Our Work
'Suited for Success believes helping unemployed men and women prepare for a job interview and find a suitable interview outfit will give them the confidence they need to make that positive first impression and get a job that could change their life....'
Suited for Success is a charity based in Ladywood, an inner-city constituency of Birmingham. We provide FREE high-quality interview clothes, styling advice and interview presentation skills for unemployed men and women looking for work or have a confirmed job interview.
Not having a the interview skills and a suitable interview outfit to feeling confident in themselves is one of the biggest barriers the unemployed face into employment.
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Our focus is to tackle unemployment at its roots by helping unemployed men and women to not only get into work but to also make life changes. We target those in particularly men and women who are experiencing significant personal barriers and complex issues to gaining employment including ex-offenders, long term unemployed, substance misuse recovery, homelessness, care leavers, ex-military, debt and NEET 16-24 year olds.
Many lack confidence, skills and aspirations, employability skills, personal development, presentation skills and the financial means to purchase a suitable interview outfit.
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Working together
Collaboration is at the heart of Suited for Success. We bring together the corporate and third sector organisations across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands to practically tackle the barriers unemployed men and women in the city face on their journey to employment. By working together, we can have a greater impact on unemployment and tackle poverty at its root.
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Suited for Success appointments
People can book their own appointment or be referred through a variety of frontline support agencies including Job centres, work programmes, job clubs, debt advice agencies, homeless services, ex-offenders support services, drug recovery support services and more...
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The appointment includes a coaching session and the provision of a suit or smart clothing outfit (including shoes and accessories depending on available styles and sizes) so they feel more confident and start believing in their own ability to succeed in their job interview. If the client is successful in the getting the job they can come back to us to receive a few more items of mix and match clothes so they can look the part in the first few weeks of their new job.
All the clothing is given 'FREE OF CHARGE' and is theirs to keep. During the appointment, clients are also encouraged with helpful tips and advice to help them succeed in their job interview.
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We are open for general appointments on:
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Tuesdays: 10am - 3pm
Thursdays: 10am - 3pm
Fridays: 10am - 3pm
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Find out how to book a Suited for Success appointment.
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More than just a suit
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In addition to providing interview clothing Suited for Success, we provide personal development workshops focusing on image/presentation and interview skills, confidence building and coaching. Our workshops offer a more holistic approach to preparing individuals for the world of work beyond just being given a suit but also equips people for the long haul.
Interview coaching appointment service
Facing an interview is one of the most daunting and nerve-racking situations for anyone, but even more so if you’ve never had an interview before, been long-term unemployed, just come out of prison or have served in the forces for a number of years. Most people have an anxious time before, during and after their interviews, anxiety about how they'll do, how they're doing and how they did.
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Our one-to-one interview coaching and mock interview appointments service give unemployed men and women crucial interview skills so they can make that first impression count and excel in their next job interview.
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Read more about our interview coaching appointments service
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Workshop days
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Our workshop days at Suited for Success focus on supporting unemployed ex-forces men and women, back to work mums and people with criminal convictions helping them on their journeys to employment.
Read more about our Suited for Success workshop days.
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Ladywood Job Club
Suited for Success is based in the Ladywood area of Birmingham. Recent figures show Ladywood as having the highest unemployment figures in the UK (outside of London)
Partnering with other local charities, community projects, local churches and organisations in the Ladywood area Suited for Success runs a mid-week job club to support local people right on our doorstep into employment.
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Read more about the Ladywood Job Club.
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Donate to us
High-quality interview suitable gently worn suits and smart clothes are donated by professional men and women in corporate offices and businesses across Birmingham and the West Midlands who share our passion to see people on the edges of our society succeed in gaining employment that will change their lives and the lives of their families.
We take donations of new or gently worn suits or smart clothing (shirts, trousers, dresses, skirts, shoes and accessories) suitable to wear to a job interview All clothing is carefully sorted, dry cleaned and ready to be worn
Find out more about donating to Suited for Success
Work with us
Suited for Success is perfectly placed to partner with others who share the same mission and passion to tackle unemployment.
