FORMER APPRENTICE STAR SPEAKS FOR PUDSEY!

Business woman, Claire Young, who is passionate about youth enterprise, was originally known as an Apprentice finalist in 2008. She hopes to join children from the Academy on National Talking Day! and has this message: "To have reached the place I am now, I had to do a lot of talking - particularly in Lord Sugar's boardroom! I have never had a problem with speaking but, in these days of social networking and texting etc., verbal communication is a vital skill for young people to retain and, if they can use this skill to raise money for others less fortunate than themselves, we should support them all we can! Let's all get talking with the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy for BBC Children In Need!"

Perhaps Claire's old colleague's from The Apprentice should take note too - businesses can also take part in National Talking Day! Download details from www.helenogrady.co.uk

REMOTE EMPLOYMENT AWARDS 2010

In a lavish ceremony yesterday at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, National Director, Nigel Le Page, was delighted to present the Helen O'Grady Special Award to Janine Van Den Berg.

Janine was the outright winner from a shortlist of six candidates andwill become Principal of the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy in Harrow, Middlesex. Janine's background in the arts and, in particular, acting and singing, made her an excellent candidate to operate an Academy. Her passions for children and the theatre, along with her business experience, provide her with all the necessary credentials to be a most successful Academy owner. Janine will bring energy, enthusiasm and a positive approach to running her own business.

Janine said: “I have been striving towards this goal for a long time and to have won the Helen O’Grady Special Award and to have been recognised in this way is absolutely wonderful. I am over the moon and very excited to be joining such a well renowned organisation and can’t wait to start teaching the children and look forward to a long and fruitful career. I am deeply thankful to the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy and to Remote Employment for making this possible.”

Earlier in the ceremony, last year's winners spoke about the effect of winning awards. Karen Reyburn, who won last year's Home Worker Award and Polly Marsh who won the Remote Employer Award joined Nigel Le Page to answer questions. Nigel was speaking on behalf of Exeter Principal, Abbe Martin, who won the Helen O'Grady Special Award in 2009 and who was yesterday, with the new term fast approaching, busy with setting up her new classes for 2010 after a successful first year in business.

Before closing the proceedings, Ken Sheridan, co-founder of Remote Employment with Paula Wynne, introduced entrepreneurs Karen Darby (Call Britannia) and Claire Young (former runner up on 'The Apprentice') who were happy to pass on some of their knowledge to the assembled business people.

Janine is now looking forward to training with other new Helen O'Grady Franchisees in Bristol and to starting her very own classes in the New Year. All at Helen O'Grady welcome her to the network and wish her the best of luck!