At Smith+Nephew, we believe in creating opportunities that spark curiosity and open doors for the next generation of innovators. Last month, we proudly hosted our annual STEM Careers Conference at our Academy London facility in Croxley - an event that connects local students with the exciting world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
A commitment to social mobility
This initiative is part of our wider STEM Careers Outreach Programme, which was recently honoured with the UK Social Mobility Award for Community Programme of the Year. Now in its sixth year, the conference introduces students to Smith+Nephew, our industry, and the diverse career paths available - from engineering and digital health to HR, communications, and clinical affairs.
Highlights from the day
The conference was packed with inspiring moments and hands-on experiences. Students were welcomed with an introduction to Smith+Nephew and our partnership with Migrant Leaders, followed by reflections from our CEO, Deepak Nath, who shared his career journey and the leadership values that guide him.
Through dynamic 'Speed STEM' sessions, attendees explored the breadth of careers at Smith+Nephew, while learning that it’s okay not to have all the answers, as long as you keep saying yes to opportunities.
A tour of our Academy London surgeon training facility offered a behind-the-scenes look at medical education, complemented by live demonstrations of technologies such as our single-use negative pressure wound therapy system, robotic-assisted surgery system, and our bioinductive implant for rotator cuff repair.
Students also experienced cutting-edge virtual reality surgical simulations and took part in an engaging engineering experiment, “How to (Mostly) Not Blow Stuff Up,” which showcased the power and responsibility of innovation.
The day concluded with a powerful discussion on why inclusion matters, led by Max Horton, Global Head of Inclusion & Belonging, reinforcing our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong.
We’re proud to continue building pathways for future talent and fostering inclusion in everything we do.
Discover more about careers at Smith+Nephew
Burn wound management Burn wounds are a global public health problem and a leading cause of morbidity, including prolonged hospitalisation, disfigurement and disability – often accompanied by stigma and social rejection.1 Our aim is to help mitigate the complications associated with burn wounds.
Pressure injury prevention Trusted to reduce the incidence of pressure injuries when used as part of a comprehensive prevention program, compared to standard care alone.1-3
Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears Partial-thickness tears can have a lasting impact on pain and shoulder function. When used in isolated bioinductive repair, the REGENETEN◊ Bioinductive Implant leads to tendon healing without the need for sutured repair;1-4 offering patients a faster recovery and return to activity than sutured repairs.4,5
Chondral and osteochondral knee repair Treat knee cartilage lesions and osteochondral defects in a single-stage procedure, even in the presence of mild to moderate osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence 0-3),1,2 with the porous, biocompatible CARTIHEAL◊ AGILI-C◊ Cartilage Repair Implant; shown to be clinically superior to the current surgical standard of care in level 1 clinical data.*1,2