A new company has been launched to promote and support South Yorkshire’s thriving creative and digital industries cluster.

Backed by funding fromYorkshire Forward and Objective 1, Digital South Yorkshire (d-SY) a not for profit company, will promote the growth of the Creative and Digital Industries (CDI) cluster in the region by providing an industry-led steer for funding initiatives and fostering collaboration.

South Yorkshire’s existing strengths in the creative and digital industries such as digital arts and entertainment, e-business and e-learning, will be used to promote the region in the UK and abroad in a bid to attract new business to the area, making it a centre of excellence for innovation and creating jobs.

David Kay, Chairman of the new company, said: “Digital South Yorkshire is about highlighting the existing success of our creative and digital industries to promote growth. We already have industry leaders in the region – we need to make sure that we build on that world-class capability by promoting the sector effectively both nationally and internationally.”

The company will encourage networking between South Yorkshire’s CDI cluster and other areas both nationally and abroad. The aim is to increase competition and spread the knowledge, expertise and creativity that has established some of South Yorkshire’s CDI companies as world leaders. The ultimate goal is to increase South Yorkshire’s existing reputation as an innovative and entrepreneurial location for CDI businesses to set up and flourish.

Already d-SY has held a number of specialist networking seminars in the region to encourage interaction between organisations and the company hopes to attract key events and conferences to South Yorkshire to boost the region’s profile.

Made up of successful CDI businesses, Digital South Yorkshire’s board is elected annually. Current board members include David Kay of FD Learning, Chris King of Fluent Europe, Chris Bailey of OCF, Martin Manning of the CIQ agency, Yvonne O’Donovan of Inspiral, Colin Smythe of Dunelm Services.

Jim Farmery of Yorkshire Forward, said: “South Yorkshire’s CDI cluster is already established and there is a lot of exciting work going on in the region. What we really need to do now is shout about it and nurture it so the cluster grows. I am delighted we have been able to support Digital South Yorkshire and I wish the company every success for the future.”