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Alan Shearer Foundation receives boost from Young Entrepreneurs

Over 120 sixth-form students from across 14 North East schools will come together on Tuesday 3 July at the Alan Shearer Activity Centre for St Cuthberts Care’sYoung Social Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2012.

Running for a second year, the Award ceremony is sponsored by renewable energy producers, Siemens. All students taking part in the competition have been offered the opportunity to sit apprenticeship entrance exams with the company and the winning team will also be given a tour of the facilities at the Walker site.

Martin McKenna, Head of Onshore Projects at Siemens, will deliver a keynote speech to the young entrepreneurs, explaining how he achieved business success. Martin said: “We see apprenticeships as a great career path that can lead all the way to the top. I started as an electrical apprentice in Newcastle in 1983 and now oversee vital projects at wind farms from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands and everywhere between.’’

Austin Donohoe, Chief Executive of St Cuthberts Care added: “We are delighted that Siemens is supporting this year’s competition. Their decision to offer the apprenticeship entrance exams is a testament to the hard work of these young people; we are deeply grateful to both Siemens and the students for their support.”

Each team received £250 from St Cuthberts Care last September with the view of using this to create income-generating projects. The team that has raised the most money will win the coveted trophy, presented by patron, Alan Shearer. The competition looks set to raise in the region of £17,700, net of the initial seed money, with all proceeds going to the Alan Shearer Foundation.

Alan said: “This is a tremendous sum and it’s wonderful to know that every penny will go towards the Foundation’s overall target in helping to provide free and subsidised respite care at the Alan Shearer Short Break Centre.”

The purpose of the Foundation, launched just one month ago, is to raise a minimum of £250,000 to help to make a difference to thousands of people’s lives with profound disabilities and sensory impairments.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Cath Futers .