BARCLAYS staff are to search their wardrobes to help north west women boost their career prospects.

The bank has agreed to support the ‘Dress for Success’ charity with a clothes drive, getting staff to donate professional workwear that will go towards the charity’s aims of boosting confidence and encouraging women into the workplace.

Workers at Barclays technology centre at Radbroke Hall, Knutsford, and the Contact Centre in Gadbrook Park, Northwich, will be taking part this week.

It won’t just be female staff looking for donations, either, as male employees can raid their partners’ closets.

“They really get what we are trying to do, and as a bank they understand the value of our aim to allow women to take control of their financial situation and become financially independent,” said Anna-Louise Gilhooley, founder and CEO of Dress for Success Manchester.

“We are helping unemployed women every day of the week, giving them the tools with which to build their career, and looking the part is very much an element of the confidence-building process.”

After taking in clothes at each of their north west sites, Barclays staff will also be helping out at Dress for Success by preparing the clothes for future use, and then holding interview skill sessions with women looking for employment assistance.

Andrea Waterhouse from Barclays said: “With the right skills and support to find employment, women will have the opportunity to provide for themselves, their families and support growth of the economy.”

“We were blown away by Barclays’ enthusiasm and desire to get involved on a much deeper level than just making donations, and become really hands-on with us,” added Anna-Louise.

Dress for Success opened its doors in Manchester in May this year. It expects to be able to help more than 1,000 women a year with career development tools, a network of support and professional clothing.

The majority of Dress for Success clients have been out of work for over a year, almost half are single parents and they include ex-offenders, victims of abuse and homeless women. More than 50 per cent are able to secure a job within a month of visiting the charity.