Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year to be held at Waterfront

Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year will be named at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Thursday evening.

The event on May 27, one of the longest-running and most prestigious events in the business calendar, is the culmination of almost a full year spent sifting entries from all 26 boroughs of NI.

The programme is sponsored worldwide by Shell and operates in partnership with Invest Northern Ireland locally. Graham Davis, Invest NI’s Director of Local Economic Development commented: “We are delighted to support the work of Shell LiveWIRE as it continues to promote the wealth of young talent that exists across the region. Young people entering into the business world must have access to the right kind of training and support they need to achieve their full potential. Without this help Northern Ireland will not be able to sustain a vibrant and prosperous economy.

“Through our Accelerating Entrepreneurship Strategy and the ‘Go For It’ campaign we are helping to create an entrepreneurial culture within Northern Ireland that will ensure that the young businessmen and women of today become the business leaders of tomorrow.”

Gerry Ford, CEO of Shell LiveWIRE Ireland said: “We are always impressed with the businesses that enter the competition. This year the standard, number and variety of businesses have been exceptional, for example, as a group, the finalists have been trading less than one year, but already they are employing 59 people!”

All finalists will receive a substantial awards package to mark the occasion that includes a BDO Stoy Hayward consultancy package and one year’s free licence to ‘The Red Tape Buster’ business software.

Additional awards will be presented to two runners up, the most innovative business and for the business that best demonstrates sustainable development in practice. The winner receives £3000 cash, loads of publicity and the coveted title of ‘Northern Ireland Young Entrepreneur of the Year’.

For further details, or a free LiveWIRE essential business kit, call 028 9045 4510 or visit www.shell-livewire.org

(SP)