Kate inspires tomorrow's stars

CHART-topping Kate Nash inspired Bournemouth schoolgirls when she made a special visit to Avonbourne Business & Enterprise College.

The 23-year-old chose the secondary to launch her campaign Kate Nash’s Rock and Roll After-School Club for Girls, which hopes to boost the number of female artists in the music industry.

Kate, whose debut album Made of Bricks hit the number one spot in 2007, played a video to the 200-strong student audience, spoke to them about her career, and performed a song called I Hate Seagulls.

The pupils - all studying music or involved in musical extra-curricular activities - questioned her about stardom, stage nerves and her inspiration for writing songs and also showed her some of their lyrics.

“I was shocked and annoyed when I found out that only 14 per cent of song writing royalties goes to women. I want to do something about this huge imbalance,” she said.

“What I want to do for you guys is start after-school clubs but not just for performers but also for women behind the scenes such as techies, managers and those wanting to work in record labels.”

Kate shot to fame in 2007 and soon became a regular on the festival circuit, wowing crowds at Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight and around the world.

Last year she scored a number eight in the UK with her second album, My Best Friend Is You, but has also enjoyed huge singles chart success with hits including Foundations, Pumpkin Soup and Do-Wah-Doo.

“There is still this ridiculous image in the music industry that women cannot be serious artists. I want to change that.

“The best way of doing this is encouraging more girls into the industry.”

Kate says she plans to visit four more schools across the country as part of her campaign.

Award-winning schoolgirls tame notorious dragon

GIRLS from a Bournemouth secondary have helped a notorious dragon launch a national search to find fresh talent like them.

Pupils from Avonbourne School were chosen to assist Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Peter Jones who is leading a £400,000 initiative to unleash an entrepreneurial spark in UK schoolchildren.

Called the ‘Tenner Tycoon’ the Bournemouth girls were last year’s national winners for their inspiring community project Internet Rangers, which helps OAPs become online savvy.

The Avonbourne project saw the girls tutor elderly residents in internet skills such as using email, booking train tickets and researching hobbies online.

Former Blue Peter presenter Valerie Singleton OBE visited the school to support the project; the girls won awards for the scheme including one from BT, and were invited to Number 10 and the Houses of Parliament to tell ministers about their work.

They have also been the subject of TV documentaries and their latest foray into the media spotlight to launch this year’s Tenner Tycoon saw them take part in a photo shoot at famous Worx studio in London as well as feature on BBC News and GMT.

They have also appeared in national newspapers including the Telegraph and Times.

"This scheme is a superb opportunity for students to experience what the life of an entrepreneur can be like,” said Kathryn Loughnan, Avonbourne’s head of ICT and Internet Rangers’ mentor.

“With a little risk, some creativity and a can-do attitude they might find they have launched a whole new business concept.”

This year’s Tenner Tycoon will see more than 40,000 young people across the UK encouraged to start their own business using a £10 note.

Organisers Enterprise UK, an enterprise campaign agency, says the aim is to inspire entrepreneurship in young people against a backdrop of “the worst youth unemployment figures in a generation”.

Digital coming of age at Tucker Advertising

ONE of the south coast’s most established advertising agencies has added digital new media to its creative expertise, thanks to key new faces at the firm.

Tucker Advertising now has a dedicated interactive media department headed up by new recruit Dan Temple, who is joined at the Bournemouth agency by two other new pivotal personnel.

Dan has more than six years e-marketing specialist experience in new media, both in-house and freelance.

Although Dan specialises in php/html he has a broad knowledge of social networking, SEO and many other key digital disciplines.

A career highlight was his groundbreaking work on the VW Commercial Vehicles National Adword account, which was ahead of its time.

His work on this account gave him the chance to work closely with Google and gain 'behind the scenes' knowledge and expertise invaluable to clients wanting to raise their profiles on digital/online platforms.

He is joined at the full service advertising agency by two more newly-created roles - designer Catherine Randall and media consultant Nicole Mundy.

Catherine’s considerable experience comes from working at a variety of agencies across the south.

She was the lead designer for the prestigious Barclays half-term annual report.

Nicole’s media buying skills were honed at the sharp end of retailing for names like Next, where she quickly rose through the ranks to senior department manager.

Her canny negotiation skills ensure clients in today’s economic climate get maximum punch for their pound.

“Our new team members bring a rich diversity of skills to the table and certainly gives Tuckers the edge in the current marketing climate,” said Adam Gritz, creative director.

“It’s a really exciting time at Tuckers, with lots of new opportunities on the horizon.”

Tucker’s is one of the south’s longest established ad agencies and last year celebrated 25 successful years in the industry.

Picture caption: L to R Nicole Mundy, Cat Randall and Dan Temple at Tucker Advertising.

Mouthwatering taste of success

CHICKEN ricotta with sundried tomato was among the mouthwatering dishes served by sixth formers to VIP diners including an MP, borough councillor and education chief.

For one-night-only a formal restaurant was created by sixth formers at Oakmead College of Technology in Bournemouth, where some 60 guests were treated to a sumptuous three-course menu designed and cooked by catering students.

Their classmates took on the role of serving staff in the school hall, which had been transformed into an elegant restaurant thanks to stylish scenery and ornate table designs produced by creative and construction students.

Music sixth formers provided tuneful ambience while a live video link to the kitchens, set up by media production students, allowed the guests to see the food preparation in action.

Sixth form business students took on the job of organising the event, which hopes to raise funds towards revamping the school’s existing food technology facilities.

Overall, more than 100 students were involved in the evening.

“This is a wonderful night and these students have shown amazing enterprise, resourcefulness and talent,” Conor Burns MP for Bournemouth West, told the students and fellow guests.

“Everyone here is a winner.”

Other guests included Di Mitchell, Bournemouth’s head of children’s learning and engagement and Kinson South councillor Ted Taylor.

“This evening is a celebration of our students’ success,” said Dr Annetta Minard, executive head teacher at Oakmead.

“They never cease to amaze me.”

UK first for Ronit Furst designs

THE UK’S exclusive importer of Ronit Furst eyewear will be unveiling the designer’s latest frames and colours to British opticians at Optrafair, next month (April 9-11).

Hot from New York’s International Vision Expo only weeks earlier, this will be the first time optical professionals will have seen the Israeli artist’s newest hand-painted designs on this side of the Atlantic.

For importer Omneco Ltd it will also be a triumphant return to the trade exhibition, following the launch of the business at the event four years ago which helped it buck the economic climate.

Omneco Ltd now distributes Ronit Furst’s distinctive eyewear to more than 100 independent opticians across the UK and Ireland, and MD Helena Finden-Browne says business is booming.

She already imports and distributes seven classic styles in 16 colours, seven matte styles in ten colours, and specialist shapes including sunglasses and a children’s range.

As part of her individualised support to traders, Helena also supplies eye-catching counter top displays and, by arrangement, window dressings individually created by the designer.

“The Ronit Furst frames have definitely lived up to our expectations and are flying off the stand, being the fastest selling range of frames we’ve ever had,” said Nuala McCurry from RN Eyewear in Ireland.

“We’re really happy with the service we’ve received from Helena and look forward to doing lots of business in the future.”

Sheila Naqvi, from Concept Eye Clinic in Newcastle, said: “The service is par excellence. Helena’s approach epitomises the bespoke spirit of Ronit Furst.

“The frames have more than lived up to expectations. From adults to children, the response is inspiring.”

Helena says she’s looking forward to Optrafair and revealing the new designs.

“I know the level of excitement they’ll create,” she said. “I can’t wait!”

For more details visit www.omneco.co.uk or call 01483 767209.

Chickens run from fowl fate

SOME 250 hens have been rescued from slaughter and given new homes by the Ringwood Waldorf School and Lantern Community.

The hens now have secure futures - similar to the birds in the hit film Chicken Run - after being taken in by families and staff at the Hampshire school and neighbouring charity.

Even though the chickens are only 20 months old they had passed their peak egg laying age and therefore their commercial value, even though they will live and lay for at least another five years.

The rescued hens are Rhode Island Red hybrids, free-range and were organically reared at a large chicken farm in Sussex.

“This was a real community effort involving parents from the school and volunteers from the Lantern raising the money needed to buy these hens from the chicken farmer and transport them here,” said parent Melanie Colbourne.

The rescue was organised in partnership with Brighton Animal Action which last year found homes for 7,000 chickens across the country.

This year it hopes to save another 5,000 hens and during February alone has re-homed more than 600 in Dorset.

If you're insterested, call Sue on 01273 885 750 or email shoreham.protester@ntlworld.com with the word hens in the subject line.

Standing up to shyness

SPEECHES, weddings and presentations hold no fear for these Arnewood sixth formers, who’ve become the first students at the school to qualify in public speaking.

To mark their graduation from course, the 11 students each gave speeches to an invited audience of New Milton dignitaries which included president of New Milton Rotary Club, John Witt, and deputy mayor Cllr Alan O’Sullivan.

The youngsters had chosen to take the new ten-week course at the Gore Road secondary in Hampshire, to see if they could overcome their stage fright.

Course designer and tutor, Clive Wren, said: “They went from very anxious and nervous young people to being able to get up on stage and address local VIPS and their peers.

“That is no mean feat. They triumphed. The skills they have learnt on this course will help them in every part of their lives to come.”

The teenagers were given five minutes each to deliver speeches on a range of educational issues, including higher education and going into employment after school.

Chris Hummerstone, head teacher at the Arnewood, said: “Improving self-confidence is key, but what is also important is how well young people present themselves when speaking at interviews or on other formal occasions.”