From Doctor to Diva

Alliance & Leicester Current Accounts launch celebrity mentor programme for under-21s choosing careers over university.

Doctor, lawyer, accountant? What about video game designer, DJ or hair stylist to the stars? These are the types of careers 16-21 year olds are looking to break into nowadays. Research from Alliance & Leicester Current Accounts to support the launch of its new Premier 21 Current Account, has found that more than four out of 10 young people (43%) are choosing not to go to university. Instead many are pursuing careers in industries such as hair, beauty, entertainment, cooking and sport, instead of opting for further education.

Gone are the days when a university degree was necessary for ensuring success or your future earning potential. Indeed, two out of three (67%) young workers are planning to earn £40,000 a year - before they reach 35.

To help them achieve their goals following the launch of the Premier 21 Current Account, Alliance & Leicester today brings together some of the best role models in business to provide opportunities to help 16 to 21 year-olds just starting out in their careers. By signing up for a Premier 21 Current Account at prem21.co.uk they will be given exclusive access to hints and tips for breaking into their chosen industry through podcasts, web chats and the ultimate prize - a personal session with one of 10 celebrity mentors. As most working 16-21 year olds will begin making their first important financial decisions, the Premier 21 Current Account has been specifically designed for them, with benefits to make their hard-earned cash go further including a 10.00% credit interest rate, a mobile banking service and access to an award winning internet banking site.

Helen Palmer, Current Accounts Manager at Alliance & Leicester, said: “Many high street banks overlook the needs of 16 to 21 year-olds who have chosen to kick start their working life, rather than go to university. We not only want to provide them with a current account that will make their hard-earned cash go further – we’re offering a market leading credit interest rate of 10.00% AER - but we want to inspire them to be the best they can be.”

So if your sights are set on being the make up artist for Scarlet Johansson’s next film, or being responsible for Britney’s comeback hairstyle, if you’ve got a brilliant idea for a business or have the voice to sing your way to the charts, then you won’t want to miss out on meeting your mentor. To learn more about this market leading current account, the mentor programme and how to earn your place on the programme visit prem21.co.uk .

Alliance & Leicester’s 10 celebrity mentors for the Premier 21 Current Account campaign include:

MUSIC - David & Carrie Grant

Pop vocal coaches famous for their time on Fame Academy and Pop Idol, they have also worked with Will Young, Take That, Charlotte Church and Lemar.

SPORT - Greg Rusedski

Greg was a very promising junior tennis player and began playing for Britain in 1995 where shortly thereafter he reached his career high rank of World No. 4. Voted BBC Personality of the Year in 1997, he is now focused on training and mentoring the sports stars of the future.

COOKERY - James Martin

Presenter of BBC 1's hugely successful Saturday Kitchen, Martin began his training as a chef at the age of 16. At the tender age of 22, he joined the Hotel and Bistro du Vin in Winchester as Head Chef. It was so successful that there was an eight-week waiting list for a table at the weekend. He’s gone on to publish several books and recent TV projects include Great British Village Show and Sweet Baby James.

BEAUTY - Louise Constad

Louise Constad is the star’s make-up artist of choice. She spent a number of years after beauty school building up her repertoire to become a top name make-up artist. She has worked with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Bjork, Naomi Campbell, Kelly Brook, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner and Elton John to name a few.

WRITING - Lucie Cave

Lucie Cave started her career as a presenter for Trouble TV. She has since turned her hand to journalism and is now a well known media pundit and features editor at Heat Magazine. She is best known for her interviewing techniques and her ability to extract juicy gossip from celebs.

DANCE - Paulette Minott

Minott studied jazz dance and her many successes have cemented her career as not just a successful dance choreographer for leading music artists, but someone who is fast becoming familiar as a TV personality.

BUSINESS - Tim Campbell

Coming from a single parent home, Campbell’s strong work ethic and determination led him to become the first winner of BBC TV’s The Apprentice. After a successful time under Sir Alan Sugar’s tutelage, he has recently launched a male grooming business called Campbell ESQ. and was appointed Child’s Ambassador for London by the Children’s Minister Beverly Hughes.

DJ - Trevor Nelson

It’s all about R’n’B and entertainment for Nelson who began DJ’ing from an early age. From the graveyard shift to daytime radio, he was a club promotions manager at Cooltempo (EMI Records) and continues to DJ and present events around the world such as the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Prince’s Trust Urban Music Festival.

HAIR - Trevor Sorbie

With more awards than Nicole Kidman, Sorbie has pioneered cuts such as The Wedge, The Chop and The Scrunch. Dropping out of school at 15 he never imagined success like this.

DESIGN - Wayne Hemingway

Co-founder of the famous British fashion label Red or Dead, Hemingway started his career by selling his possessions in Camden Market. He now owns and runs HemingwayDesign which specialises in architectural and product design.