Specialising in offering solutions across the defence, engineering and manufacturing, healthcare, mining, nuclear and renewable energy, oil and gas, and satellite-communications sectors, Immerse is already working on a number of live projects.

One of these is with QinetiQ, a British multinational defence-technology company that manages and operates extensive testing and evaluation capabilities for air, land, sea, and target systems. QinetiQ turned to Immerse for support in order to facilitate an alternative solution to real at-sea submarine training for the Royal Navy. Immerse’s unique multi-voice VR solution provided a 3D submarine control room, complete with working displays, VR boat operators, and multiple interaction points that enables trainees to learn and interact with colleagues while safely rehearsing potentially life-threatening scenarios onshore.

Tom Symonds, CEO of Immerse, said, "Our platform is specifically designed to democratise the VR experience, allowing VR content creators to upload their own experiences from anywhere in the world and then share them in a way that enables users to meet in the same virtual environments. While there will never be a substitute for real hands-on at-sea training, the VR solution we provided QinetiQ with offered a cost-effective alternative to current submariner training. The solution is not limited by access to live equipment and covers essential basics while also saving money."

Helen Dudfield, Chief Scientist for Training & Human Performance, QinetiQ, said, "As technology drives social and cultural change, training provision must keep up with shifting generational attitudes and expectations. Rigid training in fixed workspaces will make way for courses that offer the flexibility to learn wherever and whenever is convenient. Most importantly, technology can vastly improve the quality of learning by tailoring courses to students’ individual competencies and circumstances. Employers can reap the rewards of a highly skilled workforce at lower risk, and be confident of an excellent return on their investment in their people."

The enterprise virtual reality (VR) industry is set to grow to be worth more than $4.5bn by 2020, with more than 150 of the 800+ companies working in the VR space worldwide based in the UK. Tom Symonds added, "Over the last twelve months, we have seen a marked increase in the number of businesses that are interested, and willing to invest, in VR. With businesses being able to create their own VR scenarios easily and without prohibitive costs, we believe demand is only set to grow, with future applications emerging as adaption continues."