Science City York has further expanded its support for IT and digital businesses with two key appointments.

Andy Gurnell, a new business promoter, and Oliver Barrett a new IT and digital cluster development officer, join Science City York's highly successful specialist business support team.

Both appointments follow the rapid growth of York's IT and digital sector over the last two years, with employment in the sector increasing more than seven per cent between July 2003 and July 2004. More than 100 companies in greater York now employ more than 2,400 people in the information, communication technology, electronics software and digital industries.

Anna Rooke, manager for Science City York, said that the expansion of the team will accelerate the pace of growth in this important sector, "not only in York but across the whole region."

She said: "The additional investment by Science City York partners and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward represents a significant endorsement of our work in developing York as a leading science city."

Mr Gurnell was a business exploitation manager at the University of York where he was responsible for the commercialisation of research output from university departments.

He brings with him more than 20 years' experience in the IT industry, where he worked in business unit management, technology marketing and engineering management. His role will involve helping new start-ups, emerging and growing businesses in the IT and digital sector and focusing on extending the reach of business support services beyond the City of York into the whole of North Yorkshire, working with Business Link North Yorkshire. In the last year alone Science City York's business support team has helped 19 new businesses to "get off the ground".

Mr Barrett, previously with multinational companies Akzo Nobel and Smith & Nephew, has constantly worked in the IT sector since graduating with a business information systems degree in 2001. He willmanage activities for the "IT and Digital York" cluster.

Updated: 11:43 Wednesday, January 26, 2005