The UK faces urgent challenges in achieving net zero by 2050, requiring two million skilled workers across green industrial sectors, but faces barriers from a shortage of qualified trainers and scalable skills delivery systems in next-generation industries like hydrogen.The AR EdTech for Hydrogen project addresses these obstacles by creating an accessible, scalable training platform that builds hydrogen and clean energy skills while leveraging GM's strengths in immersive technologies, AI, and AR/VR. Initially funded by DSIT, the project developed Verciti (formerly uSkill360), an immersive EdTech platform focused on delivering hydrogen-specific Level 2-3 skills training through simulation-based learning for hydrogen-related technician and operator roles in production, storage, and safety require practical, industry-responsive training that traditional classroom methods cannot adequately address. The platform delivers interactive AR/VR modules that reduce barriers for learners of all backgrounds, while AI enhances personalisation and engagement. The project was initially aligned to the Trafford Green Hydrogen Hub (TGHH), a planned 200MW electrolytic hydrogen facility in GM. However, delays in government approvals for TGHH, led to a repivot toward immediate opportunities in more advanced hydrogen ecosystems. Namely, Teesside (producing 50% of the UK's hydrogen) and South Africa, where multi-billion-pound green hydrogen projects are underway. The key activities to be delivered as part of this 12 month extension include:- • Greater collaborations with other GM Innovation Accelerator ecosystem, in particular GM Electrochemical Cluster, Centre for Digital Innovation, Media City Immersive Technologies Innovation Hub, and the Turing Innovation Catalyst. • Further deployment Training The Trainer: to grow talent pool of Level 2 to 7 skills trainers and stimulate wider college, training provider awareness, partnerships and licence purchases. This includes GM Colleges Group. • Development of in-house capability and capacity to generate new IP, product development, CRD partnerships and long-term sustainability through recruitment of 2 x additional full-time technical roles. • Technology Strategy Road mapping with industry partners to identify additional & future workforce and supply chain development needs, investment priorities, CRD opportunities that increase the capacity of the GM innovation ecosystem • Creation of a Strategy Board to oversee governance, commercialisation, and investment strategy. This board will focus on securing secure £10 million in private investment by 2026, funding continued R&D, market expansion, and new product iterations. • Market visits to South Africa and Teesside, in partnership with Green Economy and the Department for Business and Trade, to unlock markets, preparing up to 10 GM SMEs for high-value contract opportunities.

The UK is drastically short of the skills needed to become net zero by 2050\. To get there we'll need to train up a workforce of 2 million. However, there's a shortage of college lecturers, and trainers who can teach industry compatible green skills, which is resulting in supply chain vulnerabilities. **uSkill360** is a disruptive Edtech platform to scale up volume delivery of net zero skills training using simulation-based AR, VR, AI and gamification solutions to deliver 'hands on' industry relevant job-ready skills at the point of need, to ensure the UK can meet its legally binding commitment to cut 68% of emission by 2030\. Offering online certification aligned to international awarding standards, uSkill360 will cut training costs, reduce staff time away from the workplace to attend training, and ensure employers have the ready pool of skilled workers. Seamlessly bridging the digital and physical world, this immersive training hub will revolutionise the way that Level 2 -- 7 skills training is delivered, using simulation-based learning to break down barriers, allowing people of all ages, races and abilities to learn future skills anytime, anyplace, ensuring that as the economy transitions to net zero people's livelihoods and well-being will be enhanced. The platform will initially focus on developing hydrogen skills training content for the manufacturing, construction, transport and energy sectors. uSkill360 will collaborate with Greater Manchester Electrochemical Innovation Accelerator's network of leading academic expertise, and industry partners to develop fit for purpose technical training to speed up mass adoption of highly efficient hydrogen technologies. The project will leverage the world class research strengths that Greater Manchester has in Sustainable Advance Materials, Artificial Intelligence, Data and Advanced Computing to improve productivity growth across the conurbation and forge a fairer more equitable economy to ensure a just transition. Universally available, uSkill360 will overcome proximity and capacity constraints of brick-and-mortar classrooms, improving relevance and quality of content. The project is a good strategic fit with Greater Manchester Strategy to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous city region. The strength in our application is the leveraging of the existing relationship between TBP, WMG and Fuzzy Logic, delivery partners for the DfE funded, Emerging Skills Project (ESP), as well as WMG's position within the HVM Catapult to bootstrap the development of the project. The outputs of this two-year project will include a well validated platform, exploitation plan and investment raise.

The project will create an accessible and innovative augmented reality (AR) app which uses gamification to train people in real world generative design and ​engineering through the building of virtual electric go karts to grow the diverse talent pipeline for the Power Electronics Machines & Drives (PEMD) sectors. Targeted at underrepresented youth, the app will extend the national reach and engagement of The Blair Project's ProtoEV STEM Challenge where schools, youth clubs and college teams (age 13-19) transform used petrol go karts into fully electric ekarts which they test and race to see which is the fastest and most energy efficient. Students gain hands on skills related to computer aided manufacturing, design for assembly, power electronics, electric motor, drives and battery technologies aligned to the needs of the PEMD manufacturing and supply chains sector. The AR app will enable diverse talent of all ages and abilities to disassemble and assemble virtual go karts, make pre-determined modifications, interact with components and receive audio-visual cues so they can learn at their own pace. This immersive learning app seeks to change the way young people learn about the PEMD skills and technologies involved in electric vehicle systems, powered by battery technologies, making learning fun and engaging. The ProtoEV app builds on an existing immersive electrification skills training app developed by Fuzzy Logic as part of an industry-led and co-designed Emerging Skills Project, funded by the Department of Education to rapidly upskill, reskill and new skill existing employees in the PEMD manufacturing and supply chains to accelerate the path to net zero. EDI will be a critical focus for the ProtoEV app. The main aim is to drive inclusivity and diversity in key areas of the UK's PEMD workforce, building on and complementing existing skills initiatives in electrification sectors. The ultimate goal is to generate higher student engagement and interest in PEMD careers and allow students to learn anywhere and anytime. Web based metrics will be used to measure user engagement and progression pathways linked to the PEMD Skills Hub, which showcases and signposts to further PEMD training courses and career opportunities across all levels. The use of gamification and immersive technologies is an innovative mechanism to engage with youth less likely to consider engineering careers, in a way that has never been done before by the PEMD sector. Adapting the existing ESP Automotive Electrification Skills training app for electric go karts is novel.