Bringing the Future to the Front Line: How InVeris is Revolutionising Police Training in the UK

Policing in the 21st century has changed beyond recognition. Officers are no longer simply enforcers of the law, they’re communicators, de-escalators, first responders, and guardians of community trust. But while the nature of the job has evolved, many traditional training methods have remained largely unchanged.

That’s now beginning to shift, and fast.

The Challenge: Training for a World That Doesn’t Stand Still

Modern officers are faced with rising public expectations, increased scrutiny, and increasingly complex operational environments. They must make split-second decisions that are legally sound, ethically defensible, and emotionally intelligent. Add to this the need to master new technologies, non-lethal tools, and evolving threat profiles, and the training challenge becomes clear.

How do you prepare officers for the unpredictable, without putting them in harm’s way?

The Answer: Immersive, Adaptive, Evidence-Based Training

The latest generation of police training is turning away from rote drills and toward realistic, scenario-based simulations, immersive experiences that mirror the cognitive and emotional pressure of real incidents.

What makes this approach effective?

• Real-time decision-making: Officers must assess, communicate, act, and face the consequences in a dynamic environment.
  
• Behavioural learning: The emotional intensity of immersive scenarios improves memory retention and instinctive responses.
• Safe repetition: Trainees can repeat high-risk situations multiple times with zero physical danger and instant feedback.
• Data-led reflection: Performance is tracked and reviewed from every angle, helping instructors focus on behaviour, not just outcome.

This is more than a shift in technology, it’s a fundamental change in how we define preparedness.

Training the Mind, Not Just the Muscle

A key element of this revolution is the emphasis on judgement and communication, not just technical weapon handling. With increasing emphasis on de-escalation and proportionality, officers need to develop their tactical empathy, the ability to read a situation, engage calmly, and adjust their response accordingly.

Immersive simulation allows for branching scenarios where instructor decisions, or officer actions, change the outcome. That means every interaction becomes a chance to train ethical decision-making and build confidence under pressure.

From Virtual Streets to Real Readiness

As UK Police adopt more complex public order roles, including mental health response, protest management, and counter-terrorism support, they require tools that prepare them for more than just the firing range.

Scenario-based training can include (but Is Not Limited To):

• Domestic abuse call-outs
• Public space disorder
• Active threat environments
• Use-of-force dilemmas
• Negotiation and communication breakdowns

Crucially, these can all be customised to reflect local geography, policy, and procedure, ensuring training is relevant, current, and reflective of frontline realities.

How InVeris Supports Frontline Readiness

At the forefront of this training revolution is InVeris Training Solutions, whose platforms are already used by police and military agencies around the world.

• FATS® VR – Portable, 360° virtual reality system delivering fully immersive training focused on de-escalation, communication, and real-time decision-making.
• FATS® 100LE – High-fidelity marksmanship and judgemental training with intelligent diagnostics, coaching tools, and scenario playback for skill development.
• FATS® 180 – Three-screen immersive setup offering a 180° field of view, ideal for departments needing spatial awareness training in a more compact footprint.
• FATS® 300LE – A 300° wraparound training environment enabling multi-officer coordination, public order response, and complex threat scenario training.
• FATS® Live – Integrated live-fire training solution that brings the precision and realism of virtual scenarios into real-world ranges for a seamless training continuum.
• BlueFire® Weapons – Wireless, recoil-enabled simulators that mirror service weapons and less-lethal tools for safe, hands-on realism.

These systems aren’t just tools, they’re training ecosystems, designed to evolve with policing itself.

The Future of Training is Already Here

Training has always been the foundation of effective policing. But to meet the demands of today, and tomorrow’s officers need more than tradition. They need technology that trains judgement, not just marksmanship. Systems that simulate uncertainty, not just targets. Platforms that prepare officers to think, speak, move and lead, all at once.

With immersive simulation, that future is already within reach. And it’s changing the way we protect the public, one decision at a time.

“For nearly a half century, InVeris has served as the pioneer and leading innovator in firearms training, advancing human performance today as the world’s leading provider of technology-driven virtual reality and augmented reality training solutions.

In short, we provide you with unequaled, totally immersive realism for superior retention to help make split-second, life-saving decisions the right decisions no matter what the situation.”   Mark Mears, Director, InVeris Training Solutions

Find out more about InVeris public safety training systems here:

https://www.inveristraining.com/virtual-training/public-safety-virtual-weapons-and-scenario-training/

InVeris will be exhibiting at DSET 8-10 July 2025. To find out more about their systems and see a demonstration book a meeting with the team at DSET.

Serious Play Conference, SGSCE, and DSET Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Serious Games and Simulation-Based Training

The Serious Play Conference, the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Europe (SGSCE), and the Defence Simulation, Education and Training (DSET) Conference are pleased to announce a new strategic collaboration designed to elevate the impact, visibility, and innovation of serious games across sectors including defence, education, and corporate training.

This partnership brings together three influential organisations committed to advancing game-based learning and simulation technologies. The collaboration aims to foster greater knowledge exchange, provide more impactful showcase opportunities, and strengthen the global community of developers, educators, and end-users.

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward for the global serious games community,” said Paul Darvasi, organiser of the Serious Play Conference. “Together, we are building a stronger, more unified platform to support innovation and amplify impact.”

Key Elements of the Partnership:

• Collaborative Working: Shared sessions, cross-conference speakers and joint offers to the Serious Games community will offer rich, multidisciplinary learning experiences.
• Expanded Recognition: Unified award and showcase tracks across events will highlight excellence and innovation in serious games development.
• Global Community Building: Combined networks will extend the reach for stakeholders across defence, education, health, and commercial training sectors.

Sam Cullimore, Serious Games Lead at Ruddy Nice Ltd and organiser of SGSCE, added:
“SGSCE has long served as a launchpad for creative and effective game-based solutions. By aligning with DSET and Serious Play, we’re creating broader opportunities to showcase talent and accelerate adoption.”

Tess Butler, CEO of DSET, commented:
“DSET is rooted in solving real-world challenges through simulation, serious games, wargaming, and training. This partnership deepens our connections with the serious games sector and expands the toolkit available to defence and beyond.”

Further details, including event dates, submission guidelines, and opportunities to participate across the conferences are all available online at https://dset.co.uk/seriousgames/ and https://seriousplayconf.com/

Media Enquiries:
Louise Hart
Marketing Director
Ruddy Nice Ltd
📧 louisehart@ruddynice.com
🌐 www.dset.co.uk

North East Tech Sector Preps for £400m UK Defence Innovation Fund Opportunity

Sunderland, UK – 2nd May 2025 – Sunderland Software City, a leading force in driving digital innovation and skills across the North East, has announced a new strategic partnership with Ruddy Nice, a renowned platform connecting global Aerospace, Blue Light and Space industries in XR, AI, Cyber, Training, and Education.

Entering the aerospace sector can be challenging, especially for startups or SMEs unfamiliar with procurement processes. However, the North East stands out as a national leader, with 15% of Ministry of Defence spending in the region going to SMEs, the highest proportion in the UK. This is a clear strength, highlighting the region’s agility, innovation, and ability to deliver. 

The Government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2027 represents an additional £6.4 billion investment, with a minimum of 10% of the equipment budget allocated to novel technologies, including AI-enabled tech. This strategic focus creates significant opportunities for innovative North East SMEs.

David Dunn, CEO of Sunderland Software City, said:

“At Sunderland Software City, we are actively seeking opportunities both nationally and internationally to help companies from the North East’s tech ecosystem grow. When we find them, we strive to make them accessible and impactful.”

Tess Butler, CEO of Ruddy Nice, added:

“Ruddy Nice is excited to collaborate with Sunderland Software City to help accelerate SMEs and genuine innovation into the aerospace industry. We understand the complexities of the systems and the costs involved, and we’re committed to reducing these challenges. This partnership is a step towards making the aerospace sector more accessible.”

Over the coming months, Sunderland Software City and Ruddy Nice will launch a series of initiatives to connect the North East tech sector with emerging aerospace opportunities. To stay informed and get involved, follow our channels and be part of the conversation.

About Sunderland Software City
Sunderland Software City empowers digital growth in the North East by connecting people, skills, and business opportunities. It supports startups, scale-ups, and enterprise through innovation programmes, expert advice, and ecosystem-building activities.

About Ruddy Nice 

With savvy Aerospace marketing expertise and veterans with specialist sector know-how, Ruddy Nice are a strong squad that make an impact for each and every one of our global Defence and Aerospace clients.

Our core values are what we live and grow by; Delivering a meaningful, collaborative, and inclusive environment that enables Government, Industry, and Academia to drive change. We run an annual conference and year-round activities at The Studio fostering collaboration and capability development.

Media Contact:
Kai Richardson
kai.richardson@sunderlandsoftwarecity.com

DSET 2025: A Decade of Innovation Marks a New Era with the Launch of the British Army Security and Cyber Conference

Bristol, UK – 8th – 10th July – DSET 2025 is set to be the most groundbreaking edition yet, celebrating its 10th anniversary with the launch of the British Army Security and Cyber Conference. This new addition reinforces DSET’s commitment to advancing defence technology, wargaming, and cybersecurity amidst an era of increasing global threats and operational challenges.

Introducing the British Army Security and Cyber Conference

DSET 2025 is proud to announce the launch of the British Army Security and Cyber Conference, a dedicated event running alongside the main conference to tackle the ever-evolving threats in cyber warfare, digital, physical, and personal security. This pivotal addition will offer cutting-edge insights, expert panels, and collaborative discussions designed to strengthen the security and protection of Army people, information, and assets. 

The conference will culminate in an exclusive Security and Cyber Awards Dinner, recognising excellence and innovation within the cyber and security community.

Kristina Evans, Chief Security Officer, for the British Army, expressed her enthusiasm for this new initiative:

“The British Army Cyber and Security Conference at DSET 2025 is a crucial step forward in addressing the evolving challenges of modern warfare. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, we must maintain advantage by fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuing to develop our skill and expertise across the Defence community. Our physical and personal security challenges are equal to that in the cyber arena and this event will serve as a vital platform to equip us with the knowledge and partnerships needed to safeguard our future.”

DSET 2025: A Year-Round Hub for Innovation & Collaboration

Beyond the annual event, DSET is now a 365-day working community. The newly opened Serious Games, Simulation, and Wargaming Studio (The Studio) in Salisbury, UK serves as a dedicated centre for training, education, and research. The Studio provides an immersive space for collaboration, supporting organisations such as Varjo, Valkyrie Technologies, First Coding, ETSA, Fight Club International, and Women in Security, Defence, and Medicine.

Additionally, DSET continues to pioneer education with the return of the Analysis, Modelling and Simulation Course, and the launch of the Wargaming Essentials CPD course in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University. From entry-level to foundation degree qualifications, DSET is committed to fostering #NextGen talent, with opportunities available for students as young as 12.

A Decade of Excellence – The Biggest and Brightest DSET Yet!

As DSET marks its 10th anniversary, this milestone event will be the largest and most dynamic yet, reinforcing its reputation as the go-to global platform for defence, security, wargaming, and cyber innovation. DSET 2025 will address these urgent priorities, bringing together over 2,000 international professionals from Defence, Government, Academia, and Industry.

Join us for DSET 2025 – where people, collaboration, and action drive the future of defence and security.

For further information, media inquiries, or partnership opportunities, please contact:

Abbie Pierce
abbiepierce@ruddynice.com
07974 180166

Blueflame Digital are back to conquer the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge

After their SGSCE success with Chomp at DSET 2023, Blueflame Digitial returned in 2024 with their new game Wings-101. Once again taking home the Championship and qualifying as a finalist at SGS&C at I/ITSEC 2024.  

Wings-101 is a cutting-edge simulation game that challenges players to master aerial tactics in complex environments.  Here is Rich Lloyd, Director of Blueflame, discussing the use of games in training and future innovation with the ETSA community.

With over 26 years’ experience in developing interactive software for business and games for brands such as LEGO, Openreach, Siemens Mobility, CBBC, to name a few, Rich’s current passion and focus is applying games and game technology to different industry sectors. He uses 3D games, virtual reality and augmented reality to create visualisations, experiences and simulations for his clients. 

“Why does the entertainment industry get to keep all the great tools and techniques to themselves? In my role, I show other industries how they can take advantage of this leading innovative technology in their training solutions.”

Blueflame Digital focuses on designing and developing Serious Games. The team works closely with businesses of all sizes, offering full bespoke software solutions from the ground up or integrating with your existing systems. Here’s what they had to say:

Can you describe your approach to designing training games?

The team has a strong background in not only game technology but also business software and web-enabled tools. This allows us to approach training solutions with engaging methods, supported by the backend metrics, and understand how the workplace needs to use and benefit from that data, which is just as crucial to the overall solution.

Most of our products are developed in-house at larger companies tackling their specific business and training needs. We have a close relationship with them understanding what they want to get from the training, establishing key learning points, and then developing the games to reinforce those points aligning with their training goals. Examples are, we’ve installed driver sims in training centers to integrate with existing training routines. Then the other end, we have delivered mobile apps where the learner can play in and around their lifestyle.

Due to the commercial aspect of our projects, they are often not for external/public use. However, we are starting to build up our own IP, Chomp was our first game out there which is available to download for free from the mobile App Stores. Chomp picked up 3 awards at the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Europe 2023 event, including overall winner.

When designed correctly there are many benefits over traditional training methods. An easy one is the level of engagement. We are all too familiar with the term ‘death by PowerPoint’, and sadly too many people powering through CBT, then multiple choice questions. If we can engage people first, it’s a lot easier to communicate information, and the enjoyment part means having fun while doing it. 

Our ultimate goal is for the trainee to have fun first and realise they’ve learned after. 

In games, we call it the flow state, when people forget the world around them and concentrate on what’s in front of them. Not to say other methods can’t do that, but games are very good at it. Games are great at challenging people in ways that can be expensive in the real world, and virtual reality is a great example. Rather than have people use expensive equipment or put them in dangerous scenarios, VR can provide virtual equipment and a safe environment to fail and learn. 

Virtual reality is an interesting space to work in, as your brain stores memories in a different place as if they were an actual experience rather than a passive experience you would receive from a video or a lecture. Something great is the amount of data we can record about learners, which gives us a much better understanding of their journey. We can see their struggles and recognise where they excel. That data can influence their learning in real time, or be used for feedback to the learner for a more hands-on approach by a trainer.

In terms of diversity, there indeed was an imbalance in the game-making industry, but the typical stereotype of a gamer these days isn’t a teenage boy anymore. Pulling some recent stats shows the average gamer is 35 years old and male to female gamer ratio is close to 50:50. I work with a lot of the younger generation trying to get into tech, and I would say their backgrounds and interests vary. I think this is because technology is used in so many varied parts of our lives, it inspires people in different ways. It makes me happy to see more and more diversity, and inevitably this has a positive impact, not only for games, but creativity and a more balanced, happier society. 

It would be super boring if we all thought and acted the same, we would end up with products that missed the mark. I feel we have a great mix in the team and always want different viewpoints brought to the table. People outside of working with the design of serious games don’t always appreciate the effort that goes into how the games engage with the end users. 

Inclusivity is a big part of that, different work sectors will have either a specific demographic to target or a wide range they need to deliver the same information to. Game design naturally does this, understands the player first (or trainee) and works back from there. Being a small team, if we don’t understand the needs of the players, we bring in people who do.

What do you see as the key technological drivers for your future gaming products?

This is an interesting question. Even though we often get to work with new technologies, if we don’t think it’s fit for purpose, we won’t use it. VR is a great example, there are some very specific things where it’s a very powerful tool, but it’s not a great tool for other things. 

I don’t think there will be a single bit of future technology that will come in and be the universal problem solver. There will be lots of new technologies that will fit into our lives and will have specific jobs to do. In my opinion, the key drivers to our future gaming products are not necessarily the specific technologies themselves, but how they can be used as part of an ecosystem to provide effective exchange of knowledge. For us, technology comes and goes, we’ll always be making games!

Watch the SGSCE 2024 Blueflame Digital Promo video here: https://youtu.be/5pZD8lfKM8E 

Rich and the Team are bringing Wings-101 to SGS&C at I/ITSEC 2024.  We wish them the best of luck in the public ballot. If you are at I/ITSEC this year, pop by to experience the game for real… and remember to vote!

Do you have an emerging game idea or one in development?

Head to the SGSCE page for more information on award categories and submission deadlines.

Entry window is NOW OPEN!!!  

The winner of SGSCE 2025 at DSET then automatically qualifies as a finalist at SGS&C at I/ITSEC 2025. 

Next year it could be you heading off to Orlando with your game!!!

We are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, Defence Simulation, Education and Training (DSET) 2024 will feature a Sustainability Partner – Lockheed Martin UK. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and our goal to become carbon neutral.

The importance of hosting a sustainable conference cannot be overstated. At DSET, we recognize our responsibility to reduce our impact on climate change and to lead by example in the defence and technology sectors. With an increasing focus on nurturing the next generation of talent, we are dedicated to providing an environment that fosters not only professional development but also a positive impact on the planet and our stakeholders.

Lockheed Martin UK shares our vision for a sustainable future. Together, we are investing in various initiatives aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and promoting environmental stewardship. This includes funding carbon removal programmes, supplying sustainable business merchandise, and investing in local rewilding and carbon removal projects. These efforts are designed to make a tangible difference and set a new standard for sustainability in the industry.

Our collaboration with Lockheed Martin UK underscores our shared commitment to creating a sustainable future. By integrating these green practices, we aim to inspire other organizations to follow suit and prioritize environmental responsibility. This partnership is more than just a step towards carbon neutrality; it’s a pledge to support a healthier planet for future generations.

Join us at DSET 2024 and be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Together, we can drive change and demonstrate that innovation in defence and education can go hand-in-hand with sustainability. Let’s make a positive impact on the world, one conference at a time.

“At Lockheed Martin we champion environmental stewardship through resource efficiency. From flexible hybrid working, a four-day working week, a significant reduction in business travel and 100% green energy contracts, we are creating long-term resiliency as a leader in global security and aerospace,” said Emlyn Taylor, Group Managing Director for Lockheed Martin UK. “We constantly seek to learn, understand and adapt, ensuring a strong business model for a sustainable future.”