Time running out for young entrepreneurs to win coveted prize

Young entrepreneurs in the UK have one month left to put themselves forward for a chance to win the coveted Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, which shines a light on the achievements of the UK’s most talented young entrepreneurs.

The award, which closes for entries at 5pm on 6th September 2010, offers up-and-coming business owners aged 16-30 the opportunity for national recognition, as well as a substantial financial boost of £10,000 for their business. Shell LiveWIRE is one Britain’s longest running youth entrepreneur awards and was established in 1982 as a Shell Social Investment Programme.

Previous winners and finalists include Innocent Smoothies who won the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Greater London Final in 2000 – the company’s first ever business award. Innocent has since grown from 4 staff to over 200, and now has a turnover of £128m.

James Smith, Chairman of Shell UK, said: ‘Entrepreneurial spirit is vital to getting our economy going again. The Shell LiveWIRE award can provide a very timely boost to Britain’s entrepreneurs.’

Shell LiveWIRE also supports young entrepreneurs with its Grand Ideas Awards. Every month, up to six aspiring entrepreneurs are awarded a Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Award of £1,000 to fund an innovative project to help get their business idea off the ground. The enterprise scheme also hosts a business networking community at www.shell-livewire.org with 100,000 members, enabling the best business brains from every corner of the nation to share ideas, insights and inspiration with fellow entrepreneurs who understand the challenges they are facing.

The deadline for applications to the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award is 5pm on the 6th September 2010.  To qualify for entry, applicants must be aged 16-30 and have been trading not less than three months and not more than 18 months on 6th September 2010.  To enter the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, visit www.shell-livewire.org