Barnsley College to lead £400,000 programme helping people build careers with AI
Barnsley College will lead a new programme worth more than £400,000 to help local people develop practical AI skills and prepare for future careers.
Announced by AI Minister Kanishka Narayan today (Tuesday 25 August), the AI Career Launchpad will offer people six months of flexible training linked to a Level 4 apprenticeship, alongside paid placements with local employers.
Students who sign up to complete the training will also receive £10,902.50 over six monthly payments – equivalent to the living wage – to support them in their studies.
The programme is open to students aged 18 and over with a Level 3 qualification and will prepare them for a wide range of roles in areas as diverse as HR, operations, marketing and finance. They will solve real-world problems that Barnsley companies are encountering through the implementation of AI, digital systems, or data-based solutions.
Individuals participating in the AI Career Launchpad will be able to apply their newfound knowledge and help organisations to introduce new tools, improve services and reduce administration, having a tangible impact by using commonplace AI skills from day one.
Participating businesses will gain early access to emerging talent and government-funded placements, while receiving support to explore how AI could improve their services and help them grow.
The curriculum will subsequently be made freely available to colleges and training providers across the country, ensuring Barnsley continues to serve as a model following its announcement as the UK’s first Tech Town in February.
David Akeroyd, Principal and CEO, Barnsley College, said: "The AI Career Launchpad opens up careers that have, until now, been concentrated elsewhere in the country. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of AI whilst undertaking paid placements, so they gain real experience that immediately translates into the workplace.
"Barnsley's Tech Town status has given us the opportunity to look closely at how AI can support our staff, students and wider community, and colleagues across the College have responded with curiosity, invention and a willingness to try things, alongside a clear sense of responsibility.
"Our focus is on using AI well, not simply because it is there. That means helping people recognise where it adds value, without losing sight of the fact that human judgement and critical thinking remain essential. This investment lets us take that approach out of the College and into the wider Barnsley economy, so local people and employers benefit together."
The Launchpad is one of two new schemes announced six months after Barnsley became the UK’s first Tech Town – a national trailblazer for how AI can create opportunities, strengthen local services and support economic growth.
From September, the Getting Job Ready with AI pilot will also help Barnsley jobseekers use AI to identify suitable roles, tailor CVs and cover letters, prepare for interviews and understand how employers are using digital tools. Participants will be referred through Jobcentre Plus.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said: “AI is going to transform the world of work and our job is to make sure working people benefit from that change.
“That starts with helping people understand how AI can be useful day to day – whether that means finding a job, learning new skills or building a career in a growing industry.
“Barnsley is showing what this can look like in practice. As our first Tech Town, it is helping us find ways that can create opportunities for local people and support communities across the country.”
The initiatives build on Barnsley’s Tech Town partnership between government, industry and local organisations, supported by companies including Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Adobe.
Lessons from Barnsley will inform work to equip 10 million UK workers with AI skills by 2030.
Applications for the AI Career Launchpad will open in autumn 2026, with the first group of learners expected to begin in early 2027.
