Yorkshire Counties
Seam Phase 1
Seam Phase 1
Seam Phase 2
Driving digital advances
We recently launched our new Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy, which laid out three key missions to strengthen our foundations in local business and attract new investment and growth opportunities:
• • •
Establishing Barnsley as the UK’s leading digital town Future-proofing logistics and manufacturing Empowering Barnsley’s communities to thrive
At the heart of our future economy and the desire to be the UK’s leading digital town is The Seam Digital Campus, an allocated ‘Opportunity Site’ as part of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone and a catalyst for Barnsley’s future.
It already hosts two Digital Media Centres and Barnsley College’s Sci-Tech Innovation Centre, innovation and collaboration hubs which have attracted a diverse range of tech enterprises.
Recent plans have been revealed to transform The Seam by providing high-quality public realm, including three stunning sculptures called the Yorkshire Roses, a bold and striking new landmark in a unique urban environment.
Subject to planning, our phase two work will look to develop a third Digital Media Centre, include a high-end hotel and create a National Centre for Digital Technologies. It’s an excellent opportunity for inward investment and will make Barnsley a destination for digital businesses as a forward-thinking hub for creative innovation.
We’ll be at UKREiiF in Leeds this May exploring some of the projects we’ve mentioned in more detail.
Focusing on the future
Recognising the importance that young people play as tomorrow’s society, we want to create an environment that fosters their talents, ambitions, and dreams as part of our ‘Great Childhoods Ambition’.
52 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2025
Work is ongoing on several projects thanks to £10.2m of Government funding which is helping to create a facility known as the NAVE (Northern Academy of Vocal Excellence). It will be the permanent home of the Barnsley Youth Choir, who are ranked fifth in the Interkultur World Rankings and the highest ranked from Great Britain, and a centre for young people and music. We’re also using the money to future-proof our YMCA building as well as building a Youth Zone and Youth Activity Park which will be safe, inclusive, welcoming and dynamic spaces where young people can come together to enjoy recreational activities, sports, and events, fostering a sense of com- munity and belonging.
In putting our children and young people at the heart of everything we do, we’re providing a great foundation where they can connect with good education and career pathways to thrive, grow, and pre- pare for future employment opportunities.
Jobs
Our labour market has low levels of unemployment. It’s much below regional and national averages at 2.9%. However, our employment rate is also 5% lower than the England average and residents in Barnsley are one fifth more likely to be out of work than residents elsewhere in the country.
There’s enormous growth potential here, and that’s why we have ambitious plans to support more people, and future generations to access quality jobs. Last year we led on the trailblazing Pathways to Work commission, a pioneering approach to tackling economic inac- tivity which will pave the way for inclusive access to work in Barnsley.
Government funding has since been approved for a pilot programme which will launch later this year focused on improving the support available to people who are economically inactive due to ill health, helping them return to work.
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