A FINANCE provider which has injected more than £90 million into growing enterprises is celebrating its contributions towards business success in North Yorkshire.

In this financial year alone Finance Yorkshire has invested more than £29 million in regional businesses through its Seedcorn, Business Loan and Equity Linked Investments.

Providing between £15,000 to £2 million, its funding is designed to help small to medium sized businesses meet the gaps in the market for the funding they need to grow and develop.

Overall, Finance Yorkshire investments to date have created and safeguarded 10,196 jobs across Yorkshire and the Humber, increased turnover by £309 million and generated private sector leverage of £179 million.

In celebration of its investments in North Yorkshire businesses, Finance Yorkshire has entered the Press Business Awards' new category, the Corporate Investment Award.

Suzanne Tinkler, from Finance Yorkshire, said: "As of December 2014, Finance Yorkshire has invested £90 million and is continuing to invest in Yorkshire SMEs.

"At the same time, we expect regional job figures and turnover to increase still further as companies exploit the investment already secured from our fund.

"Over the last 12 months, Finance Yorkshire has made a raft of investments in North Yorkshire companies which have generated business growth, created jobs and increased profitability, helping to boost the local economy."

York-based OptiBiotix, a life science business which is developing products to tackle obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, benefitted from £520,000 Seedcorn investment from Finance Yorkshire.

The company, based at York Science Park, listed on AIM when its market value was £6 million, and in just 12 months that has risen to over £27 million.

Prior to the company being listed on AIM via a reverse takeover, Finance Yorkshire invested £520,000, helping to create the life sciences business. OpitBiotix filed a suite of five patents for its products ahead of its flotation.

OptiBiotix Health Chief Executive Stephen O’Hara said: "Finance Yorkshire’s initial investment in the business came at a vital time for us and provided us with much-needed support.

"Our work provides us with a huge opportunity to address many widely experienced diseases and a chance to significantly improve lives worldwide."

Elsewhere Bridgeton Steel Structures, based in Elvington secured a £450,000 Equity Linked investment from Finance Yorkshire.

Launched in 2012 by Brian and Jacquie Garvey, the business uses unique, innovative technology to design and supply lightweight steel buildings.

The company used a £450,000 Equity Linked investment to enhance its CAD software design capabilities, recruit technical project managers and hire a business development manager to enhance marketing.

Mr Garvey, managing director at Bridgeton, said: "This is just the start. We are looking at setting up a network of contractors and suppliers throughout the UK. There are also massive export opportunities throughout the developing world."

The Finance Yorkshire fund has been developed as a European JEREMIE ( Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises) initiative and is capitalised by grants from UK Government, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and finance from the European Investment Bank.