Daniel Zeichner MP attended the Shell Springboard awards ceremony to celebrate the UK’s leading entrepreneurs building the low-carbon economy.

Each year, the Shell Springboard programme supports and awards the most inspiring UK enterprises with innovative business ideas for a lower-carbon future. At this year’s ceremony, three companies will be awarded £40,000 each. They will then compete at the Shell Springboard London event for an opportunity to win an additional £100,000 of equity-free investment.

The event was hosted by John MacArthur, Shell Vice-President of Integrated Gas Technology. There was also be a panel discussion with this year’s judges who are Kelsey Lynn Skinner, Director of Technology Ventures at Imperial Innovations, Professor David Newbery, Director of the Energy Policy Research Group, Eric Lounsbury, Director of Ventures at the Carbon Trust, and Dr Tony Raven, Chief Executive of Cambridge Enterprises.

Since its launch in 2005, Shell Springboard has awarded more than £3.5 million to 92 low-carbon businesses.

Daniel Zeichner said: “Climate change is the biggest threat facing our planet but innovative companies are seizing opportunities every day to combat it. Governments across the world must act to reduce emissions as much as possible and it’s fantastic that the industry is setting the bar high by recognising the most carbon-conscious entrepreneurs in the country.

“Cambridge is an incredibly important hub for the low-carbon future and it should be a badge of honour for our city that it hosts the awards ceremony.”

John MacArthur, Vice President of Integrated Gas Technology at Shell and the host of the Shell Springboard 2017 Cambridge awards event, said: “This is the fifth time that I am hosting the Shell Springboard regional final, and every year I am impressed by the amazing people, ideas and businesses that we see. The eight Shell Springboard finalists competing in Cambridge this year are inspiring examples of the game-changing enterprises that can help us reduce carbon emissions. I wish them the best of luck during the competition tonight.”