NEWS FROM NPOWER

CLARE BALDING KICK-STARTS CAREERS

npower What’s Your Goal? launches, inspiring young people to shoot to the top of the football industry

TODAY, Clare Balding announces she is leading a line-up of 11 successful women from the world of sport to launch npower What’sYour Goal?, an initiative that offers young people once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the football industry.

For the 2013 campaign, Clare Balding has joined forces with high profile female professionals who have shot to the top of their game and enjoyed success within the world of football.  The likes of Jacqui Oatley and Kelly Smith will join Clare in a bid to encourage more girls and boys to think about a career in the nation’s favourite sport and to continue to boost the profile of sportswomen in the UK, following the success of last year’s Games.

The initiative is designed to encourage teens across the UK to start thinking about their careers.  Clare Balding and the What’s Your Goal? mentors will showcase the vast and varied jobs available to young people, both on and off the football pitch, demonstrating the range of employment opportunities available for both men and women alike.

Working in partnership with The Football League, npower is searching for a ‘dream team’ of 11 ambitious and enthusiastic youngsters to spend a day being mentored by one of the successful sportswomen who have come on board to offer their time, knowledge, and support to the programme, offering them invaluable experience.

Having demonstrated why they should be chosen for one of the coveted roles with a CV and video application,  the 11 lucky youngsters will be thrown straight into the action. One budding commentator will get to give their play-by-play account of the match alongside Jacqui Oatley at the Championship Play-off Final, while another will learn what it takes to be a top TV presenter with Clare Balding. Other roles up for grabs include reporting on all the action with Daily Mail sports reporter Laura Williamson and receiving first class professional football training with Arsenal Ladies and Team GB’s Kelly Smith.

In addition, young people can also get the chance to shadow: Everton U17s Ladies Manager Mo Marley, Sheffield United Goalkeeping Coach Leanne Hall, Exercise Scientist for Birmingham Ladies Ellie Maybury, Sports Photographer Georgie Gillard, The Football League’s most senior female referee Sasa Ihringova, MD at St George’s Park Julie Harrington and Ipswich FC Sales Manager Rosie Richardson.

Clare Balding says:

“2012 was an amazing year for sporting achievement in the UK, especially for women, so I am delighted that npower will be continuing to keep up the momentum in 2013 and championing female athletes with What’s Your Goal?

“Football is one of the most popular sport for women, yet it is still perceived to be a man’s game, which is why it is important that young people have strong female role models to look up to who inspire them to kick-start their careers. We are looking for  11 youngsters to take up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and apply for one of the many roles on offer.

“During my career as a TV presenter,  I have been privileged to present some of the world’s best sporting events. I am looking forward to mentoring a young person and providing them with invaluable, first-hand experience in the world of sport.”

Clare McDougall, npower’s head of education and community, adds:

“Last year’s sporting success had a real impact on young people’s perceptions of female athletes. We want to continue this with What’s Your Goal? and encourage young people to think about a career within the football industry by providing them with a line up of 11 inspirational and successful women from the world of sport.

“However, this is not a programme exclusively for girls; with mentors like Clare Balding, Jacqui Oatley and Kelly Smith, who are hugely successful in their roles, we are offering all young people real opportunities to gain valuable skill and experience, which is so integral to employers when looking for employees.”

Giving more young people across the UK a chance to try something new, What’s Your Goal? 2013 will, again, see npower working with all 72 clubs in The Football League to offer over 350 valuable work experience placements to students in Years 10 – 11 in their local areas, with an exciting and unique opportunity at Leyton Orient FC.

Students in Years 7 – 11 are invited to apply for the chance to spend a day shadowing one of the high profile experts such as Clare Balding, by simply filling out a job application which is downloadable at www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact the npower press office at Frank

0207 693 6999/ npower@frankpr.it

www.npower.com

Notes to Editors

The eleven national mentors include:

1.      Clare Balding, TV Presenter

2.      Jacqui Oatley, Sports Commentator

3.      Kelly Smith, Professional Football Player

4.      Mo Marley, Manager

5.      Leanne Hall, Goalkeeping Coach

6.      Laura Williamson, Sports Journalist

7.      Georgie Gillard, Sports Photographer

8.      Ellie Maybury, Exercise Scientist

9.      Sasa Ihringova, Referee

10.    Julie Harrington, MD at St George’s Park

11.    Rosie Richardson, Sales Manager

Young people in Year 7 through to Year 11 can enter the competition to spend a day with one of the ‘dream team’ mentors by simply filling out an application form found at www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal. Deadline for entries is 1^st March 2013.

The Football League will also provide over 350 work experience roles for students in Year 10 or Year 11.  Visit www.npower.com/whatsyourgoal to see which roles each of the 72 clubs is offering. Deadline for entries is 1^st March 2013.