You can now make a referral to Smart Works using an online form

Making a referral is simple and hassle-free. With our new online form, referring to Smart Works is now quicker than ever, taking only a few minutes to complete.

Within one working day, Smart Works will reach out to the woman you have referred, ensuring that she receives the necessary support at a crucial time.

Make a referral
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Location: Scotland
Date: November 24, 2020
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Meet Aimée Morrison PRO Artist at Bobbi Brown image

‘I believe there are no rules when it comes to makeup, if it makes you feel good then go with it. I love to make women feel confident with effortless, pretty makeup.’

Aimée Morrison joined Bobbi Brown Artists and the brand when she was 19, working weekends at her local Bobbi Brown counter in Glasgow, Scotland. Since then she has progressed to a UK PRO Artist, inspiring, educating and supporting Bobbi Brown Artists and the brand throughout the UK and Ireland.

Aimée has represented the brand at multiple high-profile events including London Fashion Week AW19, alongside Sam and Nic Chapman and Thom Walker from Markus Lupfer, and Paris Fashion week for Reem Acra and Johanna Ortiz. Aimée has also featured on QVC, presenting alongside Global Pro Artist, Amy Conway and has supported backstage with makeup for Jenny Packam’s Bridal Fashion Show and Look Book.

Aimée’s artistry has also been used in editorial photoshoots for Selfridges as well as Brides Magazine. Some of Aimée‘s previous VIP clients include Louise Redknapp, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Elizabeth Hurley.

Can’t Live Without products?

Instant Full Cover Concealer, Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF15, Long-wear Cream Shadow Sticks, Smokey Eye Mascara and Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil.

Top beauty tip?

When it comes to applying mascara, perfect your lashes by using eyelash curlers first for maximum length. You want to wiggle your mascara wand horizontally through your lashes to create lash definition and separation. I also love to double up mascaras for example; I’ll wear my favourite everyday ‘Smokey Eye Mascara’ but when I need more drama for evening, I will apply a coat of Eye Opening Mascara to create a false lash effect.

Who inspires you the most?

My mum has always been a big inspiration for me when it comes to beauty. Growing up I would love to watch her go into her makeup bag and make herself look even more beautiful; she’s quite a glam mum and often gets mistaken for my sister (which she loves!), now she watches and copies me do my makeup! As a VIP customer, my mum actually helped me to get the job for Bobbi Brown in Frasers Glasgow when I was 19 and the rest is history.

What do you consider your most important tool?

It’s got to be a Smile! There’s nothing more welcoming than to approach someone with a happy face.

@bbpro_aimeemorrison

Join us for a Winter Makeup Masterclass with Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Aimée Morrison

Monday 7th December 2020

18.30hrs – 20.00hrs, via Zoom

Tickets cost just £5, buy your tickets here!

November 24, 2020

Winter Makeup Masterclass with Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Aimée Morrison

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December 9, 2020

The Outfit You Didn’t Get To Wear

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Location: Scotland
Date: November 24, 2020
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Winter Makeup Masterclass with Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Aimée Morrison image

Monday 7th December 2020

18.30hrs – 20.00hrs, via Zoom

Smart Works Edinburgh invites you to an exclusive winter makeup masterclass with our beauty partner, Bobbi Brown

We could all use a little glamour this Christmas, and Smart Works Edinburgh is here to add a dose of fabulousness to the festive season. Join us and Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Aimée Morrison, as she talks you through her top tips for perfecting your go-to winter makeup look. Aimée will share her skincare secrets, reveal how to create a flawless, Zoom-ready base, and talk us through Bobbi Brown’s key trends. She’ll also be on-hand to answer any of your burning beauty questions.

What’s more, you’ll have the chance to see the gorgeous Christmas collection first-hand and all attendees will receive an exclusive 20% discount which they can use from December 7th – 9th at Bobbibrown.co.uk. So put on your party dress, pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple, and get ready for a night of fabulous fun!

Smart Works Edinburgh provides interview clothing, styling advice, and interview training to unemployed and vulnerable women. We help women feel more confident and give them the tools they need to succeed in their job interview—something that’s more important now than ever before. All proceeds from our Bobbi Brown event will go straight back to the charity, which will allow us to support even more women during an exceptionally challenging time.

Tickets cost £5 per person (including booking fee) and are available to buy here.

We can’t wait to see you on the 7th of December!

 

November 20, 2020

Presenting: Cycle for Smart Works 2021

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November 24, 2020

Meet Aimée Morrison PRO Artist at Bobbi Brown

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Location: Scotland
Date: November 20, 2020
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Presenting: Cycle for Smart Works 2021 image

Our favourite and most anticipated annual fundraising challenge, Cycle for Smart Works, is coming back in 2021.

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, the Smart Works Edinburgh team are challenging our families, friends, and colleagues to take part in the ultimate team cycling challenge and raise much-needed funds for unemployed women across the country. The high levels of unemployment created by the pandemic are having an immediate impact on the women we help. With gyms closed, pubs shut, and it being the New Year and all, we can’t think of anything better than to team up with your friends, get active, and raise money in support of unemployed women. Together, we will help them with the clothes, coaching, and confidence they need to get a job and transform their lives.

So, what does the challenge entail? First, you will need to recruit a team of five individuals who will join together to cycle a collective 500 miles, the distance between the eight Smart Works centres across the UK. The cycling challenge begins on Monday 1st of March and ends on Monday 8th of March – International Women’s Day 2021. Second, you need to have access to some kind of bike. This can be cycling during your lunch break, pedalling on a stationary bike in your living room, or socially distanced in a gym or class. Last but not least, you will need a willingness to have fun, to take part in some healthy competition, and to support women in need. Every pound raised will help unemployed women across the UK to feel prepared, encouraged and empowered before their job interview.

Sign ups will open on Wednesday 13 January via www.smartworks.org.uk, at only £5 per person. Once signed up, each team will receive the following: a welcome pack with fundraising advice and a guide to completing the challenge, including cycling tips and exclusive offers from our official partners – Boom Cycle, a team fundraising page to raise money for your chosen Smart Works centre, and, a unique log in to track the total miles cycled, so you can see your team climbing the official leader board once the challenge begins. On top of all that, the first 100 teams to sign up will receive a limited edition Cycle for Smart Works 2021 t-shirt.

It’s time to spread the word, assemble your team and get ready to sign up on 13 January. To register your interest and be the first to hear the latest news, email cycle@smartworks.org.uk. We can’t wait to welcome you into the Smart Works community, as we Cycle for Smart Works in 2021.

To learn more, sign up to join our Virtual Discovery Session on Wednesday 25 November at 5pm.

This is pandemic proof fundraising and never have unemployed women across the UK needed your support more.

#CycleforSmartWorks

November 6, 2020

Celebrating 1,500 Appointments

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November 24, 2020

Winter Makeup Masterclass with Bobbi Brown PRO Artist, Aimée Morrison

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Location: Scotland
Date: November 6, 2020
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Celebrating 1,500 Appointments image

This month Smart Works Edinburgh has reached 1,500 appointments since our centre opened. This is a huge milestone for us and marks the change and growth that we have undergone since our first client in 2014. We’d like to thank our clients and community of supporters over the years, as you have helped us progress from dressing clients and providing interview training, to our now virtual service which has enabled us to reach women not only local to Edinburgh, but across the country.

Following our opening in 2014, Smart Works Edinburgh began to accumulate more and more clients, which has enabled us to spread our reach, and work with a huge array of incredible companies such as Le Tee, Treen, Bobbi Brown, and partner with retailers like Hobbs, Next, Whistles, Evans, Marks & Spencer, and John Lewis & Partners, who send us stock as donations. In our journey, our supporters have also donated thousands of pounds to the charity, which has allowed us to continue helping women into work.

We believe that a first impression is crucially important for confidence in a job interview. It follows that when a woman lands a job interview, she deserves to have the means to give a good first impression. At Smart Works Edinburgh, we provide the tools to do exactly that. With our 2-hour dressing and interview preparation service, 70% of our clients have gone on to succeed in their interview and get the job. This is why celebrating 1,500 appointments is so momentous for our team.

Thank you again for your help and support as members of the Smart Works Edinburgh community. We are so proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to what the future brings!

October 28, 2020

Meet The Trustees: Maxine Eggenberger and Catriona Mackie

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November 20, 2020

Presenting: Cycle for Smart Works 2021

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Location: Scotland
Date: October 28, 2020
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Meet The Trustees: Maxine Eggenberger and Catriona Mackie image

We are delighted to announce that we have recently added two new trustees, Maxine Eggenberger and Catriona Mackie, to our board here at Smart Works Edinburgh.

As our resident style expert, Maxine has always been a firm believer that clothing has the power to change lives. To that end, Maxine has over a decade of experience in the journalism and fashion industries, and has held editorial positions at some of the world’s biggest publishing brands, including Look, InStyle, Who What Wear UK, and Marie Claire. Originally from Scotland, Maxine relocated to Edinburgh in 2019 and, in tandem with her roles as editor at Hood magazine and contributing editor at Who What Wear UK, she assists Smart Works Edinburgh with communications, marketing, events, and social media. Her most recent project has been providing new and improved content for our social media channels whilst channelling our Smart Works Voice.

Equally as impressive, Catriona is a highly experienced international HR Director, having worked in the power, telecommunications and drinks industries. She has championed inclusivity and diversity with a specific focus on increasing diversity in the manufacturing and supply chain. Her passions and skills extend to people development and coaching, particularly in the context of women in leadership. Catriona has previously been a member of Court for one of Scotland’s top universities and is inspired by the role that education plays in the empowerment of women. Within Smart Works, Catriona is going to be working on our annual fundraising challenge, Cycle for Smart Works, as well as bringing her HR expertise to the board.

Welcome, Maxine and Catriona!

October 13, 2020

Smart Works Edinburgh X Le Tee Paris

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November 6, 2020

Celebrating 1,500 Appointments

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Location: Scotland
Date: October 13, 2020
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We are thrilled to announce an upcoming collaboration with Le Tee Paris, a Parisian-inspired independent boutique founded by Edinburgh-based designer, Sarah Clyde.

Starting Friday 16th October for two weeks, there will be a 25% off discount site-wide for Smart Works Edinburgh supporters. Throughout this partnership, for every item purchased anywhere on the site, Le Tee will donate an item from the Smart Works Edit to our Edinburgh dressing room.

September 21, 2020

Introducing Beth Reid to the Smart Works Community

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October 28, 2020

Meet The Trustees: Maxine Eggenberger and Catriona Mackie

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Location: Scotland
Date: September 21, 2020
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Introducing Beth Reid. Beth will be covering for Smart Works Edinburgh manager, Emma Jewson, over her maternity leave and will be taking the reins from the 6th of November 2020.

Can you tell me a bit about your background and what has led you to work at Smart Works?

Hi, of course! I have recently graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in events management with marketing. Event management, especially in the third sector, has always been my passion and when I was first offered a placement with Smart Works Edinburgh as an events intern, I jumped at the opportunity. Part of what drew me to Smart Works was the close working relationship that we have with clients. Having that constant interaction and really being able to be part of the process deeply inspired me and has drawn me back time and time again. In addition, I have been working with Smart Works for several years now; so feel that I really know the office and client relations well.

 

What do you find particularly enticing about working at Smart Works?

As an events management and marketing degree-holder, I am always excited about a new project, and here at Smart Works we are constantly organising so many amazing events that make tangible changes for women’s lives. As such, I can honestly say that this is my dream job. During my university placement with Smart Works Edinburgh, I introduced our #shopsmart initiative which received hugely positive engagement, so I am keen to get on with all of our exciting upcoming projects too!

 

How does the Smart Works ethos inspire you?

As a young women myself, I know the significance of a first impression and of how critical it is to get right. Being someone who has seen the challenges of the employment journey first-hand really allows me to identify with our clients and connect with them. The Smart Works ethos of bringing women into work and building up their confidence is thus so fundamentally important to me. At Smart Works we want our clients to be able to put their best foot forward, which is something I echo fully.

 

What is your favourite memory from your time at Smart Works thus far?

Although every day at the office is really special since we are typically meeting new clients all the time, I would have to say that my favourite memory was the first time that I took part in a dressing consultation. Watching our dressing and styling team in action was incredibly powerful to me, especially when seeing how carefully they consider and get to know each client’s style and preferences. The confident look on a client’s face the first time they see their reflection after being dressed for their interview is truly a memorable moment that is hard to forget.

 

Are there any upcoming Smart Works Edinburgh projects that you are particularly looking forward to?

Excitingly, there are a couple of virtual projects in the works that we will be releasing more information on shortly, one of which is our initiative called Cycle for Smart Works. Cycle for Smart Works involves teams of five women who group up to collectively cycle five hundred miles to raise money for Smart Works and other women’s charities ahead of International Women’s day.

 

Here at Smart Works Edinburgh, we are thrilled to have Beth join the team and can’t wait to share all the exciting upcoming projects we’ve been working on.

September 14, 2020

A recap of our evening with Ayesha Hazarika

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October 13, 2020

Smart Works Edinburgh X Le Tee Paris

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Location: Scotland
Date: September 14, 2020
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A recap of our evening with Ayesha Hazarika image

On the 7th of September, Smart Works Edinburgh supporters gathered via Zoom to spend an evening with Ayesha Hazarika, an award-winning comedian, political advisor, broadcaster, and journalist. Funds raised from the event will go towards the cost of sending clothing parcels to women across Scotland.

Throughout the evening, Ayesha chatted with Smart Works Edinburgh manager Emma Jewson about her unique career trajectory, having confidence in male-dominated industries, and the need for more women in power.

About her struggle to find success as a minority in a male dominated workplace, Ayesha said: “I have found that looking the part is integral to your confidence. At the end of the day, all it comes down to is confidence and if that means faking it until you make it, then do just that. I believe that every woman working professionally has some variation of impostor syndrome. How you look and the image that you want to present is thus so critical for confidence, and a woman instilled with an unshakeable sense of confidence is a woman unstoppable.”

Ayesha commented that whilst being the most important factor for success in the workplace, confidence is no small thing to acquire, especially in the face of adversity. As a daughter to immigrant parents growing up in a small town outside of Glasgow, Ayesha learnt early on that as a young woman she would have to go above and beyond expectations to simply get to the same starting point as a man in the workplace. Through this challenging experience, Ayesha learnt that her obstacles didn’t define her, and instead, the way that she chose to respond to them did. “The more you tell yourself how capable, how intelligent, and how qualified you are, the more you will start to believe it. That is when you truly start to find success.”

When asked her main piece of career advice for Smart Works supporters and clients, Ayesha responded, “if you have even a kernel of an idea of something that you’ve always wanted to do – and if that feeling has stuck with you through the test of time – find a way to give it a go because amazing things could happen from it.”

We were thrilled at the chance to hear from Ayesha. For more of Ayesha’s work, you can find her on Twitter here.

September 7, 2020

An evening with Ayesha Hazarika

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September 21, 2020

Introducing Beth Reid to the Smart Works Community

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Location: Scotland
Date: September 7, 2020
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Ayesha Hazarika is joining us for a virtual Q&A on 7th September 2020. Ayesha is a comedian, broadcaster and journalist, and will be chatting to Smart Works Edinburgh manager Emma Jewson about her career, confidence and women in power.

The event will take place via Zoom. Tickets are £5 + booking fee, with all proceeds going to Smart Works Edinburgh.

Tickets can be purchased here.

August 3, 2020

Our Virtual Service

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September 14, 2020

A recap of our evening with Ayesha Hazarika

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Location: Scotland
Date: August 3, 2020
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Our Virtual Service image

The significance of a first impression is crucial. When a woman secures a job interview there should never be additional stress nor struggle channelled from a difficult financial position or having no suitable clothes to wear. Smart Works Edinburgh helps almost 250 women a year with the clothes and confidence they need to succeed at their job interview and move on with their lives. Over 1 in 2 women we see get the job and 82% of our clients leave feeling more confident that they are going to succeed in their interview.

Our service at Smart Works Edinburgh is currently open to any women Scotland-wide who are unemployed or at risk of redundancy. We can offer our dressing and interview preparation service to any woman who has a confirmed job interview. If you are struggling to secure a job interview, our coaches can take you through an hour career coaching, leaving you with tangible steps to progress your job hunt.

The 2-hour interview preparation appointment begins with a consultation with one of our dressing volunteers who will take into consideration your style preferences and the job you are going for. They will then assist you in finding that perfect head-to-toe interview outfit which is yours to keep for free. All our stock is donated through other working women or comes direct from our retail partners such as Hobbs, Next, Whistles, Evans, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis & Partners. This is followed by an interview training session with one of our volunteers who specialize in HR and recruitment who will assist you in feeling not only prepared but believing in your own ability to succeed.

Due to the current restrictions regarding COVID-19 we are sadly unable to invite you along to our office for a face-to-face appointment. However, our service can be delivered virtually with our wonderful volunteers who are hosting both the dressings and interview coaching over Zoom or phone. Once your appointment is finished a parcel with your bespoke outfit, jewellery, interview pack and a note from us will be posted to your address.

If you have a job interview lined up and would find our service useful then please do get in touch with us by either calling us 0131 516 7787, or sending us an email – edinburgh@smartworks.org.uk

April 1, 2020

Smart Works Edinburgh x treen

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September 7, 2020

An evening with Ayesha Hazarika

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