LIVEWIRE BID TO FIND BEST YOUNG BOSSES
THE Shell Livewire Awards begin today with greater prize money up for grabs than ever before.
This year marks the 25th year of the competition and, to celebrate, its sponsors announced that Scottish winners will pick up £3000, with a £10,000 cheque waiting for the overall British winner.
The competition, for young entrepreneurs with businesses less than 18 months old, has produced several Scottish champions, and the current title holders Richard Starrett and Neil Mackay of East Kilbride haircare firm Beautiful Vending.
Richard said: "Winning the Scotland award last year was a great boost for our business and we would urge other young businesses to enter and try and scoop the honour.
advertisement"Many great businesses have come through the Shell Livewire Awards and gone on to great things and I hope to be another one of those too."
Richard and Neil's company holds the worldwide patent to a unique hair straightening vending machine which can be found in bars, clubs, gymnasiums and shopping centres throughout the UK.
Initially they were concentrating on the local market, but over the past 18 months the firm has secured deals in South Africa, Canada, US, Holland, Spain, South America and Australia.
The firm has doubled production levels to 40 machines per week and now operates from new premises.
Turnover is expected to triple this year with revenues tipped to exceed £1.5million.
Shell UK chairman James Smith said: "Young entrepreneurs have a great chance to shine by entering the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
"Even if they don't win, the recognition can help them gain valuable business."
Previous Scottish award winners include Lightweight Medical, founded by Glasgow product design graduates Neil Tierney and Neil Farish, and 28-year old former Kwik-Fit fitter Michael Welch, whose online tyre firm Black Circles now has an £8m turnover.
The competition is open to entrepreneurs aged 16-30, whose firms will have been trading for between three and 18 months on March 31.
For full details and to enter, visit www.shell-livewire.org/ awards/entry/ Closing date is March 31.
Winners of the Scottish finals will compete for the UK title in June.
+ News Source: THE EVENING TIMES
+ Link: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.1260248.0.livewire_bid_to_find_best_young_bosses.php
+ Last Updated: 2007-03-15 23:11:55
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