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.
Shell Springboard 2014 UK winner, Paul Andrews from Oaktec, said: “The exposure and funding from Shell Springboard has been a major breakthrough in developing and commercialising our high-efficiency gas engine concept. We have since presented our innovation to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and business secretary Vince Cable at the UK Manufacturing Summit. The judges’ feedback helped us to improve both our commercial offer and our engine concept, while the networking opportunities have led to a collaboration with a fellow Shell Springboard finalist.”
Erik Bonino, chairman of Shell UK, said: “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. A study by Shell Springboard and the Carbon Trust found that low-carbon SMEs could unlock £30 billion in exports by 2020. 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.”
Applications are open until 5pm on Friday, December 5 2014.