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
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 1st
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 1st March 2013.
