Small businesses with big ideas on climate change |
|
Deadline looming for small businesses with big ideas on climate change to win up to £40,000
Small businesses with big ideas to combat climate change are being urged not to miss out on the opportunity to win one of eight £40,000 Shell Springboard Awards. The programme offers a financial boost to SMEs that can turn the climate change challenge into a viable business opportunity. The world is increasingly looking to developed countries for action on climate change ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December. Shell Springboard is calling on UK SMEs to capitalise on the low carbon market opportunity by applying for a financial boost from the programme. James Smith, Chairman of Shell UK, said: "Grassroots innovation from small businesses could be a crucial factor in tackling climate change. Through Shell Springboard we are offering no-strings financial awards for small companies with promising ideas. I hope this will help them." Shell Springboard offers a financial boost for UK businesses with compelling ideas for tackling climate change. These must be ideas which: · Will lead to greenhouse gas reductions · Are commercially viable · Are innovative Eight awards of £40,000 are on offer to businesses across the UK. The deadline for 2010 entries is 6th November 2009. Full details and an online application form can be found at www.shellspringboard.org. 2009 Shell Springboard winners, father and son company Ma 2T4 Ltd, have used their £40,000 award to refine and finalise their Supercharger Air Hybrid Vehicle concept, which has the potential to improve engine efficiency by 40% across a range of different vehicles. Eight design guidelines have been established. These can be scaled and applied to a wide range of engines and vehicles, including all turbocharged diesel, petrol, bio-fuels engines in cars, vans, buses and trucks. Dr Tom Ma who, along with his son Jonathan, founded the company, said: “We were absolutely delighted when we won the Shell Springboard Award. It helped us to challenge convention and think big. Standard car engines have come a long way in becoming more efficient, but there is still real potential to make them greener. There are many good ideas for tackling climate change, if you have one which is simple and low cost, you should apply. My advice to applicants would be to back up your idea with a strong business plan that could take the idea to market as quickly as possible.” Shell Springboard winners come from a wide range of sectors. Previous winning businesses developed lighting technology, home intelligence systems, automobile technology, power generation from waste, carbon dioxide capture technologies, solar, hydro and many others. |
