THE leader of a London-based council said it was ‘inspiring’ to see the work Barnsley Council bosses are doing on a recent visit to the town.
Last Tuesday, representatives from Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Imperial College London and Upstream Nexus visited the town.
The council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the London-based local authority and will now work with them to learn more about some of their major projects which will help deliver on key strategies.
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: "It was fantastic to host our colleagues from Hammersmith & Fulham Council in Barnsley.
"They've done great work over many years to position themselves as a leading global innovator for economic growth and provide excellent support for their children and young people.
"There is so much for us to learn from, and it was intriguing to hear how they have gone about these major projects which have made a real difference in their borough.
"Much of what they have done will help to inform some of our plans for projects like the Great Childhoods Ambition and The Seam Digital Campus, and we hope they will be able to take inspiration from what we have done in Barnsley, like Health on the High Street, to apply in their borough.
"We're looking forward to continuing to build this relationship as we move through our innovation journey, learning from each other's successes and failures by sharing best practice, providing learning opportunities for employees and residents and helping one another to drive inclusive growth and innovation in our boroughs."
Councillor Stephen Cowan, leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, added: "It was inspiring to see the transformative work led by Cllr Sir Stephen Houghton CBE and his team - the very epitome of Entrepreneurial Municipal Government.
"The hard application of their imagination, persuasion, and relentless determination is reshaping the economic landscape of Barnsley, offering new and better prospects for their residents.
"From Barnsley's trailblazing Health on the High Street work to their clever plans for the Seam Digital Campus, it was clear why Barnsley has established itself as an investment centre for global businesses in future-shaping, long-cycle industries.
"Barnsley's approach and their Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy aligns with the ethos of other partner high growth innovation centres we work with around the world.
"I'm very grateful to have an 'inclusive growth partnership' between Barnsley Council and Upstream London/Hammersmith & Fulham Council. Together, we will foster new ways to benefit everyone in our communities."
