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AI skills training for businesses & teams. In person across the UK & online. 140+ people trained. 2–5 hours saved per week. No prior AI experience needed.

Build Barnsley

Free, hands-on AI skills for people who live in Barnsley. No coding. No experience needed. You leave with something you built yourself.
Register your interestNovember 2026 to September 2027
The Build an App with AI banner at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley

Who it’s for

Two groups, both free.

Women, including mums returning to work

Whether you are working, between jobs, or thinking about what comes after a break. The Mums’ Challenge runs with a free crèche at the in-person weekend.

  • You live in Barnsley
  • No coding or tech experience needed

Young people aged 18–25

In work, in education, or neither right now. You bring an idea or a problem worth solving and we will show you how to build something that answers it.

  • You live in Barnsley
  • No coding or tech experience needed

What’s on

Four ways in, across the year.

Two six-week challenges where you build your own thing, and two weekends where teams build for a local employer. Twenty-five places on each.

Mums’ Challenge

Six weeks

Late January to early March 2027

An in-person kick-off and a showcase at the end, with the build weeks online from home. You build your own thing.

25 places

Youth Challenge

Six weeks

Mid March to late April 2027

The same shape. In-person kick-off, in-person showcase, build weeks online. You build your own thing.

25 places

Youth Buildathon

One weekend

February 2027

Teams build AI tools for real challenges set by local employers. One weekend, start to finish.

25 places

Women’s Buildathon

One weekend

May 2027

The same format, for women across Barnsley. Real challenges from real employers, built in a weekend.

25 places

Built to be accessible

Most people who would get the most out of this are the ones who find it hardest to turn up. So we budgeted for that first.

A free crèche

At the Mums’ Challenge kick-off weekend, so childcare is not the reason you miss the start.

Laptop hire

Borrow one for the whole programme if you do not have a machine you can use.

AI tool credits

We cover the cost of the paid AI tools you will use, so you are not learning on a limited free plan.

A named coordinator

One person who knows your name, that you can contact directly if something gets in the way.

Accessible community venues

In-person sessions run in venues across Barnsley chosen for step-free access and good public transport.

Build weeks online

After the kick-off, the weekly sessions run from home, so travel and childcare only have to work once.

Register your interest

Put your name down.

This is not an application and there is no test. Tell us who you are and what interests you, and we will come back with dates and what happens next.

Prefer to talk than type?

Send us a voice note or ask for a quick chat instead. Email hello@weareignite.ai and we’ll call you back.

So we can text you about dates.

Build Barnsley is funded for people who live in Barnsley.

Which are you interested in? (required)

Choose as many as you like.

Age band (required)
Would any of these help you take part?

Optional. Asking for something here never counts against you.

For employers

Are you a Barnsley employer?

Set a real business challenge for one of our buildathons. A team spends a weekend building an AI tool that answers it, and you see what comes out.

Delivered with

  • Barnsley YMCA
  • Postnatal Minds
  • Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce
Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyBarnsley Tech Town

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of Barnsley Tech Town. How we handle your details. Questions: hello@weareignite.ai