Shell Springboard is a programme that provides a financial boost to innovative, low carbon business ideas from across the UK. Successfully piloted in 2005, here’s how it works:
- Up to 6 awards of between £20,000 and £40,000 are on offer in each of 3 UK regional events
- The number and quality of entries will determine the number of awards given. Each region has a maximum number of awards it can give, but no minimum. The actual number of awards made, and the level of each award will be at the judges’ discretion.
- Awards will be made in early 2010
- Applications are now closed.
- Judging will be carried out by 3 regional panels of independent experts
- Up to 2 businesses from each region will then meet a national judging panel prior to the announcement of an overall UK winner
- Previous applicants can reapply for the fund
- Previous winners can only reapply for the fund with a new project. Projects previously supported by Shell Springboard will not be supported in subsequent years.
In short, the judges are looking for business plans for a product or service which:
- will lead to greenhouse gas emissions reductions
- is commercially viable
- is innovative
There are two further aspects that the judges will take into consideration; 1) The likely material impact that the Springboard award will have on your project 2) the credibility of the team behind the project.
Eligibility criteria
There are strict eligibility criteria. Please only submit an application if you:
- are a business set up as a sole trader, partnership, limited company or community interest company (including university or government spin-outs)
- have been established for a minimum of 3 months
- have less than 250 employees and qualify as a small or medium enterprise (SME)
- operate in the UK
- have a project which is your own and/or which you are free to disclose
- have a project that has not been previously supported by a Shell Springboard award