Barnsley has officially been named the UK’s first government-backed Tech Town. This is the first town of its kind to support the use of artificial intelligence to improve public services, boost skills and create new economic opportunities
The announcement of this new Tech Town sets Barnsley as a national trailblazer, with lessons learned expected to shape how AI is rolled out across communities nationwide.
The new Tech Town brings together local schools and colleges, businesses, the NHS, and voluntary organisations, all supported by the central government and leading global technology firms.
Using AI in everyday life
As a Tech Town, Barnsley will see AI used across key services, from education and healthcare to business support and public infrastructure. In healthcare, AI tools will be trialled at Barnsley Hospital to improve patient check-ins, speed up triage and streamline outpatient care, helping NHS staff focus on frontline work.
In education, schools and Barnsley College will test AI and education technology tools designed to support learning, improve inclusion and reduce teacher workload. These trials will also help build stronger evidence on how technology can improve pupil outcomes.
Growing skills, business and jobs
A major focus of the Tech Town programme is skills and retraining. Free AI and digital training will be offered to residents through Barnsley College and the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology, giving people the chance to retrain, upskill or explore new career paths.
Local businesses will receive hands-on support to adopt AI through the expansion of The Seam Digital Campus. Already home to dozens of digital firms, The Seam is set to evolve into a dedicated AI Campus, linked to a new National Centre for Digital Technologies. The aim is to help small and growing businesses scale up, boost productivity and create good local jobs.
Alongside skills and services, the programme will focus on building the right digital foundations. This includes better use of technology in public buildings, improved connectivity and Wi-Fi, and stronger cybersecurity so residents and businesses can access digital services with confidence.
Major technology companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe, and Google, are supporting Tech Town, promising to help people of all ages build skills for the jobs of the future. Local organisations such as the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Barnsley CVS will also play a key role.
A blueprint for the rest of the UK
UK government AI Ambassador, and 2024 Nobel Prize Winner for Economics, Simon Johnson said:
“AI is changing everything, and the opportunities are massive. We have to make sure that everyone, wherever they live and whatever their background, gets to feel the benefits. But that will only happen with ordinary people in the driving seat.
“That’s why what’s happening in Barnsley is going to be critical, to the whole country’s AI aspirations.”
“By putting this technology into the hands of local people, working to improve their town, Barnsley can guide us to an AI-powered future that puts people and their families first, and that builds stronger communities.”
Barnsley’s official becoming the first Tech Town is part of the UK Government’s action to unlock the potential of AI across the UK. This includes free training for millions of workers, new AI Grown Zones and major investments in national research infrastructure.
