Real Careers, Right Here: Meet the NETPark Businesses Inspiring Future Talent
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
At the North East Technology Park (NETPark), it's people who power innovation – and that begins with nurturing future talent.
Over 200 students from Sedgefield Community College recently experienced this first-hand during a dynamic STEM outreach day, delivered in collaboration with This is Creative Enterprise (TICE) and NETPark. The event was designed to support young people at a pivotal point in their education, linking what they learn in the classroom to the opportunities that lie ahead.
With exams on the horizon, many students are facing a demanding period. This initiative aimed to offer something more than guidance – it focused on motivation and perspective.
Through exploring the wide range of careers across science, technology, engineering and mathematics, students gained a clearer understanding of how their studies can shape their future paths. Crucially, it also highlighted that these career opportunities are not far away, but available right here in County Durham.
Today we want to share with you further how NETPark companies were involved in the day and how each brought to life a unique insight into their work and the opportunities available across STEM careers.
Kromek
Students heard from Kromek, a global leader in radiation detection and imaging technologies, whose work spans healthcare, security and advanced research. The team shared how their innovations are helping to detect diseases earlier, protect critical infrastructure and improve safety worldwide. By explaining how complex science is translated into practical applications - from medical imaging to nuclear security - Kromek gave students a powerful insight into how STEM careers can have real-world impact on people’s lives.
Pragmatic
Representatives from Pragmatic introduced students to the future of electronics through their pioneering work in flexible integrated circuits. Their technology enables everyday objects to become ‘smart’, helping to connect the physical and digital worlds in new and sustainable ways. By showcasing how innovation can scale globally from a base in the North East, the session helped students understand how cutting-edge manufacturing and creativity come together in modern technology careers.
SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Efficient Designed Structures)
SEEDS gave students an insight into the possibilities of advanced materials, particularly their work in engineering graphene for real-world applications. By explaining how their technology can be tailored for industries such as electronics, energy and aerospace, they demonstrated how scientific discovery can evolve into scalable commercial solutions. Their session highlighted the role of curiosity and experimentation in driving innovation, helping students see how ideas developed today can shape the technologies of tomorrow.
Coltraco
Coltraco brought a different perspective, showcasing how ultrasonic technology is used to improve safety and efficiency across global industries, including maritime, defence and energy. Their session helped students understand how engineering and problem-solving skills are applied to real-world challenges - protecting assets, saving lives and supporting critical infrastructure. By linking technical expertise with global impact, they demonstrated the far-reaching potential of careers in engineering and technology.
Magnitude Biosciences
Students also engaged with Magnitude Biosciences, a life sciences company using advanced biological models and technology to accelerate drug discovery and improve human health. Their work combines biology, robotics and data science to support research into diseases and new treatments, positioning the North East as a growing hub for life science innovation. By sharing how their research contributes to tackling global health challenges, they helped students see the meaningful impact of careers in science.
Red Scientific
Red Scientific showcased the role of digital innovation in defence and strategy, using advanced simulation and wargaming technologies to support decision-making in complex environments. Their session highlighted how skills in computing, data and creative thinking can be applied in unexpected ways, helping organisations test scenarios and improve outcomes. For students, it was a powerful example of how digital careers can combine technology, strategy and real-world application.
Graphene Composites
One of the standout sessions came from Graphene Composites, who introduced students to the world of advanced materials and nanotechnology. Through their talk, students learned how graphene - one of the lightest and strongest materials known - is being used to develop innovative solutions across industries, from defence and aerospace to healthcare and environmental protection. By explaining how their work turns cutting-edge science into real-world products, the team helped bring complex concepts to life, showing students that careers in STEM can involve creativity, problem-solving and global impact. As pioneers in advanced materials engineering, Graphene Composites demonstrated how ideas developed in the North East can go on to address some of the world’s biggest challenges.
