'Sheffield drove Industrial Revolution - not it can lead Digital Industrial Revolution' - Reader's letter
Rob Reiss - Lib Dem Councillor for East Ecclesfield - on building out Sheffield’s Digital Industrial Revolution
There is growing and understandable concern about how much influence US and Chinese tech companies now have over parts of the British state.
In recent years, we’ve seen AI‑generated images used in scams and disinformation. We’ve seen reports of Chinese technology linked to forced labour entering our energy systems. And we’ve seen foreign tech billionaires supporting right‑wing politicians in the UK, including through cryptocurrency donations to Reform Party leaders that may be linked to money laundering.
This global issue became a local one when Sheffield Council backed a motion calling for a ban on Palantir handling any data belonging to people in our city. Palantir was founded by Peter Thiel, a close associate of Elon Musk and JD Vance.
The case for blocking Palantir is clear. But the response we often hear is that the NHS data system is outdated and extremely complex, and if Palantir can’t run it, who should?
This is where Sheffield should step forward. Our city helped drive the original Industrial Revolution, and it can help lead Britain’s response to the Digital Industrial Revolution.
Sheffield’s economic data is not encouraging, as the latest report to the Economic Committee shows. We need a clear target, and we need to head towards it as fast as possible.
We already have strong foundations: two excellent universities that need support, a location at the crossroads of the country, many underused office buildings ready for redevelopment, and the Peak District close by for when people need a break from the screens.
We also have early signs of success. The AMRC in Catcliffe is leading in advanced manufacturing. Twinkl is thriving in education technology. OLO and Rivelin Robotics are pushing forward in autonomous design and engineering. These are promising beginnings, but they need investment and care.
So when people ask who should take on the NHS data challenge if Palantir is rightly blocked, I want the answer to be a company based in Sheffield. We have been repeatedly identified as a fast growing tech centre due to lost office costs and cost of living compared to other cities. When combined with some of the highest rates of young people not in employment, education or training in Yorkshire most would see reasons to worry. It worries me too if it is treated as a problem rather than an opportunity, but an opportunity it is.
It allows us to be a Start-up Sandbox, employing people in the industries of the future.