Two expanding Bradford firms were among those benefiting from more than £5 million worth of investment by regional funding body Finance Yorkshire over the last seven months.

And the body which provides various types of funding from £15,000 to £2 million wants growing companies to get in touch.

Alex McWhirter, chief executive of Finance Yorkshire, said: “The investment figures are encouraging and we are looking forward to providing more funding for businesses during the rest of the year.

“We encourage growth companies looking to expand their business to get in touch with us. As the latest figures show, the investments are crucial to supporting business growth in Yorkshire. This will create a significant boost to the region’s economy.”

Since August Finance Yorkshire has helped 75 small and medium-sized businesses fund growth and development and secure millions of pounds of private sector leverage.

Among them were Laisterdyke-based office equipment firm Commerce Business Systems, which received a £30,000 business loan. The money was designed to help owner John Green, who started running the business in the spare bedroom of his home in 1992, to expand trade by 20 per cent this year. especially in South Yorkshire.

Commerce, which employs 14 staff, took over firms in Sheffield and Leeds last year and is expecting to boost turnover from £1.4 million to £1.7 million within 12 months.

Mr Green said: “Without Finance Yorkshire we would have been very tight on cash flow. The loan prevented us from losing a profitable acquisition and has accelerated our growth.”

ABI Alert Security Systems, in Knowles Street, Bradford, received a £30,000 loan to help it fulfil a growing order book for its electric gates and security systems. Since its launch in 2009, ABI has grown rapidly.

Managing director Stephen Pierce said: “During the last 18 months we have been very busy and the funding from Finance Yorkshire will be of great benefit in helping us meet the customer demand.”

The £5m invested by Finance Yorkshire has seen the region benefit financially by more than three times as much through private sector leverage and has helped businesses generate growth and revenue to the tune of nearly £16m.

Firms can find out more by visiting finance-yorkshire.com or calling 0845 649 0000.