Jade Wilkinson, last year’s Swindon Talent winner, has had an eventful year scooping some major gigs including performing alongside X Factor’s Same Difference and Rachel Adedeji in July.

She puts a lot of her luck down to winning the talent contest in the Arts Centre last September.

She believes the annual competition is a huge stepping stone for burgeoning entertainers.

“Swindon Talent ‘09 got me a lot of things this year, a gig at the Mayor’s Concert in the Wyvern in January and the gig in the Bowl with Rachel Adedeji,’’ said Jade. “People are there to see you.’’ Same Difference appeared on the X Factor TV programme in 2007 and Rachel was in last year’s show.

Jade is about to record three songs with Bees Knees Records, which was part of her first prize, but she says she can’t make up her mind which songs until she has performed in the X Factor night at Swindon’s Town Gardens on July 3.

“I can record anytime, I need to concentrate on that and I have a lot of songs going on,’’ said the 17-year-old, who also took a leading role in the Wyvern Theatre’s Summer Youth Project, Boogie Nights.

She is no stranger to talent contests having won Swindon’s Pop Idol when she was just 13 years old, and won through to the regional final of Live and Unsigned South Coast Idol.

Last weekend the singer scooped third place in Search For A Star in Bristol.

“It was horrible, such stiff competition,’’ she said, but she was delighted to have been placed third and won £250.

Jade, from Haydon Wick, is the lead singer with local band Disclosure who are playing both small venues such as the Moonrakers in Swindon and large, prestigious arenas such as the O2 Academy in London.

The singer attends St Joseph’s Catholic College studying performing arts and is encouraging her fellow students to enter Swindon Talent ‘10.

Her mum, Barbara, is her staunch supporter ferrying her daughter all over the county to sing.

“My mum is a really good singer but she only sings at home. She did do something for Prospect but I need to push her,’’ said Jade.

How to enter Swindon Talent '10

l Purton Carnival on Friday, June 4, at 7.30pm. Contact: kevin@purtoncarnival.co.uk, 07768 456989

l Highworth Warneford School, on Saturday, June 5, at 7pm, phone 01793 762197

l Old Town Festival, on Sunday, June 27, at 11.30am, phone 01793 642368

l Lydiard Park, on Saturday, July 10, at noon, phone 01793 465353

l Wootton Bassett School, on Saturday, July 24, at noon, phone 01793 841900 There will also be an open mic heat at the Arts Centre in Old Town on Tuesday, July 6 from 6pm where artists can just turn up on the night. Phone 01793 466565.

The finals will be held at the Wyvern Theatre on Sunday, August 8.

The contest is run in collaboration with the Swindon Advertiser, Swindon 105.5, Wyvern Theatre and Swindon Arts Centre.

To enter Swindon Talent ‘10 log on to www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/talent10 or call the venue for entry forms.

l Rules: Every act needs to perform for up to four minutes and must be amateur, not earn their living by entertainment, and live or work in Wiltshire. Artists who competed in the talent contest for both the last two years, 2008 and 2009 are not eligible to enter Swindon Talent ‘10.

Entry is open to any age, but under 16s need signed permission from a parent or guardian. Organisers have the right to refuse entries if health or safety is considered at risk.