About Shell LiveWIRE

What is Shell LiveWIRE?

• Shell LiveWIRE combines an online support service and awards programme for young entrepreneurs in the UK 
• Shell LiveWIRE is one of Shell’s Social Investment Programmes
• Since it’s inception in 1982, Shell LiveWIRE has helped over 600,000 young people in the UK to explore starting their own business
• Shell LiveWIRE is now active in 24 countries, helping young people around the globe explore enterprise and entrepreneurship, and providing them with global networking opportunities
• Shell LiveWIRE offers an independent service with no costs or strings attached so everyone can benefit

What exactly does Shell LiveWIRE have to offer?

• Monthly £1,000 Grand Ideas Awards for 16-30yr olds in their first 12 months of trading with the most innovative new business ideas throughout the year
• Annual £10,000 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for 16-30yr olds who have been running their business for between 3-18 months.
• Discussion Forum where young entrepreneurs can get free help and advice from fellow Shell LiveWIRE members, business advisers and mentors
• Promote your business, give your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) a boost and connect with other young entrepreneurs around the world through our international Social Network
• Access free tools, resources and guides on starting and running your own business in our Business Library
• News and reviews of interest to young entrepreneurs
• Watch video interviews, top tips, webcasts and how to guides in our Video Lounge

Why is Shell LiveWIRE different?

• It develops future entrepreneurs through a peer-led support service with user-generated content
• Largest bank of peer-reviewed information on enterprise for young people in UK
• Shell LiveWIRE is one of the only independent enterprise schemes across the UK
• Offers unconditional, fully-funded service with no costs or strings attached
• Support for everyone - but particularly those aged 16-30 
• Helps young people around the globe explore enterprise and entrepreneurship, providing them with international reach and global networking opportunities
• One of the longest running youth enterprise schemes in the UK, promoting enterprise as a real career option since 1982
• Helps drive global economies through the championing of youth enterprise

Why does Shell fund Shell LiveWIRE?

• As part of Shell’s commitment to social responsibility, we want to ensure that we have a positive impact in the countries and communities in which we operate which go wider than direct business impacts 
• We believe that Shell LiveWIRE and our other programmes will play an important role in the UK's ability to meet many of the most pressing challenges facing society - not least, to meet growing energy demand in sustainable ways
• Young entrepreneurs are vital to drive the future of the UK economy, and Shell wants to play it’s part in supporting them

Learn more by watching the video below of Paul Lancaster (Web Development Executive, Shell LiveWIRE) giving an overview and demo of the website filmed at the Business Startup Show 2010 at ExCel London on Thursday 20th May 2010.

Covering the key areas of the Shell LiveWIRE website, Paul also;

• talks about the history of the LiveWIRE programme
• demonstrates some of the business tools and resources available online
• shows how to use the Discussion Forum and Social Network to get answers to your questions, connect with others and give your SEO a boost
• explains the monthly £1,000 and annual £10,000 award award funding available for young entrepreneurs aged 16-30
• answers questions from members of the audience at the end of the session

What else does Shell do?

In the UK, Shell is involved in Social Investment programmes that support science, education and innovation. These include:

• Shell Springboard - provides a no-strings financial boost of up to £40,000 to innovative business ideas that tackle climate change
• Shell Education Service - delivers fun interactive workshops to over 50,000 school children each year to encourage and inspire them to explore and question science
• Communities, Employees and Universities
• Shell and Science Skills
• Inspiring Sponsorships
• Shell Eco-Marathon Youth Challenge UK

For more information on the programmes above, visit Shell's UK Social Investment website.