A South Yorkshire town has been selected as the testing ground for a nationwide artificial intelligence rollout, with residents set to benefit from free training courses and AI-enhanced public services across healthcare, education and local government.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced Barnsley as Britain’s first government-backed Tech Town on Tuesday, launching an 18-month pilot programme designed to create a blueprint for AI deployment in communities outside London and the South East. The initiative will see artificial intelligence applications trialled across multiple sectors, from hospital check-ins to classroom technology.
According to the government’s plans, the pilot will demonstrate how AI tools can improve everyday life in real-world settings before potential nationwide implementation. Barnsley will test AI systems in NHS facilities, schools and business environments, with outcomes monitored to inform future policy.
Major technology firms including Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe have committed to supporting the scheme through training programmes and digital skills development. Chief executives from Microsoft and Cisco’s UK operations joined Kendall on a visit to Barnsley to observe the town’s digital infrastructure.
Sarah Walker, CEO of Cisco UK and Ireland, noted that AI represented a more transformative development than the internet itself. The Tech Town initiative would demonstrate “how AI can be applied in real places, for real people, to make everyday life and work better,” she stated.
Under the programme, Barnsley Hospital will implement AI tools aimed at reducing patient waiting times through quicker check-ins and faster triage systems, allowing NHS staff to dedicate more time to direct patient care. Educational institutions including schools and Barnsley College will trial AI and educational technology designed to improve pupil outcomes whilst reducing teacher workload.
Residents across all age groups will gain access to free courses in AI and digital technologies through Barnsley College and the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology. The training aims to help people boost existing careers, retrain for new sectors or develop additional skills in growing tech industries.
The Seam Digital Campus, currently housing 33 digital businesses, will expand to provide practical support for small firms adopting new technologies. The facility will form part of a planned National Centre for Digital Technologies, creating employment opportunities in the digital sector.
Infrastructure upgrades will include improved technology deployment in public buildings, enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity and strengthened cybersecurity measures to build public confidence in digital services.
Council Leader Sir Stephen Houghton described the Tech Town designation as “one of the most important investments in Barnsley in our history” that would secure the area’s long-term economic prospects. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard credited Houghton and Barnsley Council for establishing “a thriving digital ecosystem” including digital business clusters and advanced training facilities.
Government AI Ambassador Simon Johnson, who received the 2024 Nobel Prize for Economics, emphasised the initiative’s focus on ordinary citizens. Barnsley could “guide us to an AI-powered future that puts people and their families first, and that builds stronger communities,” he stated.
Local organisations including Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Barnsley CVS will partner in delivering the programme. The government will host “Tech Town Halls” where residents can contribute input on AI deployment and provide feedback on implementations.
The announcement follows a series of government AI initiatives launched last week, including free AI training for all workers as part of plans to upskill 10 million people across the UK, designation of Lanarkshire as an AI Growth Zone, and £36 million investment in an AI Research Resource supercomputer in Cambridge.
Barnsley already operates emerging technologies, with the council recently deploying Microsoft Copilot to assist social care teams with administrative tasks and delivery company EVRi trialling robot delivery systems in the area. Schools in Barnsley are being considered for summer trials of AI-powered tutoring tools announced last month, intended to support up to 450,000 disadvantaged children.
The £15 million Barnsley campus of South Yorkshire Institute of Technology provides advanced learning environments equipped with industry-standard technology. Implementation of Tech Town initiatives will proceed over coming months with regular community consultation sessions scheduled throughout the pilot period.
