Shell Tameer - Building on young business ideas

Shell Pakistan launched Shell LiveWIRE in 2003, with the local name ‘Tameer’ (which means ‘to build’), with the aim of helping youth across the country towards their own socio-economic development but also of their communities and Pakistan as well. Shell Tameer encourages young people aged between 18-32 years to consider starting a business as a desirable and viable career option by providing free information, counselling, support and training on entrepreneurship.

Shell Tameer Entrepreneur

Tameer is committed to helping youth from all four provinces of the country, irrespective of socio-economic, educational, religious backgrounds. Tameer's slogan is "Building On Young Business Ideas". Tameer also develops an individual's entrepreneurial skills needed to plan, launch and manage new business enterprises. Shell Tameer provides practical support to these young people through partnerships with business support, educational, financial and community organizations.
 
Shell Tameer typically provides the following services:
 
1. Enquiry Service: By providing information young people are introduced to the idea of starting a business: how to find and develop a business idea, where to seek help, how to prepare a business plan and conduct market research.
 
2. Mentoring Service:  Young people are offered the opportunity to be linked with a LiveWIRE mentor and their particular area of expertise for further advice and training.
 
3. Awareness Seminars: These seminars create awareness of entrepreneurship among students of business, professional, vocational and polytechnic schools.

Shell Tameer Workshop

4. Workshops: Tameer has localised two training workshops which it conducts, Module I - Bright Ideas Workshops conducted for groups of young people to stimulate exchange of ideas and encourage good planning prior to starting a business; and Module II – Becoming a Successful Owner Manager, for best practices for business expansion and process improvement.
 
5. Awards: The awards programme recognizes and celebrates the success and effort of 10 young people in developing their own businesses. This high profile event not only attracts good publicity for the young entrepreneurs but also provides an opportunity for dialogue with government. The awards are to serve as motivation and inspiration for other potential young people. Awards are given for best progress in growing and developing the business in its first 2 or 3 years.
 
In addition, Tameer is engaged in the following activities:
 
6. Course revision and for Polytechnic and Vocational Institutes: Tameer, alongside the Sindh Board of Technical Education has taken the initiative to revise the course outline for the Technical Education and Vocational Training Students and making entrepreneurship part of their curriculum. The aim is to encourage these students to couple their technical skill with entrepreneurship for a better livelihood.
 
7. Tameer Entrepreneurship Club [TEC]: A Tameer Entrepreneurs Club has also been launched to act as a platform for exchange of ideas and experiences. It has been developed for students, youth who are currently employed and aspire towards entrepreneurship, and those who are already established as entrepreneurs. It provides a link for students with professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs.
 
8. Providing Linkages: Through Tameer’s extensive network, entrepreneurs gain linkages to the market, financial assistance, business linkages and links with other entrepreneurs.