LONDON, Aug. 22, 2005 - Oil giant Shell has set up a new fund to provide small businesses in the U.K. with more incentive to tackle climate change.

Shell Springboard will pay companies up to £40,000 if they come up with practical, commercially viable steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and do their bit to slow climate change.

Awards of between £20,000 and £40,000 will be made to six companies spread across the UK and judges will be looking for innovative ideas which are backed up by sound financial planning and an understanding of markets.

Any British company with less than 250 employees can enter the competition and the winners must spend the award on the projects outlined in their submissions then report back to Shell on their success or, equally importantly, problems or failures.

"Tackling climate change is not just a job for governments and big business," said Lord Oxburgh, chair of the national judging panel in the pilot year of Shell Springboard.

"It is also an important opportunity for the four million or more small businesses in the UK.

"We hope that Shell Springboard helps to inspire an entrepreneurial approach to the urgent challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Full details of Shell Springboard and how to enter this year's contest can be found on the competition's Web site. Entries must be received by November 4.