Raizcorp and Shell head into the third phase of the Shell LiveWIRE programme

Global oil company Shell’s LiveWIRE business development programme – facilitated by business incubator and advisory services firm Raizcorp – has entered its third phase of operations in South Africa. The programme is now on the lookout for applicants from across South Africa.

Shell LiveWIRE is an annual programme that is dedicated to facilitating enterprise development in markets across the globe. The programme first began in 1982 in Scotland, and has since expanded its operations to 17 different countries, supporting a variety of entrepreneurial ventures.

The programme is designed to help entrepreneurs with developing strong and sustainable business models, and has demonstrated promising results in a number of countries. Some examples of thus include nearly 3,500 grants that were offered to youth entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta.

The programme – which is organised by global oil giant Shell – is also responsible for training more than 10,000 Omani youths, which is among its success stories. Business incubator firm Raizcorp is the facilitator of the programme in South Africa, which is set to enter its third phase.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been touted as particularly crucial to the recovery of the South African economy, following a sustained period of economic turbulence. Alongside a focus on innovation and collaboration, SMEs are looking to develop skills that can contribute to their international competitiveness.

Drawing foreign investment is also particularly crucial for the South African economy presently, and a strong and innovative SME sector is a quality avenue towards this goal. The LiveWIRE programme lays emphasis on developing strong skills among young entrepreneurs in a number of areas.

The programme is now looking for applicants for the third phase of its operation, primarily from the regions of Gauteng and eMalaheni. The sectors that the programme will focus especially on are the real estate, finance & insurance, business consulting and litigation services sector.    

“As Shell, we are committed to investing in businesses and communities that will accelerate real transformation and power our progress as a nation,” says Hloniphizwe Mtolo, Country Chair for Shell Downstream South Africa.