Shell expands flagship entrepreneur programme across Scotland

Shell is expanding its flagship enterprise development programme Shell LiveWIRE across Scotland.

The programme, which aims to help entrepreneurs overcome hurdles to growing their business, had initially been launched in North-East Scotland.

Shell LiveWIRE is now being offered across the country. It is being made available to businesses that have a focus on energy transition-related products and services that benefit society.

The fully-funded programme provides coaching and mentoring to business founders and directors, enabling them to make key decisions and drive innovation and growth. This includes new skills, access to resources and the widening of their networks.

At the start of 2024, Shell LiveWIRE was re-designed to help small and medium-sized organisations in Aberdeenshire gain the tools and confidence needed to grow. The programme’s success has now seen it rolled out Scotland-wide.

Shell UK appointed business support organisation Elevator UK to deliver Shell LiveWIRE, using its more than 20 years of experience in delivering business and economic support services through well-established networks of partners, regional councils and Scottish and UK governments.

The Scotland-wide initiative starts in June with an introductory session. This will lead into a series of engaging workshops hosted by various experts. There will also be residential challenge days where participants will work with other entrepreneurs in the group.

Participants who complete the programme will also benefit from access to the Shell LiveWIRE global alumni network, Shell UK mentors and the company’s prestigious competition Shell LiveWire Top Ten Innovators.

Programme & Events Operations Manager, Karen Clark, who will head up the programme, said: “It has been incredibly inspiring to see the ongoing growth and development of our current cohort. A key benefit they are noticing from being part of LiveWIRE is the time away from their business that it warrants, because this gives them crucial space to reflect, bounce ideas around and return refreshed. This time commitment can be a daunting prospect for busy business owners, but the reward it returns is undeniable. I can’t wait to welcome our next cohort.”

Participating businesses must have a focus on providing energy transition related products and services that benefit society, and fit the below criteria:

• Small and medium-sized enterprises; from two to 149 employees
• Participants to have key decision-making powers
• Located anywhere in Scotland
• Clear ambition for growth, but facing an obstacle to that growth
• Must be two years+ and generating revenue (not a start-up)
• Willing to commit to the programme time needs

After registering their interest, suitable applicants will be invited to complete the full application process by May 27. The challenge day will take place in June, while the programme’s onboarding day will be held at the beginning of July.

Nassima Brown is a participant in the current Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire cohort. She co-founded Fennex with her husband Adrian seven years ago. The innovative technology company aims to accelerate digital transformation in the energy sector.

Nassima described the Shell LiveWIRE programme as “a milestone in the Fennex journey”. She said: “From day one we saw Shell’s commitment and passion to the programme. The collaboration with Elevator is giving us the environment and the tools to think big. It’s not just giving us basic tools on how to manage our teams and initiate improvements, I’ll be walking out of the programme more driven and with a clearer focus. I’m fired up that we can achieve even bigger things than we thought we could.”

Elevator CEO, Professor Gary McEwan, said its partnership with Shell UK for this second Scotland-wide cohort shows how impactful the programme is. He said: “We are thrilled to be taking Shell LiveWIRE Scotland-wide after such a successful first intake. Teaming up with Shell UK to deliver the programme has shown how game-changing and tangible the impact a global organisation can have on SMEs. We’re proud to be showcasing the benefits of this kind of collaborative working through our engaged, ambitious cohort of business owners and leaders and look forward to continuing this journey with Cohort 2 and beyond.”

Anthony Harte, Head of Social Impact at Shell UK, said: “We are delighted to begin our search for the next cohort of Shell LiveWIRE, our flagship global enterprise development programme. Our Programmes aim to act as a catalyst for progress, fostering connections, driving innovation and strengthening local economies by promoting entrepreneurship and meaningful employment. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Elevator UK to empower another group of inspiring entrepreneurs from across Scotland.”

Applications are now open. More information can be found at: https://www.shell.co.uk/about-us/sustainability/people-and-communities/LiveWire

NOTES FOR EDITOR:

Shell LiveWIRE operates in 20 countries and was reintroduced in the North-East of Scotland in December 2023 to help participants increase customer volumes, expand their workforces, overcome barriers and drive sales growth. Shell LiveWIRE is one of a range of investments Shell is making to help support 15,000 people into jobs, with a focus on the energy transition, to be delivered by 2035. This includes a focus on developing skills that will support the Shell LiveWIRE cohort and stimulate growth.

Elevator aims to create an innovation-driven society that delivers personal, local and national prosperity and impact. Engaging with partners, founders and alumni, its vision is to ignite, nurture and grow entrepreneurial spirit for a thriving and inclusive society where people are empowered to transform their futures. It operates across Scotland to help facilitate the start-up, acceleration and scale up of new and existing businesses through its unique range of Accelerators, Business Growth programmes and delivery of Business Gateway services in multiple regions. 

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