Healthcare tech start-up Florence is expanding into France following the success of its UK business.

The announcement comes after Florence announced a Series B funding round totalling $35 million (£28.5 million) to invest in product expansion in the UK and international markets.

Benjamin Huguet, who has extensive experience in tech-based startups, has been appointed as country manager for the operations which will initially focus on four key areas: sales, operations, marketing and technology.

Huguet said: “The healthcare system is vastly under supported which is why it is our mission to ensure health and social care workers have not just access to shifts, but are well-equipped to deliver their best performance. Florence has revolutionised the healthcare industry with its goal of fixing the broken staffing model for good. We need this in France more now than ever before. It’s a privilege to spearhead operations in France, as the company expands across Europe.”

Florence is an app that connects nurses and care professionals with open shifts, cutting out the need for agency middlemen so shifts are filled directly. The tech platform also provides care organisations with rota and e-learning tools to make workforce management easier. 

The healthcare start-up aims to fill 2,500 shifts a month before the end of 2023, working with over 150 care providers and more than 500 nurses. 

Dr Charles Armitage, former NHS doctor, CEO and founder of Florence, added: “This is a really exciting step for Florence. We now serve more than a quarter of the social care sector in the UK and operate across 99% of the country. Florence has over 90,000 healthcare workers and 2,000 organisations on the platform and we are hoping to replicate this success in France. France’s care service sector is structured in a similar way to the UK, making our offering very transferable and giving us the ability to create a world-class experience for both care workers and organisations.”