MORE than £200,000 in prizes is up for grabs by Herefordshire and Worcestershire's top young entrepreneurs.

The Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards will reward Britain's best young business start-ups with cash and prizes worth £220,000.

The awards are open to young owner/managers aged 16-30, whose businesses have been trading between three and 18 months on January 31, 2003.

Local winners will progress to a regional heat, with regional winners competing at the UK final, in June, for a top prize of £10,000.

Advice

Since its inception by Shell UK Limited in 1982, more than 450,000 young people have contacted Shell LiveWIRE for free advice, information and business support on ideas ranging from worm farming to medical equipment manufacture.

"The awards are an excellent opportunity for new businesses to achieve a valuable publicity boost," said John Devitt, director of Shell LiveWIRE.

"Our research shows that more than eight out of 10 businesses that reach the regional heats win new business as a direct result of the publicity.

"Nine out of the 11 businesses that reached the 2002 UK final secured new business worth over £90,000."

Ability

Independent judges assess the entrant's ability to make the business succeed and the viability and potential of the business.

"Shell LiveWIRE encourages all young entrepreneurs to consider the impact of their business on the community, the environment and wider society," said Mr Devitt.

"The judges will therefore also be looking for awareness and policies to address these issues of sustainable development during the competition."

Business plans should be submitted by Friday, January 31.

For more information, phone Shell LiveWIRE on 0845 757 3252 or visit www.shell-livewire.org/win10k