City & Guilds College Union?s participation in the 676th Lord Mayor?s Show is looking increasingly unlikely today after Live! has learnt that the enterprise is beset with a major funding problem.

The Union used to enter the show every year and the tradition of entry was restarted several years ago. Since then, C&G has entered the show three times though this has only been made possible by major corporate sponsorship. Last year?s entry took the form of a birthday parade for C&G?s vintage vehicle mascot, Bo?.

Entry into the show is an expensive proposition, with a multi-thousand-pound entrance fee adding to the costs of hiring a lorry and additional equipment. This year?s float had been intended to showcase renewable energy sources with sponsorship hoped for from major renewable energy companies. However, Live! has learnt that BP, a major solar energy producer as well as an oil company, has recently declined to support the entry. With the deadline for paying the show?s entry fee imminent C&G has only a few days to raise several thousand pounds worth of sponsorship. Although at least one major potential sponsor has yet to give its verdict, the Union must be facing the possibility that even a positive reply may come too late to be any good.