Biggest applause for the new York Technology Growth Scheme comes from the city's new high-tech firms - and those who made it but wish they had the benefit of the idea years ago

SOMETIMES fledgling York firms' nifty ideas may seem to be all hot air, but with a little cash help they can turn into money-spinners.

That is precisely what happened - hot air and all - to graduates John Jones and Dan Huke when it came to Skycell, their little firm which makes high-tech airships.

Based at the Innovation Centre in York's Science Park in Heslington, they fuelled their venture by approaching Lloyds Bank to take advantage of the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.

John, 33, who is nearing completion of a PhD in electronic engineering and Don, 23, who graduated last year in politics and economics, build eight-ft diameter indoor helium-filled "flying saucers" equipped with cameras and powered by on-board batteries.

It's no gimmick. They have flown their "aerial imaging platform" into remote, inaccessible corners for surveying inspections. Projects included York Minster where one of their dirigibles hovered 100 ft above ground to investigate a suspected crack in the stonework in the clerestory on the north side of the Minster quire.

They are planning to travel to ATG in Bedford, which builds enormous people-carrying airships for the U.S. military to send their quiet little flying saucers, to overfly and photograph the inflatable monsters. "It will be like a firefly on a leviathan," says Don.

Now the duo, who also organise workshops at schools explaining the science behind their venture, is perfecting the design of larger dirigibles which could also be used by surveyors and architects on the outside of buildings.

Don says: "If the York Technology Growth Scheme promotes the sort of loan we received then it has to be a good idea. We also got huge help along with way from Business Link York and North Yorkshire. Once the framework is established then process of the government-guaranteed loan should speed up and encourage applications."

Modernity and antiquity contrast stunningly in the two-storey medieval offices of KMA Interactive at the 16th century Sir Thomas Herbert House in Pavement, York. The phalanx of translucent turquoise Applemacs used by these new media designers blends tastefully with the turquoise sheen on the leadlight windows. The setting shouts of success in the six years since it was established by Kit Monkman. It employs 12 people who lately were busy creating the ever-changing sound-sensitive images on the backdrop of singer Craig David's latest tour, designing an online gallery for Impressions Art Gallery in York and designing an Intranet for Channel 4.

These are the kinds of projects which add up to a projected £1 million turnover this year and suggest that KMA Interactive is on its feet.

Gill Greaves, a director, reckons that had her company been able to take advantage of the York Technology Growth Scheme "it would have made an extraordinary difference to us in terms of the speed with which we have progressed.

"We would have been able to concentrate earlier on more of our ambitious plans and liberated us to more quickly fulfil our ambitions.

Updated: 09:12 Tuesday, May 21, 2002