Welcome

Barnsley’s ambition is clear: to be the place of possibilities.

That vision is about more than regeneration or growth in the narrow sense. It reflects our belief that Barnsley can be a place where people thrive, where opportunity is shared, and where innovation is rooted in public value, strong partnerships, and pride in place. Everything we do as a council is shaped by that ambition and by our commitment to working with our communities, businesses, and partners to make it real.

Over recent years, Barnsley has built genuine momentum. We have transformed our town centre, invested in culture and health, and strengthened neighbourhoods across the borough. Alongside this, we have been laying the foundations for Barnsley’s future economy, recognising the role that digital, data, and innovation will play in creating opportunity for residents and businesses alike.

A key part of that is the Seam Digital Campus and the wider sci-tech and digital innovation activity growing around it. Seam is more than a building; it is a focal point for collaboration between education, industry, government, and communities. It reflects our ambition to develop Barnsley as a place where digital skills are grown, ideas are tested, and innovation is connected directly to real-world challenges. The Digital Innovation Hub builds on this, bringing together partners to support experimentation, learning, and new ways of working.

Within the council itself, we have begun to change how we use data and technology. We are already integrating AI and advanced analytics into our systems and services, not as technology for its own sake, but to improve insight, support earlier intervention, and make better decisions in a challenging financial and operational environment. We are proud to be early adopters where it makes sense, while remaining clear-eyed about ethics, governance, and responsibility.

In the past year, we have also restructured and strengthened our internal teams, investing in new capability across data, analytics, performance, and technology. That means there is real energy and expertise in place, alongside strong partnerships across the organisation and beyond. The Head of Innovation joins at a moment when the foundations are set and the direction is clear, but where there is still space to shape how far and how boldly we go next.

What matters to us is that innovation in Barnsley stays grounded. We value curiosity and ambition, but also integrity, transparency, and trust. We believe innovation works best when it is inclusive, when it helps people solve real problems, and when it strengthens the relationship between the council and the communities it serves.

Barnsley has always been a place that adapts, works together, and looks forward. If this gives you a sense of the energy, ambition, and opportunity here, and you are interested in contributing to the next stage of Barnsley’s journey, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Carly Speechley photo

David Robinson
Service Director - Technology and Innovation 

About the role

Find out about the Head of Innovation role with us and about our Technology and Innovation service. 

 

B2030 banner - with vision.PNG

Our vision and ambition for 2030

The vision for our council is Barnsley - the place of possibilities. By 2030 we want everyone to benefit from, and contribute to, making our borough a thriving place of possibilities.

Everyone has an important role to make our ambitions for the borough possible, including our residents and groups across the private, public, voluntary and community sectors all working together.

Our vision drives our Council Plan, demonstrating our commitment to making it happen. We’re committed to developing skills, talent and creativity among people of all ages, creating exciting prospects and meeting the demands of the future economy. 

Read more about Barnsley 2030.

Our values

At Barnsley Council we live and work by our four values:

  • We're honest
  • We're a team
  • We're excellent
  • We're proud

As part of our team you can be sure we’ll do all we can to support you in being truly excellent, prioritising learning and enabling you to achieve your potential. That’s one of the reasons why you’ll find your career here inspiring and rewarding. Find out more about our culture and values.

Our four values

 

What we offer

Join us and we'll offer you:

  • a competitive salary and generous annual leave
  • flexible and hybrid working arrangements
  • excellent pension scheme and salary sacrifice options (eg cycle to work, home technology)
  • parking permit scheme
  • opportunities for personal and professional growth
  • the chance to make a lasting impact on Barnsley’s communities

Our council is a community, a place where you can grow, where you can make a real difference to people, and contribute to all the great work we do across the borough.