Agenda item

To consider a report of the Executive Director Core Services and the Executive Director Place in respect of Barnsley being Digital as a place (Item 5 attached).

The following witnesses were welcomed to the meeting:

David Shepherd, Service Director, Economic Regeneration, Place Directorate

Paul Clifford, Head of Service, Economic Development, Place Directorate

Tracey Johnson, Business Incubation Strategy Centre Manager, Place Directorate

Tom Smith, Head of Employment & Skills, Place Directorate

Dave Robinson, Service Director, Customer Information & Digital Services

The Head of Service  for Economic Development introduced the report, providing Members with an overview of Barnsley as a ‘digital place’, describing the local picture in relation to business; infrastructure; partnership working and the digital skills of people. 

The focus of work has been with local universities rather than national and a relationship has been developed with Sheffield Hallam University, creating a digital skills pathway to protect local talent and create good quality local jobs.  It was highlighted that Degree Apprenticeships are an opportunity to work with businesses.

The digital journey needs to start as young as possible and local primary schools have a part to play in this.  The Digital Media Campus (DMC) have an open door approach and have already built relationships with the Employment and Skills Team.    Workshops have been held with young people in terms of problem solving and how best to support them.

In secondary schools, digital is embedded into the whole curriculum and is not uniformly taught as a discrete subject but as a transferable skill.  There is a need for careers advice, raising aspirations amongst young people in terms of digital skills being essential and bringing with it opportunities to specialise within the digital sector. 

It was highlighted that DMC2 will play a key role in providing grow-on space for existing businesses in DMC1 and also attracting new digital businesses, in collaboration with digital neighbours.  DMC2 is currently going through a rebrand to attract tenants and get buy-in.  Prices for DMC2 have just been agreed and a bold marketing campaign will be scaled up over the next 3 to 4 months to bring the right businesses in to Barnsley.

Barnsley has to work harder to attract businesses, keep momentum going and stay at the forefront of the digital agenda without a university, which other areas have.  However, Barnsley has a lot to learn from Europe and good practice there, staying ahead of the curve and making it relevant for Barnsley and has succeeded in bringing corporate investment in from overseas partners and building infrastructure from the ground up.  The Rotherham manufacturing parks provide a further opportunity for partnership working with AMRC and benefits for all.

It was acknowledged that although digital jobs in Barnsley are now growing and account for 2.1% of all employee jobs, this is behind the regional (3.5%) and national (4.8%) digital employee levels.  To get to the national average as a minimum standard is challenging.  The Sheffield City Region (SCR) is lagging behind and needs to be ambitious and generate as many jobs and businesses as possible.  Jobs created won’t just be digital, but will be cross industry, including the public sector, voluntary and health sector. 

The impact of Brexit is not yet known.  There are a small number of companies in the IT sector who contract at European level and have taken offices outside the UK. The long term agenda needs to be around ‘growing our own’ at regional and national level to minimise any risk.  Barnsley has a good reputation, is forward thinking at UK level and is still engaged at EU level.  Much can be learned from smaller European cities and they give an umbrella view of what smaller places can do, what works and what doesn’t work.  Over £2m of investment has come from SCR, with a direct link to work done in collaboration with Europe and which has generated investment. 

Embryonic work is currently underway on building an inclusive knowledge economy, working with partners in London and learning from London Boroughs, linked to the Barnsley 2030.  This will include building a base of digital jobs in the voluntary sector.

Barnsley needs to be more creative and aspirational going forward, exploring  opportunities in how we work and what we do using an agile approach with constant horizon scanning and modifying with people who understand the landscape.  Work is underway to secure a number of projects to make sure the business support offer is shored up though a number of different streams. 

SCR is currently reviewing its strategic economic plan, with a dedicated digital field in there, which Barnsley is able to influence.  The South Yorkshire Digital Strategy has just been adopted and all partners are behind the digital agenda.  It was reiterated that it is not just about new businesses but also about drawing down funding to support existing and smaller businesses.

DMC2 will deliver the biggest impact for the smallest investment and will be on stream in June, with an expansion pack for existing businesses.  There is a need to work with commercial bodies on the digital infrastructure which is lacking in terms of fibre and future 5G provision. 

There are barriers which may prevent Barnsley residents from engaging with the digital skills pathway.  Some may be reluctant and may not have access to equipment at home, therefore it is essential to work with education providers such as Barnsley Council’s Adult and Community Learning Service, Barnsley College, Northern College and others to offer free, basic digital skills training.  Barnsley College are drawing down SCR money to redevelop the SciTech building and offer digital skills training.

Members were aware of a training programme commissioned by Dearne Area Council to get people back into work, but felt that this should also be followed up by Maths and English.  Central Area Council is also looking at employability and skills with a view to commissioning a service.  It was felt that all area councils need to think about gaps and needs in learning and skills and how to connect to local businesses.

Members are of the view that there will always be a core group of people who do not have any digital skills and this limits their employability and thus their quality of life.  There are also isolated elderly people who would be unable to access services digitally.  Work is ongoing with providers in Barnsley around increasing engagement and it is still possible to access European Social Fund money for the next 2 years for digitally excluded groups.   

The Library at the Lightbox is a welcoming setting for digital learning but there are areas in Barnsley which do not have a library or suitable resources and infrastructure to offer digital learning.  Communities need to be part of the conversation and come together to identify need and how it can be met, looking at other buildings and being creative in getting provision into areas that need it most.   

There is no doubt that the digital agenda is contributing to the success of the Glassworks and business regeneration in many ways.  Barnsley Market is embracing the ‘shop appy’ mobile phone app and ‘click and collect’, the library is very citizen centric and the wider development of the digital campus will help to unlock further potential for retail and leisure.

RESOLVED that witnesses be thanked for their attendance and contribution.