A NORTH Yorkshire firm which has accelerated the high-tech interactive television revolution was today celebrating a cash injection of £175,000.

It seems that all the right financial buttons have been pushed for JDA Centrescreen Ltd, of Church Lane, Skelton, near York, to help it expand and win a slice of the rapidly growing two-way television market.

Interactive TV, switched on when digital viewers press the "red button" on their remote controls, has revolutionised the television industry over the last five years. According recent research, 23 per cent of UK households will use interactive TV at some time this year.

JDA Centrescreen, which started trading in 2002, already boasts a client list including BSkyB, ITV and France's TPS and has developed a wide range of interactive programmes for education, information and entertainment broadcasts.

Originally, a one-man operation led by managing director Joe Dubruel, the new funding for JDA now means taking on three new permanent staff and with several new contracts in the pipeline, more recruitment is expected.

The new money was sparked after business support organisation Science City York awarded JDA a £25,000 part equity-part loan package through the York Innovation Fund and York Technology Growth Scheme, which is supported by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

This helped bolster confidence in the business and has triggered an extra £25,000 from the private sector, £25,000 from the North West Vision fund and a £100,000 loan from the Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme. JDA is now keen to find new equity investors to fund further expansion.

Mr Dubruel said: "Thanks to this new finance we can really start to unlock our potential. Not only are we looking to expand in the international market, but in the north of England there is a vibrant and growing television production industry which we hope to cater for."

Andy Gurnell, Science City York's business promoter, who helped to make the firm "investor-ready", said: "Early stage investments like those provided by the York Innovation Fund and York Technology Growth Scheme awards are vitally important to ensure that technology and science based enterprises take off and flourish in our region. "

David Dickson, director of York Business Development Ltd, which manages both the York Innovation Fund and York Technology Growth Scheme, said: "Without seedcorn funds like ours it is often very difficult for small fast-growing enterprises like JDA to translate great ideas into a profitable business."

Updated: 11:08 Friday, January 27, 2006