job interviews.

“As we head into 2025, our tenth anniversary year, we need to continue to raise even greater awareness of our services and the lasting impact they have on the women we support. Our Ambassadors are a key part of raising awareness and we are thrilled that Gemma has agreed to represent our charity to ensure as many women as possible hear about Smart Works. As someone very closely associated with women looking and therefore feeling their very best self, Gemma has the opportunity to not only highlight what we do in support of our clients, but also how we do it – with great skill and even greater authenticity and kindness.”

The charity, which relies on grants and donations, has found that the cost-of-living crisis has left many women desperate to find work. In exploring the barriers women face when seeking employment in today’s challenging recruitment landscape, Smart Works understands the damaging effect these challenges have on their lives and those of their loved ones – both financially, and psychologically.

About the charity:

Founded in 2013, Smart Works Charity has helped more than 40,000 women across the UK to date, across 11 centres and supporting, inspiring, and empowering all women from the age of 16 to secure the skills and the confidence they need to secure get a job. 63% of the women supported by Smart Works went on to get a job within one month of using the charity’s dressing and coaching service. After visiting Smart Works, 95% of respondents feel more confident having received an interview outfit, 91% feel clearer about their own skills and experiences, and 95% feel confident to succeed in their next interview.

Smart Works Greater Manchester opened its first service in Stockport town centre in 2015, and opened a second centre in April 2023 in Manchester, close to all transport hubs and doubling its capacity to provide services to unemployed women living in communities across the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester and the wider northwest region.

Clients locally apply for an average of 30 jobs, spending 23 hours a week applying for jobs, and 40% were out of work for over a year. Following their appointment with Smart Works Greater Manchester, 99% of clients stated that their appointment increased their chances of getting a job while 93% stated they felt more confident they would succeed at their next interview, with 63% of clients securing a job within 1 month of their appointment.