Where are the main centres of creative and digital industries in South Yorkshire? Here are just some:

> Barnsley

The Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre (BBIC) provides a unique support environment for innovative technology and knowledge-based businesses. The 70-plus organisations that reside there benefit from a range of support services and financial assistance designed to deliver accelerated growth. Plus, the range of related businesses has given rise to a great networking community that has spawned collaborative ventures and trade partnerships. As part of the BBIC’s portfolio, the highly successful Genesis Project helps carefully selected start-up companies with free office space, technology and guidance.

BBIC is part of the Centre for Digital Specialism in Barnsley which offers high level digital skills development and e-business support, comprising:

BBIC
Fujitsu Siemens Computers Academy at Barnsley College
Priory Campus

Visit > www.digitalbarnsley.co.uk_ to find out more.

Find out about the launch of the Fujitsu Siemens Computers Academy…
> here_

> Doncaster

The £27m Digital Design Precinct (DDP) in Doncaster will build a unique creative environment to encourage collaboration and interaction between businesses, schools, universities, colleges and the community. A Digital Access Gallery will showcase cutting-edge digital design practice, technologies and applications, which will be supported by a Digital Lab, a Digital Knowledge Exchange (for business and education programme interface environments), and an e-Learning Campus and e-Learning Provider.

Find out about the launch of the Apple Centre, part of the Digital Knowledge Exchange Project… > here_

> Rotherham

The Centre of Excellence for New Technologies, CENT@Magna, is the focal point for creative and digital industries in Rotherham, located just off the M1 and providing hi-tech training facilities for IT user skills and specialist networking and wireless needs. CENT offers advanced training support to fill the vital skills gap for IT technicians required in business and public sector service providers across South Yorkshire.

Find out about the launch of the new hi-tech networking and wireless training facilities at CENT… > here_

> Sheffield

The Cultural Industries Quarter (CIQ) in Sheffield is an area covering nearly 2km2 in the heart of Sheffield and has already attracted £100m of investment. It is fast becoming an internationally-renowned base for innovation and design. Of the 300 companies located in the area, over half are in the creative/cultural industries such as film making, music recording, software design, new media and art. The CIQ has fostered a range of internationally renowned events and animation activity such as the lovebytes New Media Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival.

Now a new development will provide even more facilities for digital industries. The flagship e-campus development in the Sheaf Valley will cover 6.5 acres and offer 350,000 sq ft of high quality, flexible accommodation, with leading edge IT and communications infrastructure. The first phase of the project will start in late 2004 including a “hub” building of 60,000 sq ft designed to host digital centres of excellence in e-learning, creative content and design. The development will offer modern IT companies of all sizes the kind of environment needed to thrive and gain competitive edge in the digital economy.