Boost for the hopeful bosses

Jan 10 2009 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

YOUNG people in Huddersfield with bright business ideas have been urged to compete for prize money worth thousands of pounds.

The timely boost comes from one of the longest-running youth enterprise schemes in the UK, Shell LiveWIRE, which has been giving free support to would-be entrepreneurs since 1982.

The programme this year introduces a monthly cash award for 16 to 30-year-olds with great business ideas.

Every month up to five aspiring entrepreneurs will get a no-strings-attached financial boost of £1,000 to help them get their business ideas off the ground.

In addition, young entrepreneurs will be invited to compete for the annual Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, which recognises the achievements of the UK’s finest young entrepreneurs.

The award will see one winner walk away with £10,000.

Shell LiveWIRE, which has 84,000 members in the UK alone, hosts business networking website www.shell-livewire.org

This allows business people across the country to share ideas, insights and inspiration with fellow entrepreneurs who understand the challenges they are facing.

The new-and-improved website goes live on Tuesday.

The community also has an international reach, with a further 8,000 members from more than 20 countries, providing a free virtual meeting place for exporters or those seeking suppliers overseas.

Shell LiveWIRE has helped more than 600,000 young people since it began.

James Smith, Shell UK chairman, said: “Over the 26 years Shell LiveWIRE has been running we have seen the tremendous amount of entrepreneurial talent there is in the UK.

“Given the current economic climate it is more important than ever to unearth and support the young entrepreneurs of today. They can be creators of jobs, prosperity and the innovations of tomorrow.”

To find out more join the LiveWIRE community or enter the Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards or Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Visit www.shell-livewire.org