Barnsley has been selected as the UK’s first government-backed tech town, becoming the flagship of the government’s drive to harness AI to improve public services, increase productivity and widen access to digital skills.
The announcement, made by Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on Tuesday, commits central government to work closely with Barnsley over the next 18 months to embed AI in education, health, local government and business support.
The ministers said the Tech Town model is intended to serve as a national blueprint, demonstrating how AI can be deployed at a local level to bring tangible benefits to residents, while supporting communities that have traditionally missed the wave of economic change.
Utilizing AI for public services
Under the plan, Barnsley will pilot the use of AI in frontline services such as health, education and social care. The town will partner with Barnsley Hospital to test AI tools designed to speed up patient check-in, support triage and improve outpatient care, with the aim of reducing waiting times and freeing up clinical staff.
Schools and further education will be piloting AI and education technology tools to better understand their impact on student outcomes, inclusion and teacher workload. Barnsley University will play a central role in these trials, helping to shape the evidence on how AI can be used safely and effectively in learning environments.
The Government says insights from these initiatives will inform the wider national rollout, ensuring lessons learned locally can be scaled up across the UK.
Free training and support for local workers
Skills are at the heart of the Tech Town initiative. Free AI and digital training will be provided to residents through partnerships with Barnsley University and South Yorkshire Institute of Technology. Courses range from introductory digital skills to more advanced training designed to help people retrain, progress or access new career opportunities.
The move is in line with the government’s wider commitment to upskill 10 million UK workers in AI and digital skills, announced earlier this year.
Ministers argue that for AI adoption to deliver inclusive growth, it is essential to build regional capacity, rather than concentrating benefits in a few technology hubs.
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Support for enterprise adoption of AI is provided through the expansion of The Seam Digital Campus, which currently hosts over 30 digital companies. The campus will evolve into an AI-focused hub, with a planned National Center for Digital Technology at its core.
Small and growing businesses will receive practical support to experiment with AI tools, improve productivity and scale up, with the aim of creating high-quality local jobs and strengthening Barnsley’s digital economy.
Local partners such as Barnsley Chamber of Commerce and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce are expected to play a key role in connecting businesses with training, investment and expertise.
“A blueprint for the rest of Britain”
The initiative has gained support from major technology companies, with Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe all pledging support for skills development and access to AI tools.
Executives from Microsoft and Cisco also joined Mr Kendall on a visit to Barnsley to see the town’s digital ambitions and highlight the Government’s use of its convening powers to attract private sector partners.
Adobe said its involvement will focus on bringing AI-powered creative tools, educational programs and industry-aligned training to the town, building a pipeline of future-ready talent.
Mr Kendall said Mr Barnsley’s ambitions made it an ideal test case. “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 said.
Barnsley City Council leader Sir Stephen Houghton said the program was one of the most significant investments in the town’s history, while South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said the designation reflected the strength of the region’s growing digital ecosystem.
