WorkerBot - How It Works (Click for Russian version)

24 July 2025

Go to WorkerBot Test Page: English, Russian

WorkerBot is a pilot project by the University of Manchester and FiftyEight, funded by UKRI’s Impact Acceleration Account. It helps migrant workers in the UK quickly access key information about the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme.

  • Built with open-source tools, WorkerBot can be deployed locally — except for the cloud version.
  • Supported by the West Midlands Seasonal Workers Taskforce.
  • A worker trial begins next week to gather feedback.

Key Features

  • Clear Information: Simple answers on applications, visas, rights, grievances, and more — in plain language.
  • Voice Support: Speak or listen to responses with real-time transcription — ideal for users with limited literacy.
  • Multi-Lingual: Supports Russian to make information accessible for non-English speakers.

Why WorkerBot Matters

WorkerBot offers fast, clear, and accessible support through voice and multi-language features. It helps seasonal workers get the information they need, reducing stress and supporting fair treatment.

To give feedback, open the Cloud version of WorkerBot, type "Feedback", and share your experience. Instructions for using the Cloud version are provided below.

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A. Getting Started

From the landing page, you can start asking questions immediately — no setup needed.

Navigating the Application:  Use the sidebar (click the top-left icon if it's hidden) to access:

  • New Chat Button: Start a fresh conversation.
  • Settings: Adjust preferences.
  • About: Learn more about WorkerBot.

 

B.  Using the Chat Interface

Text Input

  • Type your question in the box at the bottom (e.g. "How do I apply for seasonal work?") and press Enter or click send.
  • Your question and the assistant’s reply will appear in the chat history, marked as "You" and "Assistant".

Voice Input

  • Click the microphone icon to speak your question.
  • Your voice will be transcribed and shown as text before being answered.

Feedback

  • Click "Provide Feedback" below a response to rate it: Yes, completely, Somewhat, or No.
  • You can also add comments the click ‘Submit Feedback’ button. Feedback is saved with the chat history.

New Chat: Click "New Chat" in the sidebar to clear the current session and begin a new conversation.

 

C. Settings

  • Model Selection: In the sidebar under "Settings", choose a response model (e.g. Mistral-Small (22B), Llama3:70B, Llama2:3B,  Llama1:8B, etc.). Larger models (e.g. 70B) tend to give better answers but may take longer.
  • The Temperature Slider controls the creativity of responses. A higher setting produces more varied and creative answers, while a lower setting results in more consistent and predictable responses.

 

D.  How It Works Behind the Scenes

WorkerBot uses a built-in knowledge base with information on the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme. When you ask a question, it retrieves relevant content and generates a response using the language model you selected in settings.

If you speak your query, the app uses a speech recognition system (based on the Whisper model) to transcribe your voice into text.

The app also keeps a conversation history to maintain context and automatically saves each exchange, including any feedback you provide. 

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