At least 15 new knowledge-based companies - generating perhaps 100 new jobs - will be created in York and North Yorkshire over the next two-and-a-half years, using an extended mentoring service.

A specialist "business promoter service" based at Science City York, which has been directly responsible for the emergence of 30 companies in York over the past four years, will now cover the whole region.

Yorkshire Forward has agreed to fund a broadened specialist business service for local people in the science and technology industries.

Science City York and Business Link York & North Yorkshire will join forces to deliver the project, which will cost £300,000. It aims to establish business growth and high-quality employment opportunities and to provide expert business advice to high technology start-up companies and SMEs in North Yorkshire.

The experts are people with backgrounds in both technology and business. They work alongside entrepreneurs, steering them through business plans, assessing the product technology and appraising the markets.

Through the subsidised service, which is free to the user, the experts will help the venturers to forge new and wider links in knowledge exchange and supply chains.

The money will come from Yorkshire Forward's "Single Pot" fund, through the North Yorkshire Sub Regional Action Plan, which has identified key projects to be advanced in York and North Yorkshire from 2003 through to 2006.

Geoff Needham, head of North Yorkshire at Yorkshire Forward, said: "The project is based on the Science City York's success and experience in helping the York knowledge-based business community under the 'business promoter service' .

"Working with Business Link and other support agencies, the roll-out of the Science City York business promoter service will provide in-depth support to start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises, on an interim management basis, to a much wider North Yorkshire area."

Anna Rooke, manager of Science City York, said: "We're looking forward to getting involved with North Yorkshire technology-based businesses, to help get new ideas off the ground in all aspects of technology, from bioscience and IT to new media and food technology.

"Our role will be to work with individuals who are developing new business ideas and to work with them to overcome the barriers to their success, so that their business can reach its full potential."

Updated: 11:52 Thursday, April 08, 2004