UPTECH Editorial Team
UK–Pakistan Tech Forum
Barnsley has been designated the United Kingdom's first official 'Tech Town', launching an ambitious programme to transform the South Yorkshire town into a hub for AI adoption, digital skills, and technology business growth.
Barnsley has been officially designated the United Kingdom's first 'Tech Town'a new government-backed designation that recognises and funds places demonstrating exceptional ambition and commitment to technology-led economic transformation. The designation, awarded by DSIT under the UK Government's levelling-up technology agenda, comes with dedicated funding, national policy support, and a programme of connectivity and digital skills investment designed to position Barnsley as a model for AI and technology adoption outside traditional metropolitan tech centres.
The Tech Town programme in Barnsley will focus on three pillars: broadband and 5G infrastructure reaching 100% coverage across the town's business parks and residential areas, a comprehensive AI readiness programme for local SMEs delivered through the Barnsley Digital Media Centre, and a schools technology programme introducing AI literacy from primary through to further education. The designation also brings preferential access to UKRI innovation funding and to the UK Government's AI adoption advisory service.
Barnsley's designation as a Tech Town carries significance for the UK–Pakistan technology partnership. It demonstrates the UK Government's commitment to distributing technology-led growth beyond London, creating partner opportunities for Pakistani technology companies targeting UK regional markets. UPTECH will explore whether Barnsley's technology programme creates specific openings for Pakistani tech firms and diaspora professionals seeking to establish a UK presence outside London.
