HEALTHCARE technology companies in York and North Yorkshire will converge on York Science Park at the end of the month to learn how to fund growth.

A free introductory seminar has been organised to tell them about a new investment readiness programme in the region.

The Yorkshire Forward Access to Finance for Healthcare Technology Companies programme was launched earlier this year and is already supporting a number of companies in the region seeking funding to grow and develop.

Spaces for the four-hour seminar which starts at 9am on Wednesday, September 30, are limited so interested companies should register their details at investinginhealth.co.uk and will then be contacted to receive their place.

According to HSBC bank’s recent Future of Business report, York is set to become a hotspot for biotechnology, with more than 130 organisations already involved with the Bioscience York network operating in areas such as tissue regeneration, diagnostics and online technologies.

The Access To Finance programme gives healthcare technology companies the knowledge, advice, tools and resources needed to access equity funding from national and international investors.

The seminar, which is the first of a series of activities on the programme, will provide companies with an insight into what investors are looking for, current investment trends and an understanding of how the programme can make them investor ready.

Programme manager Phil Whaley, of Grant Thornton, said: “These seminars will not only provide companies with more information about the programme itself, but will also give people an opportunity to meet like-minded entrepreneurs, build their networks and learn more about equity funding in general.

“As companies come in all shapes and sizes, we aim to signpost them to the appropriate sources of funding or, if we believe there are areas that need to be addressed prior to funding, we help identify what these issues might be and how they can be overcome.

“Experience shows that taking the time up-front helps increase the chances of securing funding by presenting a credible business proposition to providers of finance.”

The Access To Finance programme, managed by Grant Thornton, forms part of Yorkshire Forward’s ongoing strategy to support the development of the healthcare technologies industry in Yorkshire and Humber.