Barnsley has been rebranded as Britain’s first ‘tech town’, with ministers revealing plans to use artificial intelligence to improve local schools, healthcare and businesses as part of the government’s drive to introduce AI across the economy.
The designation was announced by technology secretary Liz Kendall, who said the South Yorkshire town would act as a national testing ground for “how AI can improve everyday life”. The initiative will see US technology groups including Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Adobe assist the council in expanding the use of AI across public services and local economies.
The program will provide free AI and digital skills training to residents, support small and medium-sized businesses to implement AI tools, and pilot new systems in health and education. Plans include testing AI-assisted check-in, triage and outpatient clinics at local hospitals, introducing AI tools into GP services and trialing AI applications in schools and at Barnsley University to improve attainment and reduce teacher burden.
Barnsley was chosen in part because it is already moving faster than many other sectors in the adoption of AI. The council has used AI assistants for adult social care and children’s services, and has deployed garbage trucks equipped with sensors to scan potholes. Logistics company Every, which operates the town’s main logistics hub, is also trialling delivery robot technology.
Sir Stephen Houghton, Labor leader on Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, said the initiative represented the biggest economic opportunity for the region since the decline of coal mining. “Barnsley’s economic base was destroyed 30 years ago,” he says. “The future of the economy is technology, and being at the center of it is a great opportunity.”
The exact financial arrangements with the technology companies remain unclear. Mr Houghton said the council would not pay them directly and some businesses would be expected to donate free of charge. Microsoft is already working with Barnsley College, and Google and Cisco are thought to be providing support free of charge.
Mr Kendall said the lessons learned at Barnsley would help with the wider national rollout. “If AI can help young people learn, help local businesses improve productivity, and improve public services, we can show the whole country what’s possible,” she says.
But the effort comes amid a broader debate about the relationship between governments and big tech companies. Recent criticism has focused on the content of the new national AI training program and the frequency of ministerial meetings with technology executives. The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said hundreds of courses on the AI Skills Hub are free of charge and all courses are assessed based on common quality standards.
Local opposition figures welcomed the investment but warned of public concerns. The council’s Liberal Democrat opposition leader, Hannah Kitching, said there were concerns about the potential downsides of AI, especially among older residents. He added that while new opportunities were welcome, many people wanted the council to focus on basics such as road repair and rubbish collection alongside technical ambitions.
