YORK is to host its first major dedicated digital conference as two entrepreneurs launch DotYork.

The one-day event has been dubbed “a digital conference for curious minds” and will be held at City Screen York, on May 1.

Founded by two digital creatives living and working in York, the conference is designed to promote the city as a centre for digital business.

Rick Chadwick, who co-founded DotYork with Jonic Linley, said: “York is well known for its history, but it’s not exactly known for its digital industry.

“We set up DotYork to try to change that. The conference is just the start of what we have planned.”

Mr Linley added: “Hand-picked for their relevance to the day’s theme, attendees will be enjoying the company of some of the best speakers in the industry.

“We’re extremely grateful to these wonderful people for donating their time and experience, and we know everyone is in safe hands with them.”

The line-up of speakers includes web designer Laura Kalbag; creative director at Offroadcode James Young; Craig Lockwood, who recently opened FoundersHub and was responsible for last year Handheld Conference; designer, writer, podcaster and speaker Rachel Shillcock; Ashley Baxter, who is a web app building director at Brokers Direct, and Harry Roberts, a consultant front-end architect and previously a senior developer at BSkyB.

The DotYork conference is being supported by York’s web hosting company, Bytemark Hosting, which last year opened its own £1.2 million data hosting centre at York Business Park.

Rajesh Joshi, head of external communications for Bytemark Hosting said: “DotYork promises to be a landmark digital conference that will help recognise York as a place for digital firms like ours to thrive.”

York’s digital industry is supported annually at wider digital, technology and creative events including Venturefest, which celebrates innovation at the one day science and technology conference, which is being held on Thursday.

The city also plays host to its annual digital technology conference shift happens, which is aimed mostly at professionals working in the arts and cultural industries, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for the arts, technology, education and heritage sectors.

To find out more about DotYork or to book tickets visit www.dotyork.com