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27 Jun 2025

Maximising Your techUK Membership in Health, Social Care and Life Sciences: Key Insights from Q2 2025

To engage with new members or new joiners across the network, the HSC programme hosts quarterly overview sessions to explain in detail our work and upcoming opportunities.

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Programme Overview

techUK's health and social care programme represents 500 companies across the UK tech sector, delivering 60 events annually and maintaining direct relationships with key stakeholders including government departments, NHS leadership, ICBs/ICSs, and healthcare regulators.

To engage with new members or new joiners across the companies, the HSC programme hosts quarterly overview sessions to explain in detail our work, how to best get engaged, and the channels for collaboration.

Member Engagement Framework

The techUK team explained that the membership is flexible to the needs of each employee and the amount of time they want to dedicate to the membership.

Level 1: Events and Networking

Flagship Events: Industry dinners (300 attendees) and summit (100-150 attendees) featuring high-profile speakers
Regular Programming: Monthly industry briefings, targeted roundtables, stakeholder challenge sessions, and interactive workshops

Level 2: Working Groups

Social Care and Life Sciences working groups (20-30 companies each)

Level 3: Council Participation

Elected positions offering direct policy influence and high-level collaboration

Thomas Webb's Council Member Insights

Thomas Webb, co-founder and CEO of Ethical Healthcare Consulting, shared the key value that motivates him to engage with techUK's work:

Business Credibility: "Access to techUK insights suddenly gave me a lot more credibility... I found myself able to add value to my customers because I got insight on what was going on."

Policy Influence: "People do listen to techUK, I am listened to because I'm part of that stronger voice."

Networking Excellence: Described industry dinners as "the best networking opportunity of the year" where "anyone who's anyone goes there" where interconnected attendees create introduction opportunities across entire rooms.

Direct Access: Webb highlighted receiving insider briefings on NHS app roadmaps, NICE plans, cybersecurity initiatives, and direct involvement in policy letters to government. The programme demonstrates that proactive engagement delivers concrete business and policy benefits, particularly valuable in challenging market conditions.

Additional Membership Benefits

Beyond health-specific programming, members gain access to:

All 21 techUK programme areas
Policy analysis briefings (including industrial strategy insights)
Office space and meeting rooms in London
Hot-desking facilities with significant cost savings
Newsletter communications with event recordings and member thought leadership opportunities

You can watch the recording below

Robert Walker

Head of Health & Social Care, techUK

Robert joined techUK in October 2022, where he is now Programme Manager for Health and Social Care.

Robert previously worked at the Pension Protection Fund, within the policy and public affairs team. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Parliament, advising politicians and industry stakeholders on a wide range of issues, including rural crime and health policies.

Robert has a degree in Politics and International Relations (MA Hons) from the University of Aberdeen, with a particular focus on strategic studies and energy security. Outside of work he enjoys activities such as running, rugby, boxing and cooking!

Email:: [email protected]

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Viola Pastorino

Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK

Viola Pastorino is a policy, governance, and strategic communication specialist.

She joined techUK as the Junior Programme Manager in the Health and Care Team in April 2024.

She has obtained a Bachelor of Sciences in Governance, Economics, and Development from Leiden University, and a Master's programme in Strategic Communications at King's College London. Her academic background, leading up to a dissertation on AI policy influence and hands-on campaign development, is complemented by practical experience in international PR and grassroots project management.

She is skilled in qualitative and quantitative analysis and comfortable communicating findings to varying stakeholders. Above all, she is deeply passionate about the intersection of technology and government, especially how technology and global discourse shape one another, the processes that lead to belief polarisation and radicalisation of communities, and crafting strategic narratives that steer public discourse.

Outside of work she loves reading, live music light operation, and diving.

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Rachel Kennedy

Programme Manager Health and Social Care, techUK

Rachel joined techUK in December 2024, as a Programme Manager in the Health and Social Care team.

Prior to this, Rachel worked at a specialist health and social care public affairs agency, working with a range of organisations and trade bodies across the medical technology, pharmaceutical, digital health and social care sectors. As well as this, Rachel was part of the Secretariat for a number of health and care related All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

Rachel has a Masters in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Leeds, as well as a first-class honours in Politics BA from Newcastle University.

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Francesca Richiusa

Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.

Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.

Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.

Email:: [email protected]
Website:: www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-richiusa/

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Health and Social Care Programme activities

techUK is helping its members navigate the complex space of digital health in the UK to ensure our NHS and social care sector is prepared for the challenges of the future. We help validate new ideas and build impactful strategies, ultimately ensuring that members are market-ready. Visit the programme page here.