Sarah Norman
CEO, Barnsley Council
Chief Executive of Barnsley Council since 2019 and previously Chief Executive of Dudley Council between 2015 and 2019.
Responsible for ensuring that Barnsley Council continues to lead the way for digital innovation in the local government sector. Barnsley is at the forefront of harnessing the next stage of technological change. Since September 2023, we have been leading the way with AI in the public sector via our innovative partnership with Microsoft. As one of the first adopters of Copilot, we are using this to transform our services across the organisation.
The development of the digital economy in Barnsley over the past eight years has already put Barnsley on the map for tech and digital ecosystem growth, while also bringing in investment and jobs. Developments include the SEAM Digital Campus, which includes DMC 01 and DMC 02, Barnsley College’s SciTech Digital Innovation Hub and the Furnace incubator program, which is currently in its third cohort of assisting early-stage tech companies. We also have an 'Every Child a Coder' programme in schools, to support the development of essential digital skills in AI and automation from an early age.
I am also the lead Chief Executive for Creative, Culture and Digital for South Yorkshire and alongside this, Barnsley Council hosts and delivers TECH SY, which is funded by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. We're supporting South Yorkshire's ecosystem to attract new tech investment and support those already in the region through an innovative ‘test and learn’ approach. TECH SY is strategically positioned to address the challenges facing the South Yorkshire tech sector and drive sustainable growth and innovation.
Passionate about making a difference in our places, I was delighted to see Barnsley receive the double win and be crowned Council of the Year at both the LGC and MJ Awards in 2023, to reflect in particular our success at transforming our town centre to make Barnsley the Place of Possibilities.
