NHS AI Industry Engagement Forum: non-clinical AI use cases – supplier engagement
1.30pm – 2.30pm7 September 2026
Online
techUK, NHS England London and UCLPartners are inviting suppliers to a briefing webinar as the first stage of a structured engagement process ahead of the next NHS AI Industry Engagement Forum. This session will introduce the priority non-clinical AI use cases identified by London's NHS organisations, explain the format of the forthcoming forum, and invite suppliers to register their interest in taking part.
Overview
The NHS AI Industry Engagement Forum is a series convened by NHS England London and UCLPartners to increase awareness of AI solutions available to the NHS, support adoption of AI in operational and corporate functions, and facilitate structured, practical dialogue between NHS organisations and industry. The series has already brought together more than 60 NHS colleagues from acute, mental health, community and primary care settings across London, alongside ICB and transformation leaders, to identify shared priorities for non-clinical AI adoption.
This webinar is the supplier briefing stage that will feed into Forum 3, expected in October 2026, where selected suppliers will be paired with NHS adopter organisations to share solution capabilities, implementation experience and practical lessons learned.
Why it matters
London NHS organisations have identified three priority areas where they are seeking non-clinical AI solutions:
Smart automation: workflow and process automation, administrative burden reduction, document generation, AI assistants and copilots, and automations that improve staff productivity and efficiency.
Performance and reporting: operational reporting, dashboards and insights, predictive analytics, reduction of data quality and reporting burden, and decision support for operational teams.
Booking and scheduling: appointment scheduling and optimisation, waiting list management, capacity management, and patient communication and coordination.
Participants in earlier forums also highlighted several cross-cutting themes likely to shape successful adoption, including governance, ethics and assurance; evaluation, benefits and ROI; workforce adoption and impact; procurement and supplier selection; interoperability and integration; NHS–industry collaboration and co-design; and how to navigate rapidly evolving markets and scale beyond pilots.
What to expect
The webinar will set out the purpose and format of Forum 3, and explain what suppliers will be asked to provide if they wish to be considered, including the relevant use case area(s) their solution addresses, a brief description of the solution, evidence of current NHS deployment, implementation and adoption lessons, and any procurement, governance or integration information relevant to NHS organisations.
Following the webinar, NHS England London and UCLPartners will review expressions of interest to identify suppliers aligned to the priority use cases, strong supplier/NHS case study pairs, and a good spread of coverage across all three priority areas, balancing established NHS implementations with credible future collaboration and co-development opportunities.
It is not a procurement exercise, a supplier selection process, or a sales or marketing event, and participation does not constitute endorsement of any individual supplier by NHS England. Instead, it is a structured, non-promotional opportunity to share practical implementation experience with NHS organisations that are actively exploring adoption in these areas.
Robert Walker
Head of Health & Social Care, techUK
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!
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.
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
Lewis Stewart
Programme Manager ‑ Health and Social Care, techUK
Lewis brings a multidisciplinary background spanning health policy, stakeholder engagement, digital innovation, and elite sport. A former Commonwealth Games champion, he draws on the resilience, adaptability, and team-driven mindset gained through years of high-performance competition.
Before joining techUK, Lewis supported a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, where he led on constituency engagement and produced evidence-based research to inform debates, committee work, and policy advocacy. He has also helped shape youth wellbeing policy through the Youth Sport Trust, collaborating with government, education, and grassroots networks to drive impact.
Lewis has played key roles in health tech and mobility startups, helping to bring innovative solutions to market and improve user experience in complex systems. With a degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology, he combines analytical thinking with a passion for evidence-led, people-centred change.
Junior Programme Manager, Health and Care Team, techUK
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.
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.
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