Smith & Nephew is a global medical equipment manufactoring business dedicated to helping improve people’s lives. The company holds leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma.
Smith & Nephew has almost 11,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2021 were $5.2 billion
The main challenge came in the form of the exciting and unusual location which had been selected as the conference venue; Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. This was due to become home to in excess of 500 delegates and a number of specialist events teams, for an entire week.
Because of the speed at which the event planning was moving; we paralleled-worked in the four designated European languages alongside those authoring the English presentation material. We were working with drafts and reworking these as they harmonised into the finished presentations. At the same time, interpreters were being sourced, selected and verified, the venue was being audited for technical compatibility, plus all delegate/keynote speaker information was being gathered and assessed.
This highly-pressured method of working required our team to be highly focused and have a full understanding of the client’s brand and the overall objectives for the conference.
Planning: It’s all in the detail.
The initial briefing was followed by a period of detailed planning. Key to the success of the project was the interpreter selection process, ensuring that conference delegates would benefit fully from the team’s experience and expertise in each of the four languages. Interpreting booths and related audio equipment were sourced and dedicated technicians came on board to complete the team.
With the team in place, and the conference schedule being finalized, work began to compile, refine and distribute a detailed brief for each individual interpreting session. With sessions ranging from small group discussions to large shows and presentations; a flexible approach was
essential.
Flights, hotels and transport to the port in Barcelona were simultaneously coordinated, while liaison with both British and Spanish Customs guaranteed that equipment could be transported legally and safely and that it would arrive at its destination in plenty of time for the ship’s departure.
Several research visits to the cruise ship (whilst in port) and prior to the event, meant that any potential problems could be identified and addressed at an early stage.
Immediately prior to the event kick-off, detailed interpreter and management team run throughs took place on board the ship so that everyone involved was 100% prepared and fully understood the scheduled timings.
It’s all about teamwork!
While delegates enjoyed the sights of Cannes, Monte Carlo and Rome during onshore visits, a hive of activity was taking place behind the scenes to continuously transform and adapt the ship’s ice rink into a dramatic bespoke conference venue for each individual session.
Two technicians were on hand around the clock to assist with the transportation, set-up and slick operation of the four interpreting booths and equipment, ensuring that each language was accessible to delegates at all times.
When the interpreting teams were not actively involved in conference sessions they assisted across other areas – accompanying delegates on day trips, getting involved with exhibitions and leisure activities, and generally lending a hand where other members of the events team needed assistance
Elevate your event with our specialised interpreting services, designed for global medical industry conferences. Our team delivers accurate, culturally tailored communication, ensuring inclusivity across languages including BSL. With a focus on precision and engagement, we offer a streamlined solution for your diverse audience needs, drawing from our experience with high-profile events like Smith & Nephew’s sales conference.
