A NEW way of checking NHS staff’s identities, an “industry-changing” face mask and an online marketplace for hospitality work have all attracted the interest of angel investors.

Dorset Business Angels heard five businesses make their case for investment during a quarterly pitch event.

A company founded by two NHS doctors which offers a “digital passport” to verify staff identities, qualifications and certifications received two expressions of interest.

The event heard there are 60,000 doctors in training in the UK, each of them needing some 16 identity checks during their training. A day off work is needed every time one changes hospitals, leading to more than 100,000 days being lost a year to checks.

The business, founded in 2015, was seeking to raise £1.5million to scale up, create a tech platform and secure sales.

An entrepreneur seeking to create the “world’s best respiratory protection”, born out of the founding team’s love of cycling, attracted three expressions of interest.

The business has worked in partnership with Brunel University on a government-funded scheme to create an “industry-changing mask” . The mask is already stocked in several independent stores in London and in Selfridges. The business sought £650,000 to rapidly scale and attracted three expressions of interest.

A shift-working marketplace to match empty hospitality shifts with rated people who want to work them received three expressions of interest.

The platform was launched recently in London and the founders said they achieved revenues in one month there that it took 14 months to achieve in their first launch city of Bristol. They sought £400,000 to scale to more cities and sectors and received three expressions of interest.

Angel investor Max Wright, who hosted the event, said: “The evening was a great success with lots of positive interaction from attendees. The event was videoed too in order that we can continue to engage effectively with our wider membership who are based across the UK.

“Pitch videos and pitch decks are hosted on our website Pitch Portal and will be available for members and those booking onto the event to view. It was good to welcome three new members and see our membership continuing to thrive and grow.”

The event, at Bournemouth’s Carlton Hotel, also welcomed Mark Kilby from Dorset Business Angels partner Saffery Champness chartered accountants, who gave a brief presentation on the importance of Enterprise Investment Scheme and SEIS Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme.

The next pitch event is on June 20 and places can be booked at dorsetbusinessangels.co.uk/events