Published: March 26, 2026 at 2:31 pm
The Government says people in Barnsley are set to benefit from shorter hospital waiting lists and fewer missed appointments under a new pilot scheme being trialled in the UK’s first ‘Tech Town’.
Residents and local firms will also have the chance to gain AI skills thanks to a new Government fund.
The two pilots will demonstrate how AI can support both local workers and frontline services, building a blueprint that can be used by communities across the country, the Government added.
As part of this, local SMEs in key industries like manufacturing – as well as residents who may not typically have the confidence or resources to use AI – could receive targeted training through a new £800,000 AI Upskilling Challenge Fund.