Local students were invited to see a 3D printer live in action and get hands-on with a selection of medical implements as part of a Future Talent Forum supported by Leeds-based medical devices company, DePuy Synthes, part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.
Over 100 pupils from schools across Leeds took part in the forum, which aimed to inspire them to consider a career in Healthcare Sciences and highlighted the potential employment opportunities that may be available to them within companies in the Healthcare sciences industry. DePuy Synthes’ research and development centre, in Beeston, is one of the leading orthopaedic development facilities in the world, designed to stimulate innovation, communication, and collaboration.
The event, which was held at The University of Leeds School of Biomedical Sciences, and was organized by WildHearts, a company that specializes in delivering entrepreneurship education through their global Micro-Tyco programme, consisted of two panel discussion sessions with questions from the students. The panel was comprised of Cath Hardaker, Tribology Group Manager, and Emma Bowyer, Biomechanics Test Engineer from DePuy Synthes. They were joined by Tim Goodall from the Careers team at the University of Leeds and Michelle Scott from clinical research company, Covance.
A team of graduates and apprentices from DePuy Synthes then provided a great opportunity for the students to get hands on with a selection of implants and instruments and see a 3D printer in action.
Hugh Chamberlain, UK Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Johnson & Johnson, commented:
“The future success of the healthcare sector depends on the new talent we can inspire to join it. With some fantastic study and employment opportunities right here on the students’ doorsteps, we were keen to show them the potential job roles in the sector as well as highlight that science and technology can be fun!
“The students clearly appreciated the opportunity to chat with some of the younger members of our business about how they got into the industry and couldn’t wait to get hands on and get a closer look at some of the medical devices we design and make that save and improve countless lives across the country.”
Heather McCann, Micro-Tyco Schools Programme Manager at WildHearts, commented:
“We are delighted to provide a bridge for young students to connect with corporate and educational professionals from the healthcare industry through our Future Talent Forum. We’re helping young people realise their career potential whilst connecting companies to the talent of the future.”
The schools that took part in the forum were University Technical College Leeds, based at Braime’s in Hunslet, Buttershaw Business & Enterprise College, The John Smeaton Academy, Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, Appleton Academy, Feversham College, St Aidan’s CofE High School and Carlton Bolling College.
Danielle Carter, a teacher at Carlton Bolling College, added:
“The concept of the event was brilliant and the information the students got out of it was invaluable. To have professionals within the career sector the students are wanting to go into telling them that it’s okay to try different things and ask for help, as well as give them ideas on the vast array of careers available, was wonderful and the panel overall were fantastic.”
This post was written by Helen Bailey using our Create an article for South Leeds Life page.
