Shell Tameer - Building on young business idea

In 2003, Shell Pakistan launched the ‘Shell Tameer programme’ as a part of its official Social Investment programme. Tameer aims to guide budding entrepreneurs by offering the option of entrepreneurship as a viable career.

Shell LiveWIRE

Go and Trade Grants

The Strategic Human Resource Society (SHRS)

House of AM extends its reach to the UK

Tameer Receives A Remarkable Global Achievement

Tameer Joining Hands With British Council Pakistan – Active Citizen Program

Tameer receives global recognition

Successful Launch of Tameer Information Desk for Entrepreneurs

Shell Tameer technical training

Bright Ideas Workshop at IBA Karachi

In today’s fast-paced world, young entrepreneurs have very few official forums to turn to for guidance on business initiatives.  These potential entrepreneurs may have the creativity and drive, but lack the essential training and know-how for building on their business ideas. These young minds need a helping hand to steer them to success – and what better guide than the corporate sector it self?

Shell Tameer can help young entrepreneurs with training, counseling and flag posting. The process helps people help themselves, and facilitates growth by offering tools to the ones who have the energy, will and determination.

According to Shell Pakistan’s Social Investment Manager Afshan Khan, “Tameer gives young talent, not only a chance of self employment, but also an opportunity to make dreams come true!”

“It does not push them to take the option; the ownership is left with the young people and is evaluated by them”, she adds.

The Tameer program has helped several young entrepreneurs in establishing business ventures, network with peers, and benefit from identification of potential business opportunities and for networking with financial and business support institutions.

Recent success stories that have been selected for 2008 Annual Awards as ‘Role Models’ by Shell Tameer include Savvy PR & Events, BLUE Communications, Karavan Krafts, Olive Handmade Cosmetics, Taj Trading, and Vivo Cosmetics. 

Now in its sixth year, the Tameer program has engaged more than 35,000 young people through workshops, seminars, meetings and our website. 37 workshops have been conducted for 2000 young people, and 57 seminars have provided awareness to over 12,000 students.

Youth who are interested in participating need not have a specific academic qualification level. The only requirements for potential participants are that they belong to the age group of 18 to 32 years, should be a Pakistani national, and the participant’s idea for a business must lie within legal boundaries.  The target audience is therefore young people from educational institutions, as well as young people with no formal education.

For more information on Shell Tameer please visit: www.tameer.org.pk

Shell Tameer is part of the Shell Livewire International programme initiated by Royal Dutch Shell Plc in 1982 to address high un-employment among youth in Scotland. Shell Livewire has quickly grown to become one of the largest resource organisations for young entrepreneurs in the world.

Today, Livewire International operates in 27 countries, offering help and support to young people when they are seeking to make a choice about their future career. This global initiative has provided over 1.3 million young people with information, advice and support to develop enterprising ideas and start their own businesses.

Working with local enterprise development organizations as well as NGOs, vocational / polytechnic institutions, governments, corporations and community programme, LiveWIRE delivers practical support to those people as they develop the skills needed to plan, launch and manage new business enterprises.

Explaining the success of the programme, Karen Bellis of Shell Livewire International said, “Livewire is specifically designed to complement existing enterprise provision in each country, and is supported by the local Shell Company, other partner organizations, and is endorsed by Government. It is delivered by local people who really understand how to provide young people with the encouragement and support they need to take an enterprising approach to their employment prospects, in a way that inspires them.”

For more information on Shell LiveWIRE please visit: www.shell-livewire.org

Launched in 1982 to address high un-employment among youth in Scotland, Shell LiveWire has quickly grown to become one of the largest resource organisations for young entrepreneurs in the world.

Today, LiveWire International operates in 27 countries and aims to offer help and support to young people when they are seeking to make a choice about their future career.  LiveWire works in each country to promote the option of starting a business as a viable career option. 

Working with local enterprise development organizations as well as NGOs, vocational / polytechnic institutions, governments, corporations and community programmes, LiveWIRE delivers practical support to those people as they develop the skills needed to plan, launch and manage new business enterprises.

Shell LiveWIRE International recently invited young entrepreneurs to bid for a 'Go and Trade Grant', giving them the chance to visit another country, explore new markets and identify opportunities for growing their business.

With a large number of feedback, and endowments limited to a strict criteria, grants were only given to twelve businesses around the world. However, this number quickly changed when Shell LiveWire’s branch in Pakistan, Tameer, put forward its nominations for the ‘Go and Trade Grant’.  

Four diverse businesses started by young entrepreneurs were short-listed for the grant. Each entrepreneur had a different business model, but followed a common desire to grow his or her business internationally.

All four Tameer nominated businesses have been approved for the ‘Go and Trade Grant’, they include Karavan Crafts, Olive Handmade Cosmetics, Taj Trading and House of AM.

Grants worth a total of 6300 GBP have been awarded to the entrepreneurs.

The Strategic Human Resource Society (SHRS) of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) joined hands with Shell Tameer to help IoBM students unleash the inner entrepreneur in each of them.
The program focuses on students who have already established a business but also on those who have ideas for future businesses. SHRS held sign-ups for the 2009-2010 academic year to recruit members keen to help tap into the pool of budding entrepreneurs at IoBM. Around 250 students applied for the program, out of which 50 were short-listed.
SHRS held interviews and selected a small team which to form the core of Shell’s Tameer program at IoBM. The team will connect entrepreneurs with representatives from Shell Tameer, which in turn, will offer free information, advice and support.

The “Go and Trade Grant” was established in 2009 to give individuals, who have previously benefited from Shell LiveWIRE, an opportunity to explore potential markets and develop business links outside of their country. The grant is especially important in these economically challenging times where every bit of help can reap dividends for an entrepreneurs business.

To select the best recipients for the award, Shell LiveWIRE, based in 27 countries around the world nominated entrepreneurs from each of their country programs, including Tameer in Pakistan.

Grants were limited to twelve recipients and would be awarded to those entrepreneurs whose business idea offered the most potential for success.
Tameer nominated four entrepreneurs, and to the joy of everyone here, all four entries were selected to receive the grant.
The first three “Go and Trade” visits have been completed, and from the entrepreneur’s feedback – the experiences were truly positive.
Amna Kardar of House of AM was the first to complete her business visit. House of AM is the only brand in Pakistan that manufactures costume jewelry, and also includes a couture line with elegant formals, bridals and dresses.
Amna’s “Go & Trade Grant” took her to the fashion capital of the world, London, where she participated in a fashion show at Mayfair. Amna believes her visit has been remarkable, and the response she received was beyond expectations.
She managed to sell all her stock and meet a number of people from the fashion industry, including a buyer who wants to import her clothes for boutiques across the UK. Her first order of 40 outfits is already underway.
With a successful first visit under her belt, Amna plans to return to the UK for more shows in the future, and eventually expand her clothing line to the USA.
Summing up her experience Amna says “Go and Trade has helped my business a great deal as this opportunity would not have been possible without the grant. The feedback has been phenomenal”
Amna’s Top Tips:
“You have to keep in mind that the Pakistani’s living in the UK dress differently from our styles back home,” she says. “It is important to maintain strict quality standards and time-lines for delivery to compete in such a tough and challenging market.”

Shell LiveWIRE selects Tameer case study as the best global practice from all global programs. M. Saifullah Malik – Project Coordinator will present Tameer as a best local livewire application during a major international convention on enterprise promotion will be staged in the Harrogate International Centre in Yorkshire on 15-17 November 2009.
The event will showcase best practice and innovation in the creation and support of small businesses worldwide. This is a unique opportunity for Tameer to promote their own successes and to network with like-minded specialists in SME creation and development from all around the world.
Several of the UK’s leading organisations in the small business support sector are expected to take key roles in the presentation of case studies and examples of best practice.

Tameer is amongst the country’s most credible leading capacity building organizations brought together by British Council Pakistan, under a training consortium in order to develop and contextualize the Core Active Citizens learning program (UK Version) for local audience.
This core-learning program will be developed for the ideal experiential learning journey in Social Leadership – Outlining aims, process, development journey, options for methodology, language and materials. The purpose of the program is to develop the skills, knowledge, attitude and behavior of the participants.
The key objectives of the consortium are:
· Provide technical support to British Council in adapting the UK training outline into local context and develop any further materials required as part of the learning program.
· Provide technical advice to British Council in developing the training delivery model.
· Participate in delivery of the learning program.
The Active Citizen Global Program empowers tomorrow’s young leaders to bring positive change to their communities around the world. The program aimed to equip 18,000 young leaders across Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and UK with skills to help them address social issues, access decision making and contribute to uniting people of all generations to build a stronger community.
After working with experienced policy makers and leaders, young Active Citizens learn how to be leaders as well. They are trained and get an opportunity to put their skills to put their skills to practical use by applying them to community projects and social enterprise.
Tameer and other delivery partners will target 2500 young people in 18 Districts of Pakistan to deliver the program, that will support content development, long term delivery, provide a better understanding of the local community and its needs, provide access to wider audience and a long term multiplier effect.
Selection as a delivery partner is a great excitement for the whole Tameer team whose biggest challenge is to enhance the program outreach and scope within their limited resources.

Shell LiveWIRE has selected Tameer, its local program in Pakistan, to serve as a case study in best global performance at an international conference on enterprise promotion in Yorkshire, UK on 15-17 November 2009.
Saifullah Malik, Tameer’s Project Coordinator will travel to Yorkshire’s Harrogate International Centre to be part of this momentous occasion and present Tameer’s unique approach to small, medium, enterprise (SME) development in Pakistan. Tameer has trained over 45,000 entrepreneurs in Pakistan since its launch in 2003, and is the flagship social investment project of Shell Pakistan.
Several of the UK’s leading enterprise development organisations are expected to attend the conference and is a great opportunity to raise awareness of Tameer, and Shell LiveWIRE internationals work around the globe.

As a flagship social investment project of Shell Pakistan, Tameer firmly believes that the youth of Pakistan should be provided with opportunities to explore new and creative avenues for career development so that they can meet the challenges of tomorrow.

As a means to enhance the out reach of the program, Tameer initiated the Tameer Information Desk for entrepreneurs (TIDE) in collaboration with business and technical institutes across Pakistan. TIDE is a helpdesk service that aims to promote entrepreneurship among students and to encourage them to start their own business as a viable career option.

During the first phase of the project, three leading institutes of Karachi including, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), the Institute of Business Management (IoBM), and Bahria University were selected to launch the pilot project of TIDE helpdesk service.

This service was successfully initiated on 26th February 2009 at the Institute of Business Management. The helpdesk was inaugurated by Mr. Talib S. Karim (Dean and Director IoBM) and Ms. Afshan Khan (Social Investment Manager Shell Pakistan).

Tameer conducted training for a group of 20 students identified by the faculty of IoBM that will be running the helpdesk service as Tameer focal points at the institute. The helpdesk setup will remain in the student activity center for 3 weeks and will then be shifted to the IoBM’s Business Support Center.

On 17th March 2009 the next phase of TIDE was launched at Bahria University (BU) in Karachi. The event successfully registered 200 students as volunteers for the helpdesk service. Forty of these students will receive training from Tameer so that they can serve as TIDE helpdesk representatives at BU.

The TIDE framework is specially designed to benefit students by offering them rewards in terms of recognition certificates, extra academic credits, membership to the Tameer Entrepreneur Club, and networking opportunities with business people and role models.

Tameer Information Desk for Entrepreneur is another milestone in Tameer’s commitment to promote entrepreneurship among students.

Tameer participated in a technical training session organised by Shell Penzoil for oil traders, mechanics and users of Al Ghazi Tractors. The training sessions were held in Lahore and Multan, and followed the unveiling of the new Penzoil pack.

Imran Azeem, the Tameer training manager facilitated the training sessions and focused on actions for business development, best practice, capacity building, customer relations and marketing.

Yousuf Ali, Shell Pakistan’s General Manager Sales was in attendance at the event, which also included Nasir Qamarudding, OEM & Fleets Key Accounts Managers – North and Naseem Aftab, B2C Indirect Marketing Specialist – Agri. Nadeem Ahmad, the managing director of Al-Ghazi Tractors also attended. Other guests included Shell employees, stakeholders and representatives from the local business community.

The training sessions proved to be an essential tool to foster better relations with farmers, tractor mechanics and other members of the agricultural community. Gifts, plaques and certificates were handed out at the end of the ceremony, which also featured a lucky draw – the winner received a ticket to perform Umrah!

Shell Tameer, a flagship social investment program of Shell Pakistan, encouraging youth to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option, held a workshop for a group of university students in Karachi.

The session was called Bright Ideas and involved 18 participants eager to learn all it takes to become a successful entrepreneur and business leader. 
The workshop was held at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) City Campus and attracted participants from a wide variety of backgrounds, including students from other universities such as the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) and Bahria University.,

The Bright Idea workshop educates potential entrepreneurs and helps them answer three essential questions: is the business idea worth pursuing? What should their role be in a start-up venture? and what should they do after the workshop to move the business forward?  

The session involved students working together in small focus groups to bringing his or her unique value to the exercise and each entrepreneur organized a team to help explore their business potential through group learning activities.

The eagerness of the participants was reflected in the quality and quantity of interaction and questions that followed the session.

Several guest speakers were invited to attend the event, including Mr. Mubin Tejani – CEO Headway Consultants, Wajeeha Nabi Malik – Olive Handmade Cosmetics, Mr. Mukesh Kumar - Manager SMEDa and Mr. Taimur Ali Beiram Khan- Business Development Manager ACCA Pakistan.

Engr. Mirza Sardar Hussain- Chairman Department of Management- IBA, Mr. Sultan Raza- Faculty Member -IBA  and Ms. Eram Abbasi faculty Member – Bahria University were also  on hand to observe the workshop.  They took time to meet the participants and hand out certificates at the end of the session.

At the end of the session Dr. Ishrat Husain, the Dean and Director of IBA met the Tameer team and appreciated their efforts to make the workshop successful.

Shell Tameer is proud to have worked with IBA on this flagship project, and looks forward to the continued growth and success of the Bright Ideas workshop.