Thursday 11th April 2013 by Grace Carroll | Photos by WENN

Tags: Emeli Sande

Emeli Sande helped Gucci Timepieces and Jewellery launch their new UK Music Fund at London's Soho hotel yesterday (10 April).

The star, along with Jo Whiley, promoted the fund which is aiming to enable British talent to be discovered and nutured, and to help them get into the music industry. The fund has been introduced in the UK following the successful launch in China last year.

Sande said at the launch, "It's crucial that young people today have the chance to express themselves through music and are given opportunities to do so."

She continued, "The biggest advice I’d give is to make sure your priority is always music. Coming to London, I saw the competition and realised I had to raise my game to stand out.

"At first, everyone saw me as just a songwriter, so I got knocked back again and again as a performer. If I’d given up at the first knock back, music wouldn’t have been for me. You have to have a message you want to get through to people."

She also offered personal advice to students, including career advice and her experience in the music industry.

Emeli Sande wants new musicians to have a chance to make it

The Gucci fund is going to offer ten students - who otherwise wouldn't be able to have access to music training - the chance to attend the Los Angeles Grammy camp, which is for the education of aspiring musicians.

Gucci are also launching a limited-edition watch which will be engraved with 'Gucci Music Fund'.

Photos: Emeli Sande performs sensational Manchester O2 gig