Smart Works Birmingham is delighted to welcome Jess Phillips MP as our special guest speaker for our 10th Birthday celebration event on Thursday 1 October at The Old Library. Jess Phillips will be taking part in a fireside chat with Smart Works CEO Anna Hemmings as part of an afternoon celebrating a decade of impact in the West Midlands with over 5,000 wome supported into employment. Guests will also be treated to a welcome drink, Afternoon Tea, and a chance to shop our famous Fashion Sale. It’s a celebration you won’t want to miss!
“I am delighted to be supporting Smart Works Birmingham as the charity celebrates its 10th anniversary. This milestone moment reflects the life-changing impact of the Smart Works service supporting women into employment in Birmingham and the West Midlands. Providing a service that helps women look and feel their best in an interview to get a job is so powerful, offering women in need with the skills, confidence and financial independence to succeed in the workplace and change their futures. I am excited to be speaking at the 10th birthday event to celebrate Smart Works Birmingham supporting over 5,000 women into work in the last decade and shine alight on the continued importance of supporting women in our Birmingham communities and beyond". Jess Phillips MP
Tickets for this event are £55pp with all proceeds going to the Smart Works Birmingham service, supporting unemployed women into employment across the Midlands providing free interview clothing and coaching. Tickets are available to book now:
About Jess Phillips
Jess Phillips is a Labour Party politician, who became MP for the constituency of Birmingham Yardley at the 2015 general election. Jess has committed her life to improving the lives of others, especially the most vulnerable. Before becoming an MP, Jess worked for Women’s Aid in the West Midlands developing services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, human trafficking and exploitation. She became a Councillor in 2012. In this role, she worked tirelessly to support residents with her work being recognised when she became Birmingham's first ever Victims Champion.
Since becoming an MP, Jess has continued her fight to support those who need it most and has earned a reputation for plain speaking. Since being elected, she has been unfazed by threats and continued to call out sexist attitudes as she promotes women’s rights. In opposition, Jess was Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding until October 2023.
Following the return of a Labour government in July 2024, Jess was made Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls. The Labour Party has committed to halving violence against women and girls by 2034, with the VAWG Strategy published in 2025. This comprehensive strategy details what each government department should do to support this mission, with clear and identifiable goals.
Jess resigned in May 2025, returning to the back-benchers, where she continues to fight for justice, equality and fairness in our society. She will never stop speaking up for victims, survivors and the marginalised.
Jess is a successful author of four bestselling books ‘Let’s Be Honest’, ‘Everywoman, One Woman’s Truth About Speaking The Truth’, ‘Truth to Power: 7 Ways to Call Time on BS’, and ‘My Life as an MP’. All of Jess's books reflect her commitment to speaking up and having the courage to have your voice heard in the hope of making a difference.
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