{"id":74209,"date":"2026-02-03T01:11:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/888873887"},"modified":"2026-02-03T01:11:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T04:11:47","slug":"barnsley-named-uks-first-tech-town-with-microsoft-backing-ai-drive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/03\/barnsley-named-uks-first-tech-town-with-microsoft-backing-ai-drive\/","title":{"rendered":"Barnsley named UK&#8217;s first Tech Town with Microsoft backing AI drive"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_f565d0\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">South Yorkshire town to receive Government support for AI in schools, colleges, businesses and NHS infrastructure<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">04:00, 03 Feb 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"27132606\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\"><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" alt=\"Barnsley Market, Cheapside\" loading=\"eager\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/mlmjbqro95r8.i.optimole.com\/cb:bOxR.6a5\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/i2-prod.examinerlive.co.uk\/article27132606.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Barnsley-Market_150623__11.jpg?ssl=1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageCountLabel_view-images-label__pxKau\" data-testid=\"image-count-label\">\n<div data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Tag_label__s0LCV label--section-color \"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Tag_text__ED20G\">View Image<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Barnsley Market, Cheapside\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Barnsley Market, Cheapside<cite aria-label=\"Image: Dave Himelfield\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Dave Himelfield)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Barnsley has been designated as the UK&#8217;s inaugural Tech Town, which means local schools, colleges, businesses and NHS infrastructures will benefit from Government support to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) opportunities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This will encompass trialling AI tutoring tools in schools, providing free AI and digital training for residents and businesses, and testing AI tools that facilitate quicker hospital check-ins and expedite triage. The announcement comes a week after the Government revealed plans to offer free courses to every adult in the UK, aimed at teaching people how to effectively utilise AI tools in their workplaces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This was followed by the naming of Lanarkshire in Scotland as the latest AI growth zone. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall is set to visit the <a aria-label=\"SouthLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinerlive.co.uk\/all-about\/south-yorkshire\" rel=\"follow\" target=\"_blank\">South<\/a> <a aria-label=\"YorkshireLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinerlive.co.uk\/all-about\/yorkshire\" rel=\"follow\" target=\"_blank\">Yorkshire<\/a> town, accompanied by the UK chief executives of <a aria-label=\"MicrosoftLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinerlive.co.uk\/all-about\/microsoft\" rel=\"follow\" target=\"_blank\">Microsoft<\/a> and Cisco, who have committed to bolstering AI and digital skills in the region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Government stated that insights and feedback from the rollout in <a aria-label=\"BarnsleyLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinerlive.co.uk\/all-about\/barnsley\" rel=\"follow\" target=\"_blank\">Barnsley<\/a> will inform the development of AI opportunities across the UK.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>Get all the latest and breaking South Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by <\/em><\/strong><a aria-label class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.examinerlive.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?view=Solus&amp;mailingListId=191bba2a-3502-48a5-8b8f-bb911d7e86f4&amp;utm_source=solusarticle\" rel=\"follow\" target><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em><u>signing up to our newsletter here.<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ms Kendall expressed: &#8220;I am delighted to have been invited by Barnsley, to work with them to achieve their ambition to become the UK&#8217;s leading tech town.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;If we are going to get AI to work for Britain, we need Britons and British public services that can work with AI.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That is why Barnsley&#8217;s ambitions are crucial, because if we can show that AI helps young people learn, supports local businesses to be more productive, and improves public services, then we can show what&#8217;s possible for the whole country.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;What we learn here will shape how we roll out AI across the UK \u2013 making sure every community sees the benefits.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"BoxStyles_box-container__Qk3WH BoxStyles_commercial__Wo6Z4 undefined\" data-testid=\"commercial-5\" data-position=\"7\">\n<div data-testid=\"commercial-label-mantisCarousel\" class=\"sc-61ba9e82-4 hczaAO commercial-label-style\"><span class=\"sc-61ba9e82-0 bIvGfL\">Article continues below<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Labour leader of Barnsley Council, Sir Stephen Houghton, stated: &#8220;This is one of the most important investments in Barnsley in our history and will help secure our long-term economic future.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">South Yorkshire&#8217;s Labour Mayor Oliver Coppard commented: &#8220;Being recognised as the first Tech Town in the UK both reflects and reinforces that momentum, strengthening South Yorkshire&#8217;s position as one of the most exciting tech communities in the country.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Barnsley residents will be invited to a series of &#8220;Tech Town Halls&#8221; where they will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the programme and contribute to decisions on how AI should be utilised within the community.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; the UK&#039;s inaugural <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> Town, which means local schools &#8230; the latest AI growth zone. <span class=\"match\">Technology<\/span> Secretary Liz Kendall is set &#8230; ;Being recognised as the first <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> Town in the UK both &#8230; one of the most exciting <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> communities in the country.&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74209\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}