Being 'green' could earn you up to £40K

. The judges will be looking for business plans for products or services that will lead to greenhouse gas reductions, are commercially viable and innovative. The judges will also consider the likely material impact that the award will have on projects and the credibility of the teams behind them. Businesses must be set up as either sole trader, partnership, limited company or community interest company, including university or government spin-outs. They must have been established for a minimum of three months, have less than 250 employees, operate in the UK, have a project which is their own and/or which they are free to disclose, and have a project that has not previously been supported by a Shell Springboard award. 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 judge's discretion. Awards will be made in early 2007 and the deadline for applications is midnight on Friday 10th November 2006. Judging will be carried out by three regional panels of independent experts. Up to two businesses from each region will then meet a national judging panel prior to the announcement of the overall UK winner. The Winner and Runner up from the UK judging panel will be additionally be awarded with a consultancy session to help them develop their project. Previous applicants can reapply for the fund but previous winners can only reapply for the fund with a new project. Applications should be submitted through the site Shell Springboard using the online Application Form and Submission Contract. Applicants are issued with a unique PIN and user name so they can enter the required information and revise any details online at any time during the application period. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed at the beginning of 2007. Short listed businesses will then be interviewed at a face-to-face meeting with the judges at one of three UK regional judging events to be held in February 2007. Feedback will be given to all finalists including those who are disappointed. If you win, the only obligations are: to spend the funding on the project set out in the application; to write a letter to Shell at an agreed time, describing what has been achieved, or challenges to achieving the goals; to provide material for the website and other publicity, and if requested, to participate in a judging panel next year.