Supporting Women into Work: Our Smart Works Challenge & Collection

There’s something quietly powerful about a great outfit. It’s not about fashion, it’s about confidence. And for many women stepping into a job interview, especially after a difficult period of unemployment, that confidence can make all the difference. That’s where Smart Works Greater Manchester comes in. 

Smart Works is a charity that supports unemployed women by helping them prepare for interviews through personalised coaching and styling sessions. Clients receive a complete outfit, clothing, shoes, and accessories, to wear to the interview and keep. And when they land the job? They’re invited back to build a capsule wardrobe to carry them into their new role. It’s simple, practical, and life-changing. 

In 2023, Smart Works launched a bold new chapter, opening a second centre in Manchester city centre. This new space was all about accessibility, making it easier for more women across the North West to walk through the doors and access the support they need. When the right support is in reach, lives are transformed. 

To help raise funds for the new centre, a small but mighty team from gunnercooke took on the Cycle for Smart Works Challenge ahead of International Women’s Day. Across a week, our colleagues ran, cycled, and swam over 175 miles between them, raising more than £1,000 to support Smart Works’ expansion. It was a challenge fuelled by determination and a shared belief in what this organisation stands for. 

Later in the year, we opened up our Manchester bookshop, House of Books & Friends, for a clothing collection. The response from our community was fantastic. Partners, staff, and bookshop visitors donated 71 beautiful, work-ready clothing items, each one destined to help a woman feel empowered and ready to take the next step in her journey. 

The partnership with Smart Works reminded us that meaningful impact often starts with something small: a conversation, a donation, a few miles on a bike. We’re incredibly proud to have supported this brilliant charity in 2023, and we can’t wait to see how many more lives they’ll change from their new home in the heart of Manchester.