Shell is calling on UK entrepreneurs with big ideas to reduce carbon emissions to enter the 2015 Shell Springboard awards programme. The awards programme offers funding to businesses with innovative and commercially viable solutions that support the transition to a lower carbon energy future.

 

For the first time the 2015 Shell Springboard national winner will receive a total award of £150,000 to scale up their low-carbon idea in celebration of a decade of Shell Springboard, while five further regional winners will each receive £40,000. Businesses that make it through to the regional and national finals will also benefit from networking opportunities and feedback from an expert panel of judges.

 

“The dynamic enterprises Shell Springboard supports are helping to create a lower carbon, higher energy future, as well as creating a new wave of jobs and economic growth," said Erik Bonino, chairman of Shell UK. "The quality of applications to Shell Springboard is always high, and I’m looking forward to seeing the great business ideas in this year’s programme.”

 

Since its launch in 2005, Shell Springboard has awarded approximately £3 million to 80 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at the cutting-edge of the low-carbon economy. For example, London start-up bio-bean was recently awarded a further €500,000 of funding for its coffee-waste to biofuel conversion process, while Oxford University spin-out and transatlantic success story Cella Energy is continuing to attract investment and broker eye-catching partnerships with its hydrogen power technology.