02 Mar 2023

techUK in the Metaverse |The Future of workplace collaboration?

techUK is in the metaverse! As part of techUK's Making the Metaverse campaign, techUK's Laura Foster, Head of tech and Innovation was delighted to join Neesa Mangalaparathy, Programme Delivery Lead for XR and ADC, NHS England, and Chris Yiu, Director of Public Policy for Northern Europe, Meta to test out the technology that has the potential to revolutionise the workforce.

The development of the metaverse for the workforce of the future is set against the backdrop of a increasingly complex workforce with changing needs. Trends towards more flexible working models and remote work were accelerated by the pandemic, revealing benefits for productivity and wider inclusion in the UK labour force.

So too are the solutions available for businesses to interact, evolve and problem solve, from teaching surgery in VR, creating virtual offices, to digital twins for product design. Tech businesses are looking for ways to make work experiences more interactive, efficient, and inclusive.

However, whilst the metaverse is often viewed as new and exciting, the technologies that people may associate with the metaverse, and indeed the technologies that will underpin the metaverse, have been used in the workforce for a long time. As such, this recording explored how the technologies of today - the precursers to an interoperable and immersive metaverse - are being used today. The panel questioned whether it was appropriate to brand this iteration of workforce technologies of the metaverse, before exploring broader questions around accesibility, inclusion and pricing.

You can watch the recording here

In the meantime, why not check out techUK's miniseries on the technologies underpinning the metaverse?

Digestible webinars for on-the-go or listening at home: this series will help give the wider tech sector insight as to why – and how – the metaverse ecosystem has developed in the UK, and what this may mean for this businesses in years to come.

Watch here

 

Unleash UK innovation

Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK's potential to become a global leader in tech and innovation. You can find out more and get involved via techUK's Innovation Hub

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Ella Shuter

Ella Shuter

Junior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies, techUK

Ella joined techUK in July 2025 as Junior Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies.

In her role, Ella supports the design and delivery of four to six-month sprint campaigns. These identify emerging technologies of interest to members and Government, share industry best practice, champion relevant sectors and industries across the UK, and work through key challenges and opportunities to drive the development, application and commercialisation of these technologies.

Before joining techUK, Ella completed an internship at Digital Catapult, supporting across public affairs, policy and the organisation's programmes. She also has experience working in an MP's Parliamentary and Constituency Office.

Ella holds a BSc in Politics and International Relations from the University of Bristol.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-shuter-264158244/

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Rory Daniels

Rory Daniels

Head of Emerging Technology and Innovation, techUK

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the UK Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's five-strong Emerging Technology and Innovation team, working with many of the UK's most innovative tech companies to convene experts and decision-makers, showcase best practice, shape government's thinking, and ensure the UK leads on developing and deploying transformative technologies.

The team's main areas of focus are AI Innovation, Quantum, Semiconductors, Robotics, Photonics, Neuromorphic, Innovation Policy, and Technology Convergence.

Rory sits on DSIT's expert Robotics Advisory Group, hosts techUK's Meet the Innovators video interview series, and chairs techUK's Emerging Tech Leadership Committee, comprising 36 senior leaders from the UK's most exciting tech companies. He has also judged the Global Space Awards, hosted London Tech Week's Deep Tech Stage, completed Stanford University's Tech & Entrepreneurship residency, and given oral evidence in a House of Lords Select Committee.

In his spare time, Rory enjoys photography, reading non-fiction (tech, architecture, design & geopolitics), and searching for London's best burger.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

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Elis Thomas

Elis Thomas

Programme Manager, Tech and Innovation, techUK

Elis joined techUK in December 2023 as a Programme Manager for Tech and Innovation, focusing on Semiconductors and Digital ID.

He previously worked at an advocacy group for tech startups, with a regional focus on Wales. This involved policy research on innovation, skills and access to finance.

Elis has a Degree in History, and a Masters in Politics and International Relations from the University of Winchester, with a focus on the digitalisation and gamification of armed conflicts.

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elis-thomas-49a1aa1a1/

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