The 2024-25 financial year marked our most successful period to date at Smart Works, both nationally and here in Reading. As we complete our Three-Year Plan, we're celebrating extraordinary growth in our services and the transformation we've helped bring to thousands of women's lives through employment support.

National Achievement: Breaking Records Across the UK

Across our network of centres, Smart Works delivered 7,083 interview preparation and dressing appointments and 4,063 career coaching sessions, representing a 30% and 47% increase respectively from the previous year. In total, we supported 10,682 women nationwide, exceeding our target by 606 clients.

We're particularly proud of our 67% job success rate – meaning over two-thirds of Smart Works clients secured employment within one month of their appointment. This key performance indicator demonstrates the effectiveness of our service model even in challenging economic times.

Nationwide client feedback remains overwhelmingly positive:

• 97% feel more confident in their interview outfit
• 95% feel better equipped to answer interview questions
• 97% believe Smart Works increased their chances of getting a job

Reading's Success Story:Exceeding Expectations

Here in Reading, our local centre has demonstrated exceptional performance, making significant contributions to the national figures:

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Smart Works Reading delivered:

• 373 interview preparation and dressing appointments
• 488 career coaching sessions – exceeding our target by an impressive 248 appointments
• Support for 829 women, surpassing our goal by 137 clients

The Reading centre's career coaching service has been particularly successful, more than doubling our target expectations. This incredible momentum will drive our ambitious goals for the coming year. Our February and October were equally busy, with 107 appointments delivered in each month, showcasing our consistent capacity to serve women throughout the year.

We're proud that 99% of our Reading clients reported that Smart Works increased their chances of getting a job – even higher than the national average. This exceptional feedback reflects the dedication and quality of service provided by our Reading team.

Who We Serve:  Reading Demographics

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in our client demographics:

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Reading Age Distribution:

Reading serves a higher proportion of women over 50, demonstrating our local commitment to supporting women of all ages.

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Ethnic Background (Reading):

• 59% White
• 12% Black
• 20% Asian
• 6% Mixed
• 2% Other

Reading's ethnic diversity reflects our local community's unique composition while maintaining our commitment to serving women from all background.

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Additional Demographics:

• Nationally, 16% of clients have a disability, compared to 19% in Reading
• 74% of appointments nationally were delivered in person (73% in Reading)
• 26% of appointments were virtual at both national and Reading levels 

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Looking Ahead: 2025-26 Goals

Building on this success, we've set thoughtful targets for the coming year.

At the national level, we aim to deliver 7,350 interview preparation and dressing appointments, representing a 4% increase from this year's outstanding results. We're also planning to provide 4,100 career coaching sessions across all centres, a 1% increase, while supporting a total of 10,640 women throughout the UK.

For Smart Works Reading specifically, our ambitions include providing 400 interview preparation and dressing appointments, a 7% increase from this year's achievement. We'll continue our exceptional career coaching service, with a target of 300 sessions that builds upon our remarkable growth. Through these combined efforts, we plan to support 640 women in the local area.

Our strategy for 2025-26 focuses on consolidating the substantial growth achieved while enhancing the quality and effectiveness of our services.

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Our Thanks

These achievements reflect the collective effort of our staff, volunteers, trustees, ambassadors, corporate partners, donors, and supporters across the UK and specifically in the Thames Valley. We're grateful for every contribution that makes our work possible.

Most importantly, we thank the remarkable women we serve, whose courage and determination inspire us daily. As we move forward, we remain committed to our mission of empowering women to transform their lives through employment – nationally, in Reading, and across all our centres.

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Join Our Mission

These ambitious goals can only be achieved with the support of our wonderful community. If you'd like to be part of this transformative work, please visit our Support Us page to discover how you can contribute through donations, volunteering, corporate partnerships, or clothing donations. Every contribution, regardless of size, helps us empower more women to secure employment and transform their lives.

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