Last chance to enter Barclays Commercial Bank's search for the best Green Leaders in business

The Awards will recognise companies who are using pioneering processes or new sustainable technology, products or services to help beat climate change, and crucially, boost their own profits.

Green Leaders in Business is open to all UK and Irish companies, and has three separate categories - companies with a turnover below £1m; between £1m and £20m; and above £20m.

Barclays Commercial Bank Marketing Director, Richard French, said: "We believe the UK and Ireland have forward thinking men and women who are finding innovative ways of doing business to build a new economy that is both realistic and sustainable.

"These leaders also know that 'green business' is good for profits and that being an effective operator in this area can make a real difference to their bottom line. Barclays Commercial Bank is delighted to have this opportunity to recognise their achievements."

Companies wishing to enter the Awards have until 9 May 2008 to send in their entries.

Marketing director of Barclays Local Business, John Davis, said: "We are looking for businesses - from sole traders to FTSE 100 companies - for whom ecology and economy are two sides of the same coin and whose values include making a positive difference to our environment while striving to make a profit at the same time.

"Each company will need to demonstrate how their 'eco-imagination' has spawned new green products, services and systems that will help conserve dwindling resources and protect endangered environments, as well as boosting their own business success."

Ten finalists will be invited to present to an expert judging panel, chaired by leading environmentalist Tom Burke, which includes The Carbon Trust, Bloomberg, and the WWF, who will decide the winners of three business categories.

Winners will be announced at a gala luncheon for 250 guests in London in September.

The event will also mark the launch of a limited edition book, spotlighting the pioneering accomplishments of all the winners and finalists.

Produced entirely from sustainable sources, it will be sent to government heads and influential figures around the world, showing how UK and Irish business is leading the way in a new industrial revolution - one that promises to protect and preserve our planet.

Entry forms for the Awards are available throughout Barclays branches or on 0800 085 3203. Alternatively a copy can be downloaded from www.barclayscommercial.com/greenleaders.

Barclays Commercial Bank has teamed up with key partners to develop an exclusive environmental proposition for its customers:

Through Barclays Capital's award winning expertise we can help customers with carbon emissions trading.

We work in partnership with the European Investment Bank to offer an exclusive cashback scheme to customers financing a wide range of capital expenditure projects with a minimum project cost of £200,000 and a maximum value of £17 million. Limits subject to change but are based on Euro exchange rate of 1.45. Businesses can go to www.barclayscommercial.com/environment for further guidance on environmental issues.

For further information or to arrange an interview please contact Jenny Stokes or Kate Polson at Aspect Communications on

0208 673 2020 / 07966 612636/ 0785 290 2719.