Steve Wragg is joining the initiative to build a facility for storing and hosting data and providing access to software applications over the internet as its technical director.

Meanwhile, Tony Haley becomes the project's sales director.

Steve Wragg has many years of IT experience at a senior operational level and is currently head of Business Link South Yorkshire's Information and Communications Technology and E-business operations.

Tony has been working with The Wired Workplace for the past year and is expanding his sales remit to include the Data Centre.

"I believe that hosted IT services are the thing of the future and it is vital that businesses in the region have access to high-calibre facilities," said Mr Wragg.

"The South Yorkshire Data Centre will make a significant contribution to the success of the region and I am looking forward to helping to make that happen.

"At the same time, the Wired Workplace is on the verge of becoming a significant business in the area and is something I want to be part of."

Wired Workplace managing director Bob Cushing said: "The Data Centre project is gathering momentum and I'm delighted to have Steve and Tony on board. The new facility will support the growth of the region's businesses as well as help to take the Wired Workplace to further success."

The Wired Workplace was set up in 1998 to provide high-speed data and internet services to creative and digital businesses in city centre business centres.

It now supplies more than 400 businesses in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire with broadband, internet access, telephone and data networking services.

The company also offers web hosting, security, backup and disaster recovery services and is Sheffield Chamber of Commerce's preferred IT and telecoms supplier.