British sailing's new heroine becomes ambassador to HSBC Education Trust

23 September 2003

Emma Richards, the record breaking round-the world yachtswoman has become an Ambassador to the HSBC Education Trust for the next three years in support of its work with young people.

Emma made sailing history earlier this year by becoming the youngest competitor and first British woman ever to complete the world’s longest solo yacht race during her Around Alone campaign.   The HSBC Global Education Challenge allowed thousands of school pupils in 35 countries to track the progress of Emma and other skippers on their voyages.  The opportunity helped the children learn about weather systems, energy, wildlife, geography, nutrition and culture, which were linked to classroom subjects.

The HSBC Education Trust aims to raise standards in education by providing school children with inspirational experiences beyond the classroom.  In her role as an Ambassador Emma will work on behalf of the HSBC Education Trust, spreading its message and hosting an annual sailing school for children from all over the UK.

Sir John Bond, Group Chairman of HSBC Holdings plc, said: “We got to know Emma through our involvement with Around Alone and so we want to build on our relationship by sponsoring Emma. Therefore I am delighted that she has agreed to become an Ambassador to the HSBC Education Trust for the next three years. We wanted someone who could show young people how far attitude can take you in life and there is no-one better qualified to do that than Emma.”

Emma Richards said: "It is great news for British Sailing that a company of HSBC’s international reach is using the sport as a platform for this initiative.  During Around Alone, the HSBC Education Trust opened up a line of communication with children around the world and it was an incredibly rewarding experience.  I am thrilled that they have decided to renew our relationship by coming onboard for our new campaign and continue to introduce sailing to thousands of children all over the world.”

Emma’s involvement with the HSBC Education Trust will work in tandem with her on-going title sponsorship with Pindar, the leading print and electronic media company

Andrew Pindar, Chairman of G.A. Pindar & Son, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled that a company of HSBC’s pedigree has chosen to join us in supporting the next stage in Emma’s sailing career.  The HSBC Education Trust is a fantastic initiative and we are looking forward to working together over the coming years.”

For more information about the HSBC Education Trust and Emma Richards’ role as Ambassador please contact:

Media enquiries
+44 (0)20 7992 1573
+44 (0)20 7992 3756
pressoffice@hsbc.com

Photographic images available on request.

For more information about Emma Richards and Pindar please contact:
Victoria Fuller or Henry Chappell at Pitch PR
Tel: 020 7494 1616
Mob: 07880 707068
Email: victoria@pitchpr.co.uk / henry@pitchpr.co.uk

Notes to editors:

1. HSBC Holdings plc
With some 9,500 offices in 79 countries and territories and assets of US$983 billion at 30 June 2003, the HSBC Group is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations.

 2. HSBC Education Trust
The HSBC Education Trust, led by Dame Mary Richardson, was established in January 2001 to provide a focus for the Group’s educational projects in the UK, seeking to open doors of opportunity for children by raising standards of education and focuses on:

• Primary and secondary education programmes for underprivileged children or for schools in economically deprived areas
• Language programmes (particularly Mandarin)
• Programmes to promote international understanding among young people
• Programmes that encourage greater understanding of business and finance
• Attitudinal education

3. Pindar - From Ink to Internet
Pindar is one of the leading print and electronic media companies in Europe, producing high-quality business communications through print and electronic media at its ten UK locations.

As the UK specialist in catalogue production, the range of catalogue services encompasses design and origination through to storage and distribution. Other areas which Pindar has developed close relationships include travel information, education, central government, tourism and large corporate bodies. 

Print capabilities span digital, sheet-fed and web offset, and upstream activities include digital photography, internet technology and a revolutionary content management service for catalogues.
Associate company Pindar Systems pioneered the development of world leading software for content management. This powerful database system enables catalogue customers to manage content for publishing across any medium.

Acquisition by the Group during the 1980s, of the AlphaGraphics master license for the UK and Ireland, added a network of rapid response business-to-business print services throughout the UK (18 to date) and provided a link to 33 other countries throughout the world. Pindar has since become a major shareholder of this US-based franchise operation.

The family-owned company was founded in 1836 in Scarborough, UK, where its head office remains today.