Back in the late 1990s, when five mates from the Bradford district got together to form a band, it was a case of getting by on raw talent and dogged determination.

It paid off. The five mates – brothers Danny and Richard McNamara, Mike Heaton, Mickey Dale and Steve Firth – called themselves Embrace and went on to top the charts with debut album The Good Will Out in 1998.

They scored a hat-trick of number ones with subsequent albums Out Of Nothing and This New Day, and recorded the official England World Cup 2006 song, World At Your Feet.

Now, following a break, Embrace are back in the studio working on a sixth album. Set for release later this year, it will be followed up by a tour.

“We felt we had unfinished business,” says drummer Heaton. “We’ve all been doing our own thing, and having a break has done us good. The new album is well on the way. It feels good to be working together again, it’s given us the impetus to hit the road again.”

To say Mike has been a little busy over recent years would be an understatement. As well as running drumming classes, he has been mentoring up-and-coming bands, visiting schools to spark young people’s interest in making music, and setting up branches of his club, The Hop, in Leeds, Wakefield and Sheffield.

He’s also one of the team behind Centre Stage, a contest for young bands aimed at raising £150,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Open to secondary schools and colleges, it provides a platform for new bands, with a round of local heats followed by a final held at O2 Academy, Leeds. The winning act will play at the Leeds and Reading festivals.

Centre Stage was launched in 2009 and the first winners, Penguin, went on to support the Pigeon Detectives. Last year’s winners, The Mexanines, recently signed a management contract.

This year’s contest was launched by Embrace, The Klaxons and The Cribs. Mike, who is on the judging panel, has been heartened by the turnout from local bands so far.

“There’s been a great response. The standard is already high and there are still places left. It’s an amazing opportunity for young bands,” he says. “It’s a credible battle of the bands competition. The final is a proper full-on gig, staged by a professional crew, at one of the country’s most respected touring venues in front of 1,200 people. Most young bands wouldn’t get near the O2.

“I want to shout out to schools and colleges that this is an opportunity for bands to really show what they can do, and to get noticed. As well as a slot at the festivals, the winner gets two days in a studio and a free promo video.”

Mike, of Liversedge, has been working with school bands in North Yorkshire and hopes to work with Bradford Council’s music and arts service. As well as mentoring young bands – “helping with everything from creating songs to designing album covers” – he raises awareness of career opportunities in the music industry.

“It’s not just about being in a band – there are all kinds of jobs in the industry,” he says. “The problem is that music seems to come way down the agenda in so many schools. I’ve found that with contacting schools about Centre Stage.

“Music is good for academic and social development. Being in a band develops teamwork, confidence, motivation, discipline and responsibility.

“Embrace started out on sheer determination. That’s a big part of it for any band, but we’d have gone forward quicker if we’d known more about the business.”

Bands entering Centre Stage are asked to raise at least £1,000 for Martin House by July.

“It sounds like a bit of a responsibility, but what’s wrong with that? If you’re serious about being a band, a sense of responsibility comes with that,” says Mike.

“Last year’s event raised between £40,000 and £50,000. This year some bands have already raised £1,600. You can collect quite a lot of cash in a bucket at a few gigs.

“It costs more than £4.5 million a year to run Martin House. Having kids myself, it really hits home when I see at first-hand the incredible work they do for children and teenagers with life-limiting illness.

“This competition is about young people raising money for young people.”

Centre Stage heats will be at The Wardrobe, Leeds, from April 16 to 19. The final is at the O2 Academy on July 17. All band members must be under 21, with at least one member in secondary education. For a registration pack, contact Sarah Smith on (01937) 844569 or e-mail ssmith@martinhouse.org.uk.